Looking back, I wish I had considered an HBCU for my undergraduate degree more seriously. .Jackson State was on my list but ultimately got bumped because my uncle thought it was too much of a party school. He thought I wouldn’t finish my degree if I went there. His view was based on the experience of other people he knew. Looking back, it’s my biggest regret. Hand in hand, HBCU graduates are more confident & seem to excel because of this confidence. This is especially true among women.

Fast forward to my career as an educator in higher education, I’m a strong advocate for HBCUs. It’s been almost 70 years since Brown v Board of Education & I still see a relevant role of HBCUs in this country. I will also advocate for these American treasures! After reading Vital & Valuable, I’m even more determined to advocate for them. The authors presented some stark realities in regard to funding & state support. All in all, HBCUs impact to the citizenry in this country is vital. Coming out of COVID-19, this book is so relevant.