HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience, Edited by Ayesha Rascoe
First and foremost, gratitude to NetGalley, Ayesha Rascoe, and Algonquin Books for providing me with an advanced copy.

Based on this excellent collection of essays, I would retitle this book, HBCU Made: "A Celebration of Legacy and Excellence, The Black College Experience." Edited by Ayesha Rascoe, the host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, HBCU Made captures the transformative power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through essays from a diverse set of contributors. This anthology stands out as a one-of-a-kind collection, offering moving and candid accounts of the HBCU experience.

Why It Matters:
HBCUs have long been sanctuaries of opportunity and cultural pride for Black students, often serving as the only viable path to higher education amidst systemic barriers. These institutions are foundational to America’s educational landscape, nurturing leaders, fostering talent, and shaping the Black middle class.

What Resonates:
The contributors—luminaries like Oprah Winfrey, Stacey Abrams, and Branford Marsalis—share vivid, deeply personal stories of how HBCUs shaped their lives. The essays highlight the resilience, pride, and excellence cultivated at these schools, dismantling outdated stereotypes. HBCUs, as one contributor puts it, “love you to success,” creating a nurturing environment where students feel truly seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

A Unique and Essential Read:
HBCU Made is the only anthology of its kind, a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of HBCUs. Its essays don’t just celebrate the academic achievements but the community, growth, and empowerment these institutions provide. This book should be required reading for any prospective college student—especially those considering an HBCU.

Key Takeaway:
This collection is both a celebration and a call to preserve the vital role of HBCUs in American society. It’s a must-read for anyone invested in equity, education, and the transformative power of community.

A Personal Reflection:
I did not have the opportunity to attend an HBCU, but reading HBCU Made opened my eyes to the profound and unique experiences these institutions offer. Had I had access to a book like this during my own decision-making process—or the insight shared by the brilliant contributors—I would have given strong consideration to attending an HBCU. As a firm believer in the power of education to unlock doors to success, this anthology resonated deeply with me.
Rating: 5/5
Charles Francis, 12/30/2024

The essays in this book provide insight into the history of HBCUs. The editor of the book and numerous other HBCU alumni shine a light into what makes attending a HBCU so special, what the experience is like, and why they are so important to Black history.

I enjoyed learning about these colleges, as I knew very little previously about these schools. The book was very informative and easy-to-read. The personal stories were enjoyable and insightful. Definitely recommend.

Thanks to Ayesha Rascoe, Algonquin and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

A beautiful book of essays of alums from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) is insightful and heartening to read. Some of the authors of the essays are people I admire (such as Stacy Abrams) and others I want to know more about. What I learned is that HBCU's are important institutions for creating community. It was interesting to see the contrast for black students who went to majority white high schools and then went to a HBCU -- they truly blossomed and were able to achieve their potential without the systemic racism and bias inherent in our educational systems and it was so refreshing to hear! One author describes "HBCU's love you to success... the HBCU family holds you and cradles you." An enjoyable and uplifting read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

In this fascinating insight into the HBCU system, Ayesha Rascoe has compiled several different personal narratives by individuals who attended various HBCUs in the United States. The narratives in this book provide some incredible examples of unity and community at these HBCUs for students and alumni as well as their families, making these institutions multigenerational connections. These essays are genuine and emotional, spanning the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the writers work in all sorts of occupations across the country with connections to various other alumni (not those also contributing essays to the book). By bringing these various narratives together, Rascoe creates a larger picture of the significance of the culture and community that the HBCU system manufactures through its alumni, faculty, and institutions. For readers familiar or unfamiliar with the HBCU system, they will learn more about some of these universities and their defining qualities, such as their marching bands, journalism programs, and more. By rejecting the idea that these universities are a monolith, readers will gain a perspective of the HBCU system from the insiders, people who went to these universities and enjoyed their time there. Rascoe’s book is a fascinating insight and introduction to these universities, their students, and their alumni.

A wonderful celebration of HBCU alumni and the power of belonging and pride. Each story was unique to the author and yet the reader can discern the sense of solidarity among them all. I really loved reading each contribution as it was looking into the mind of why each other chose to attend an HBCU and what it meant to them. From journalists to entertainers to Oprah Winfrey herself, the collection of memories of their HBCU experience is powerful and sends a strong message to the Black community. You can find a place to call home in an HBCU.

When I was first invited to participate in the blog tour for Ayesha Roscoe's brand new anthology HBCU Made, my first thought was “what is an HBCU?”. I learned that HBCU stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the reason I had never heard of them before is because they don't exist in Canada. I knew at that moment that this was definitely a book I wanted to get my hands on. I needed to learn more. My words cannot adequately describe just how important HBCUs are, or what HBCU life is like, but through this anthology you can learn all that and so much more. The essays contained within this anthology will give you a glimpse inside HBCU life, where individuals can excel without the racial biases, stereotypes, and pressures holding them back the way they can and do at predominantly white colleges and universities. Alumni share their experience of overcoming, of second chances, of family and community, and the experiences that shaped them into who they are today. Tendayi Kuumba writes “this campus was a safe space for Black women in all their glory, a space where—whether you were a child star, a professor's daughter, or the first of your family to go to college—you had the freedom to define yourself on your own terms beyond the world’s view”. She goes on to say “Defining ourselves amongst our own community is the real essence of HBCUs, rooted in so much brilliance and tradition and a breakaway from judgement.”.
I loved learning through these essays written by musician Branford Marsalis, author Michael Arceneaux, actor Brandon Gilpin, icon Oprah Winfrey, and more! Whether you are an individual interested in attending an HBCU or someone who just wants to learn more about them like myself, I highly recommend HBCU Made!

A joyous book of essays alumni sharing their experiences their love for HBCU.The lasting friendships the education.Ayesha Rascoe brought together an amazing group of alumni who wrote wonderful essays.#netgalley #algonquin

HBCU's are a huge part of American history. HBCU Made is an amazing essay collection told by HBCU Alumni such as NPR journalist Ayesha Rascoe, Stacey Abrams, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Arceneaux, Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, Jazz musician Branford Marsalis, Shawn Zachery and many more. They shared their stories on how HBCU's shaped their lives and made them who they are today. I really enjoyed the stories from the various people. We should do all we can to protect and support HBCU's naitonwide.

Kudos to the author!!! I commend you on this book!! What a beautiful way to get the "HBCU" feeling of family, coming into one's own and creating lasting relationships that carry on with you through you life. I so enjoyed this book and it was inspriing as we as very informational. I have always held HBCU in high regard and I now hold them even higher. This is a book that will take you through a variety of emotions but the biggest emotion is pride. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

In her essay, A Southern Girl in a Complicated World, in the non-fiction book HBCU Made, Shawn Zachery states, "HBCUs exist to educate both those that have everything and those that may have nothing. No one is left behind, which is why they are important." There is not a better summary of reading the essays by famous and up-and-coming individuals who benefitted from attending an HBCU.

Ayesha Rascoe has done an immeasurable service for families, the schools, alumni, but most importantly, high school students who are preparing to select and attend colleges. Many of the HBCUs are located in states that are removing AP African-American History. HBCUs are an essential part of that history and students will benefit from hearing how individuals benefitted from attending one of them.

We will be purchasing multiple copies for our high school library and those who work with students as they consider what their options are for colleges. Thank You to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review. It was magical, informational, insightful, and highly beneficial.