What do the stories of David and Goliath, Amazon and Jay-Z have in common? They've all changed the rules of their respective games. David knew Goliath was too damn big to fight, so he used a slingshot. Amazon knew Barnes & Noble had the ideal locations “locked down,” so it focused on the convenience of e-commerce. Jay-Z knows he can’t win (today) with catchy lyrics about syrup and running the block, so he educates our cultural conscious. In each of these stories, the “underdog” won by changing the rules in their favor — by making the frontrunners fight on their territory.

So why are our beloved historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) trying to compete with major predominately white institutions (PWIs) for students on the grounds of athletics, infrastructure, curriculum, etc.? In my previous role as a teacher, and now as a mentor, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been to recruiting fairs with an HBCU representative centering the conversation around some new state-of-the-art building or some negligible, wasteful gimmick. These narratives are not compelling unless they’re undeniably true, and given the financial situation of 90 percent of HBCUs, it can’t possibly be true.

As a middle schooler, my first fantasies of attending college were about being on “The Yard.” I’m not sure if it was because of the many hours I spent watching reruns of the TV show A Different World, watching the movie School Daze or attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) homecoming faithfully every year, but something deep down wanted to be a part of the HBCU experience.

As college got closer to becoming a reality, on the advice of a guidance counselor, I half-heartedly applied to the major PWIs of my region. And even though I got into those institutions, a conversation with my dad about his HBCU experience confirmed what my subconscious already knew to be true.

My dad is a proud man, but he is not one to talk about his individual accomplishments. So, this conversation was rare, but I could see him beaming with pride as I learned that he worked in the student-run Black bookstore, was editor of the school paper, and participated in several socio-political demonstrations (it was the late '60s). As a high school senior, I admired my father’s political awareness and activism. So, for me, this should’ve been confirmation enough.

Deeper into my senior year, I began taking football recruiting trips to HBCU campuses across the country. I can remember having goosebumps as I walked through campuses decorated with landmarks named after known, and unknown, cultural warriors, like Dr. John Brown Watson and Booker T. Washington. For me, these visits sealed the deal.

Stories like mine are not uncommon. As I talk to HBCU graduates across the country, I see the same pride in each of them when they share their stories of making the decision to attend a HBCU. It is an unspoken camaraderie — a community of culturally alike individuals bound by similar experiences of unforgettable homecomings, long-standing legacies and welcomed adversity.

Ta-Nehisi Coates says it best in his book, Between the World and Me, when recounting his HBCU experience:

“The Mecca is a machine, crafted to capture and concentrate the dark energy of all African peoples and inject it directly into the student body … The history, the location, the alumni combined to create The Mecca – the crossroads of the black diaspora… The Mecca – the vastness of black people across space time – could be experienced in a twenty-minute walk across campus.”

So again, I ask, “Why are we playing by the rules of PWI’s when recruiting?” Should we strive for the best academic programs, infrastructure and athletics? Absolutely! But for long-term, sustained recruiting success, we have to embrace the legacies and unique experiences our institutions offer.

I challenge every HBCU graduate and recruitment representative to try something different next time they’re pitching their institution. Start the conversation with the world changing legacies we represent, and the unique experiences we offer. Embrace our differentiators, and then offer them the opportunity of a lifetime. Simple, but impactful!

UAPB

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