Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been emblematic of the African American quest for educational parity and social equality in American society. In addition to having been primarily responsible for the education of African Americans, HBCUs have also functioned as key institutions in the social, political, and economic development of the African American community within the constraints of a racially stratified society. This article maps the evolution of a pioneering tradition of diversity at HBCUs from their beginnings in the late 19th century to the present. The author argues that the social and educational environments that have traditionally supported diversity at HBCUs emerged out of group struggle between Blacks and their allies as well as with those seeking to maintain the larger system of overt, institutionalized racial stratification that dominated American society for much of its history. The article concludes with an examination of trends in diversity at HBCU campuses.
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