During the month of February, when history teachers across the nation educate students on the struggles of African-Americans, one historical factor remains the same despite the teacher, location or school district: the struggle for education. African-Americans have always been aware that the key to equality started with an education. Throughout history, African-Americans are seen enduring great trials in hopes of accomplishing their goals of becoming educated. In the 1954 case of Oliver Brown et. al versus Board of Education et. al, the Supreme Court decided that the “separate but equal” decision had no place in the education system! With this decision, the public school system began to integrate, allowing African-Americans to have the same quality of education as Caucasian Americans.
Today, African-Americans are offered more opportunities than have ever been offered to obtain an education, yet only 17.8 percent of African-American males and 20.6 percent of African-American females graduate from college of pursue higher degrees. If we, as a nation, do not “Think Back, Look Back, Come Back and Give Back,” we will forget where we have come from. If we do not “Think Back, Look Back, Come Back and Give Back,” we will ignore our past struggles and our promises for a better tomorrow. If we do not “Think Back, Look Back, Come Back and Give Back,” we as a nation will suffer as the prediction of the Census is that the nation will exhibit a major racial shift by 2050. The time to educate our youth is now. Let us support them in all of their educational endeavors.
In an effort to better serve our students, BAS has come up with two goals that can only be achieved through a community effort. Our first goal is to raise $1 million for the BAS Endowed Scholarships. We do not want to have to turn down another student that needs financial assistance. Our second goal is $3 million to build an African-American center on campus. We want our students to have a place that they can call home on “The Hill!” Please support the BAS Challenge Scholarship and, together, we can change these statistics! These students are our future and are a reflection of us. Let’s help them achieve and become all that they can!
For questions, comments or concerns about anything in this article contact:
Angela Mosley Monts at ammonts@uark.edu or Kabrina Gardner at kamey@uark.edu.
