Adams Presidential Vote Goes Only to the Candidate with HBCUs Best Interest in Mind

Alma Adams
Congresswoman Alma Adams

By FRAN FARRER

September 20, 2019 12:45PM
Fran Farrer
Fran Farrer

CHARLOTTE, NC – Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC Dist. 12), co-chair and founder of the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus, sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to each of the 2020 Presidential Democratic candidates.

She began her letter providing background that gave credence to her concerns and reasons for her correspondence. “For the past four decades I’ve served the people of North Carolina; first as an educator, then later as an elected official from the school board and city council to the state house and now as Congresswoman for North Carolina’s 12th District. I have dedicated my career to fighting for opportunity for all, including being a fierce advocate for educational equity and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. That’s why I launched the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus,” she wrote.

Providing history for her junior elected officials, Adams wrote, “These schools were formed at a time when African Americans were denied the basic rights of every American citizen. HBCUs grew to become an essential part of our national fabric. Some of our greatest inventors, scholars, legal minds and professionals studied at HBCUs.”

“Despite being underfunded and undervalued, HBCUs provided pathways of opportunity for millions of Americans, many of who were first generation students. HBCUs produce 50% of all Black professionals, 42% of all Black engineers, 47% of Black women engineers and over 50% of Black educators and legal professionals. Nearly 40% of the CBC graduated from an HBCU,” she shared.

As a retired educator, Adams asked for their plan to address educational equity, especially for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). In the letter Adams said, “I’m focused on many issues here in Charlotte, NC: health care, hunger, and housing, to name a few.” “However, many of these issues have been addressed by your campaigns and in the debates. Unfortunately, HBCUs and educational equity have been left out of the conversation,” she added.

Adams continued saying, “This is why it is essential that HBCUs be a key part of your platform. The candidate I endorse for president will have a plan that levels the playing field for HBCUs and centers educational equity, from Pre-K through college.”

The significant part of Congresswoman Adams letter asked a few questions: “If you’re a member of Congress, are you an active member in the HBCU Caucus? What legislation/policies have you supported that addresses the unique needs of HBCUs and their students? Have you visited an HBCU campus and do you intend to visit any during the campaign cycle? And the final question was, Has your campaign create4d a specific outreach plan for HBCU students?”

Having attended several of Congresswoman Adams events and events she’s had the opportunity to speak at, I cannot remember a time she did not lift up the importance of HBCUs in every state. And she reminds each audience she greets that President Donald Trump has failed HBCUs. “Their HBCU Summit turned our schools into a photo-op, and their HBCU Initiative has gone nowhere. Our schools are too important for political games. Attacking these schools is another strike at our values and our traditions.,” she said.

Wishing each candidate, the best of luck, Congresswoman Adams invited each of them to schedule a time for them to talk about the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.