Bounce - HBCU Yearbook

Bounce Salute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

For 2024, Bounce will honor the legacy and still unfolding story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities - otherwise known as HBCUs. These schools, most created at a time when our nation was forcefully separated by race, have arguably done more than any other American institution to make our society more equal. Not just places of higher learning, HBCUs are incubators of Black culture – preserving who we were, informing who we are, and shining a light on where we can go. Join us as we stomp the yard year all, discovering (and rediscovering) these uniquely American and proudly Black institutions.

Map & School Listing | About HBCU | The Divine 9 | Notable Alumni | Milestones & Facts

Map of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

About Historically Black Colleges & Universities

HBCU

An HBCU is any Historically Black College or University that was established prior to 1964 and whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans. These schools are accredited by or are making reasonable progress towards an accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary of Education.

The Divine 9

Fraternity Members

Sorority Members

Notable Alumni

Nathan Anderson (Act Your Age)
Alumnus of Howard University

David Banner
Alumnus of Southern University

Erykah Badu
Alumnus of Grambling State University

Chadwick Boseman
Alumnus of Howard University

Xernona Clayton
Alumnus of Tennessee State University
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Vice President Kamala Harris
Alumnus of Howard University
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Spike Lee
Alumnus of Morehouse College

Philip A. Smithey (Johnson)
Alumnus of Morehouse College

Kym Whitley (Act Your Age)
Alumnus of Fisk University

Ambassador Andrew Young
Alumnus of Howard University
Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Milestones & Facts

2024 Milestones

Lincoln University (est. 1854), the first degree granting HBCU, celebrates 170 years.
Arkansas University (est. 1994) celebrates 140 years.
Clinton University (est. 1894) celebrates 130 years.
Bluefield State University (est. 1894) celebrates 130 years.
Bethune-Cookman University (est. 1904) celebrates 120 years.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (est. 1914) celebrates 110 years.
American Baptist College (est. 1924) celebrates 100 years.
Coahoma Community College (est. 1924) celebrates 100 years.
The HBCU Alumni Association (est. 2004) celebrates 20 years.

Howard University, Marian S. Carson Collection/
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Facts

HBCUs:

Alabama has the most HBCUs, with a total of 14.
In 1837, the first HBCU was established by Richard Humphreys as the African Institute in Pennsylvania (now known as Cheyney University).
In 1856, the first HBCU founded by African Americans, Wilberforce University, was established by The African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1867, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, nine HBCUs were established: Alabama State University, Barber-Scotia College, Fayetteville State University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, Saint Augustine’s University, and Talladega College.

Divine 9:

The first Divine 9 fraternity founded was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., established in 1906.
The first Divine 9 sorority founded was Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., established in 1908.
Five out of nine of the Divine 9 were founded at Howard University (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.).
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was founded at Howard University on May 10, 1930.
In 1995, the first international chapter of the NPHC was formed in Nassau, Bahamas.

Bounce Salute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Map of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Alabama

Arkansas

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Mississippi

Missouri

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

US Virgin Islands

Virginia

West Virginia