Are HBCUs, Morris Brown Racist?

The Huffington Post picked up Cascade Patch's story, Cascade UMC to Settle Morris Brown College Debt, on Sunday—our breaking news report on how Cascade United Methodist Church effectively settled Morris Brown College's debt of $500,000 to the U.S. Department of Education.

The story has attracted some attention and debate. As of Sunday evening, the story had several hundred Facebook likes and several dozen Twitter tweets and email forwards. Meanwhile, in the comments section, several readers expressed their feeling that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are "racist."

"Schools that exist to lift one race of people over another race of people are Racist! Its time to end this Black school nonsense. All schools should open up to all people and stop this race stuff," a reader named Laserstain stated.

"None of you find the concept of a "Black" college offensive? How many of you would rail against me if I created a "White" college?
Food for thought...­..," said Blacksheep1.

This is not a new debate. People of all ethnic backgrounds have made compelling arguments for closing HBCUs or merging them with predominantly white institutions. They say we no longer need "seperate but equal" institutions, particularly in the public/state government realm.

Others point out the traditions of the schools and the fact that the first black middle class sprung out of them. In addition, they say, HBCUs accept all races (recently, for instance, a Caucasian American was the valedictorian of Morehouse College).

What do you think about this continuing debate?

Share your views with us in the comments section; join the conversation!