via Chuck Kennedy
It all started with a letter.
In 1943, The President of Tuskegee Institute (now University), Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, knew how tragic wasted potential was to the plight of the Black community. He pleaded with fellow HBCU leaders to “pool their small monies and make a united appeal to the national conscience.”
By 1944, 27 initial member colleges had banded together to form the United Negro College Fund, an organization whose impact on the Black community cannot be overstated.
Throughout its 75 year history, UNCF has provided nearly 500,000 young Black students with the financial support necessary to enter and finish college through annual scholarships and internship opportunities.
These are the same young people that make up the next generation of scholars, community and business leaders, and revolutionaries.
UNCF also provides resources such as curriculum and faculty development programs necessary for the successful operation of 37 private HBCUs.
And don’t forget about their advocacy work - lobbying for federal funding and public policies that directly impact and protect the interests of all HBCUs!
Respected icons including Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Beyoncé have all generously supported UNCF’s mission throughout the years - but lack of funding is a constant challenge they face.
This impactful organization’s motto, “a mind is a terrible thing to waste,” makes it clear that Black intellectual spaces are crucial to the work of Black liberation and deserve our continued support.