What Does the Election of Barack Obama Mean for African-American Higher Education?
Over the past eight years the GOP has sought to eliminate race-based affirmative action, curtail scholarships earmarked for blacks, and failed to significantly increase funding for Pell Grants for low-income students. President Bush has appointed scores of federal judges to lifetime appointments, individuals who are strong opponents of better chances for African Americans. Now a black man has been elected president of the United States. Here is a brief summary of how Barack Obama’s election is likely to affect African-American higher education. President-elect Obama has a monumental task ahead of him. He must work to unite the nation, strengthen the economy, fight terrorism, end the war in Iraq, and make tough decisions on healthcare reform, social security, energy development, and a host of other important issues. But what will the election of Barack Obama mean for African-American higher education? Over the past eight years, the Bush administration has aimed to pressure colleges and
