Tasha M.
Yelp
Thurgood Marshall, Ben Ali, Zora Neal Hurston, Antoine Bethea, Roberta Flack, Ossie Davis, Phylicia Rashad, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Patricia Bath, David Blackwell, Ruth Ella Moore, Harold Ford Sr., Cathy Hughes, Elijah Cummings, Mike Espy, Patricia Roberts Harris, Earl F. Hilliard, Benjamin Hooks, Gregory W. Meeks, Malik Zulu Shabazz, Kwame Ture, Walter Washington, General Benjamin O. Davis Sr., David Oliver, Leon Dash, Gus Johnson, Colbert King, Toni Morrison, May Miller, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Donny Hathaway, Shirley Horn, Kenny Lattimore, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jessye Norman, all four members of Shai, Richard Smallwood, Shauntay Hinton, Ananda Lewis, Al Shearer, Malik Hassan Sayeed, Debbie Allen, Laz Alonso, Anthony Anderson, Taraji P. Henson, Carl Anthony Payne II, Phylicia Rashad, Roxie Roker, Lance Gross, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Isaiah Washington, Marlon Wayans, Karen Malina White, Amiri Baraka...
What do all of these people have in common? They are some of the most notable to study at the illustrious Howard University... just to name a few. The list goes on and on. Google a handful of them and you will easily see that HU plays not with excellence.
Howard University was founded by Oliver O. Howard, Civil War hero and Commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau, as an enactment by Congress in 1867 during Reconstruction. As officially written, it was to be "a University for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences." Black youth to be exact. Commonly referred to now as the "Mecca" of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Howard stands firm on an amazingly rich history and continues in its commitment to produce "leaders for America and the global community." It is one of two schools in the U.S. with an annual congressional appropriation, the other being Gallaudet. Howard is also defined as a Research University with High Research Activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and currently ranks #115 on the list of best National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report. Considering that there are over 4800 colleges and universities in the U.S., that would put Howard roughly in the 97th percentile. Not bad at all.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Do we have the best administration or facilities? No, definitely not. That is unless you're referring to the Health Sciences Library, which is fantastic. Are we one of the wealthiest schools with a rotund endowment and efficient operating budget? Nope, incorrect. Do we boast a mighty list of triumphant and nationally ranked sports teams? Hell to the naw. So what then makes HU so great, you ask? It's Howard flippin' University.
As a soon-to-be two-time Alumnus of Howard, I can say that I wouldn't have become the woman I am today had I gone to any other school. I honestly couldn't imagine having been happier anywhere else. It definitely hasn't always been rainbows and butterflies, but HU was the epitome of what I desired in a college (at least for undergrad). If there is one reason students come here, it's for the EXPERIENCE. By far one of the most unique in the country. Just ask any Howardite and he/she will likely agree.
Although the overwhelming majority are of African descent, HU students represent some the most culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds in the country. Hipsters, jocks, southern bells, rockers, rappers, savants, artists, dancers, aristocrats, musicians, entrepreneurs, the disadvantaged - you name it, we've got it. Attempt to naively stereotype us based on the fact that we are black, and you will have made a very grave mistake. Howard Bison are intelligent, opinionated, fashionable, and dedicated. We are committed to service and will go so far as being threatened by the Secret Service to stand firm in what we believe. Our intellectual conversations and debates far exceed the confines of the classroom, often times into places like the Punch Out, the Cafe, the dorms, and the Yard. Our homecoming is the bombDOTcom, and the Showtime Marching Band gives everyone a reason to celebrate. We are the birthplace of five of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, and we operate a middle school dedicated to educating DC youth in the sciences and mathematics. Not to mention our professors are some of the most passionate you will ever encounter.
Howard is by no means perfect and definitely not for everyone. But it is a prestigious university rooted in a great legacy that we will proudly uphold. It was here that I saw both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama deliver speeches on the same stage in Cramton Auditorium. Here that I learned how incorporate a healthy sense of black cultural pride while not losing sight of my identity as an American and a human being above that. Here that I learned what it meant to truly persevere to victory.
"As we sail life's rugged sea, O Howard, we'll sing of thee."