Historically black colleges and universities were founded in the 1800s to meet the educational needs of African-Americans. These institutions now face survival obstacles that jeopardize their continued existence.

The Court, in U.S. v. Fordice (1992), established test standards to desegregate Mississippi's postsecondary institution Jackson State University with implications for other HBCUs nationwide. State legislatures must now eliminate single race based schools unless there is a legal or an educational justification for their existence.

The purpose of this study is to open the...