Private Black Colleges in Texas, 1865-1954 (Volume 3) (Texas A&M Southwestern Studies)

Comparing the private black colleges of Texas with its public institutions and with other black colleges across the nation, Michael R. Heintze convincingly supports the revisionist view of these schools as valuable social institutions instead of the corrupt and inadequate imitations critics have called them. In his comparisons, Heintze discusses historical backgrounds, curricula, and finances. He concludes that despite poor financing, limited facilities, and shortages of teachers and equipment, the independent black colleges in Texas made vital, unique, and lasting contributions. Amazon.com The founding and development of private, primarily church-related, black colleges in Texas from 1865-1954 are reviewed, with focus primarily on 11 institutions that offered college-level work. Comparisons are made to public black colleges of Texas as well as to other black U.S. colleges and universities. Topical areas include: institutional mission and purpose, administrative and faculty development, academic and vocational curricula, finances, and student life. It is noted that mission statements are among the earliest descriptions of what these colleges stood for and what they hoped to accomplish. They also provide valuable clues to each school's priorities with respect to religious, professional, and vocational training. As a consequence of debate over the definition, purpose, and needs of black colleges, a dualistic type of liberal arts-vocational curriculum emerged in most of these institutions. Additional controversies and problems experienced by the institutions included poor financing, limited facilities, and shortages of teachers and equipment. Evidence is presented to support the revisionist view of these schools as valuable social institutions instead of the corrupt and inadequate imitations critics have described. Included are descriptions of black college presidents and administrators. (SW) When the man next door is forced to sell his cart horse Shaun sets out to find it and to raise the money to buy it back By Michael R. Heintze. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [187]-206.