A place of belonging: Howard University

We recently moved our son into his freshman dorm at Howard University. What we did is not much different than what countless others were doing – helping their child embark on their first solo venture into their new world as an adult. But, he was also embarking into a very different world that he has grown up in, and statistically likely to be very different than where he will live after graduation – beyond the obvious of living and learning in an institution of higher education with people his age.

At Howard, he will for the first time in his life be immersed in an environment where he is not other. He identifies as Black / African American. He was raised by one Black and one White parent (both birth parents are Black), attended schools ranging from one Black student (him) kid out of nearly 400 to one with a 20% Black population, and lived in neighborhoods from 5% to 30% Black. He will now be living and studying in an immersive Black environment – students, faculty, and neighborhood.

As a friend/colleague observed, at Howard he “won’t be Black”. He won’t be other. He will belong.

When we first visited the campus in 2021, his face lit up like we’d never seen. There in front of him was a place of success – a place where he could see himself and people literally like him.

Black Success Everywhere - Large amounts of successful Black people – students, faculty, alumni (such as the US Vice President), and guest lecturers and presenters. At many universities, including our local University of Washington, Black faculty members are clustered in the Athletics department, meaning students have few to no Black academic role models or mentors.

Celebrating Black Excellence - Street banners, flags, and buildings featuring faces and names of prominent Black Americans from all walks of life: the Chadwick Bozeman Performing Arts Center (who wouldn’t be inspired by a contemporary superhero who looks like them?), Nobel Prize Laureate Ralph J. Bunche, Frederick Douglass, Felicia Rashad, and countless other notable achievers in arts, science, business, social movements, and government.

Design elements - The campus’ original buildings are mostly Eurocentric. Starting in the early 20th century, buildings began to include prominent representations of Black people. Importantly, these depictions were of Black scientists, artists, and visionaries – not as other or less than the more commonly depicted non-Black figures.

The Harriett Tubman mural (below) is an hour's drive from Howard, but it is part of the same geographical and cultural milieu. It is coming to be recognized as one of the most welcoming art pieces ever created. The image invites touch and response while encapsulating the story of the person being depicted: one who broke down walls to lead many hundreds of people to freedom.

Art featuring Black faces and culture are incorporated into university notices and both permanent and temporary pieces prominently displayed across the campus.

Black Culture – Beyond physical displays of welcoming and belonging, the well-staffed help desks are geared towards first generation students, many on average from less affluent families with parents likely to be less familiar with the myriad of processes, systems, and other things to navigate – from forms, deadlines, to knowing that bed sizes might be different than their family has. Howard’s lists were exhaustive and culturally relevant, down to accommodations for culturally-relevant skin and hair care products.

To graduate from Howard, students must demonstrate an ability to swim. This comes from a commitment to overcome African Americans' disproportionately not learning to swim; a commitment to overcome deep cultural traits resulting from inequity rooted in lack of access, safety, and the Third Crossing. This commitment made history this year, with the USA’s only all-Black college team in men’s swimming and diving winning the Northeast Conference championship in a sport dominated by non-Black people.

The importance of belonging in places and spaces is something frequently overlooked or disregarded by those of us priviledged to be in, or appear to be in, our society's dominant group (likely White, male, and heteronormative). For those not in the dominant group, having places such as Howard where Black students can choose (and compete) to attend, as with any place offering diverse and immersive experiences, can be of immense benefit in avoiding stress, repairing trauma, and maximizing potential. One size - or one colour - does not fit all. When the system and place are designed to fit, there is belonging.

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