The struggle for equality and justice is arguably the foundation of many societies throughout the world. The American plight for these freedoms began with the end of European empires and the retreat of European settlers to a new world that would later be named America. However, as the colonized people took hold of self-rule and the establishment of a higher education system, Blacks endured a similar, yet more brutal and violent plight for the same liberties and independence that the colonist fought so hard to gain. This paper will provide a historical perspective of race and higher education, particularly the struggles, accomplishments and the future of Blacks in American higher education.
             The history of higher education for Blacks in America is usually told from a perspective of the philanthropic efforts of northern Whites to establish a system to educate former slaves following the Civil War. Freeman (2010) describes these efforts as efforts as something that was done by rich white people in the north for poor Blacks in the south out of their hearts, in order to educate and uplift illiterate former slaves in the new emancipated south. However the truth of the matter is that, many of their efforts were self-serving, condescending, and paternalistic.
             The literature fails to highlight the historiography of the establishment of northern black colleges established through fundraising efforts and charitable donations made by Blacks themselves (Freeman, 2010). This is a critical section of history that seems to have been overlooked. In addition the academic contributions of early black pioneers in higher education and to liberation of a people and a nation have been excluded from many of the writings that describe the overall struggle of Blacks to pierce the white veil of education.
             Since the first slave arrived on the shores of America, Blacks have possessed the desire to gain an education, because many of them knew that it woul...