OPINION:
In a political world where every headline seems designed to divide us, sometimes something happens that makes you stop and say: Did that really just happen?
Last month, President Trump announced a nearly half-billion-dollar funding surge for America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities — schools that have produced generations of doctors, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs and changemakers. Yes, you read that right: $500 million more for HBCUs, boosting their total federal funding to a record-breaking $1.34 billion, a 48% increase in one year. Funding more than doubled for tribal colleges as well.
That’s not pocket change. That’s not symbolism. That’s real money going into labs, scholarships, dorm repairs, and keeping the doors open at institutions that have been underfunded for decades yet have continued producing excellence anyway.
For me, this isn’t just policy on paper; it’s personal. My daughter is a student at Howard University. I’ve walked those halls, talked to the faculty and seen what it takes to keep excellence alive in the face of constant financial strain. I know the pride families feel when their children attend these storied institutions and the frustration when resources don’t match the brilliance inside those classrooms. This funding is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s oxygen for students like her.
Let’s be real: For many Americans, the Trump name sparks instant distrust. They see the rollbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion and the legal battles over race-based programs and assume the president’s goal is to harm communities of color. You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. We’ve all heard it.
Then this happened: nearly $500 million redirected toward Black institutions. No hashtags. No slogans. No task force to study it for 10 years. Just a massive check and a clear message: “We’re betting on you.”
This isn’t a one-off stunt. Let’s rewind the tape.
In his first term, Mr. Trump signed the FUTURE Act, which made permanent annual funding for HBCUs, something presidents from both parties had talked about for years but never delivered. He moved the White House Initiative on HBCUs into the executive office of the president, giving these schools a literal seat at the table of power. This new investment is the follow-through. It’s not talk. It’s not photo ops. It’s not “maybe someday.” It’s action.
Now, some will say: “He cut DEI. He cut MSI grants. This doesn’t make up for that.” That’s fair to debate, but let’s also be honest: For decades, many of these institutions have been left scrambling with crumbs, trying to do more with less, while others got blank checks and shiny new buildings. HBCUs have produced CEOs in outdated classrooms and surgeons from labs that should have been replaced a generation ago.
So when nearly half a billion dollars shows up to strengthen those schools, that’s not small. That’s historic. You can dislike Mr. Trump’s social media posts. You can disagree with his style. You can question his motives. But facts are facts: Under this administration, HBCUs have received record-breaking, game-changing investments.
Here’s where gratitude matters. For years, communities have demanded that presidents invest in Black institutions with the seriousness they deserve. When one finally does, it shouldn’t be hard to say thank you.
This doesn’t mean blind loyalty. It doesn’t mean silence on other issues. This, right here, is a moment to acknowledge that our schools just got stronger. Mr. Trump didn’t do this quietly. He did it in the middle of lawsuits, protests, media outrage and nonstop skepticism, and he still signed off on the single biggest boost to HBCU funding in modern times.
Call it bold. Call it unexpected. But one thing is clear: This is a moment worth saying out loud. For HBCUs, this isn’t about politics; it’s about growth, opportunity and survival. It’s about students like my daughter, and thousands like her, having the chance to thrive.
Sometimes, history doesn’t knock politely. Sometimes, it kicks the door open.
• Troy Rolling is the chairman of the Frederick Douglass Foundation.
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