George W. Bush

“ Education remains the path to equality and opportunity, and HBCUs are a vital part of our national commitment to improving education for all of our citizens. Funding for HBCUs is now at an all-time high. By providing students with a quality education, HBCUs are continuing to help America remain a place of opportunity and hope for every citizen. ”

“ Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created to educate African Americans when they were wrongly denied the opportunity to attend school during the 19th century. Today, these great institutions continue to advance equal opportunity and excellence in education. In 2002, HBCUs enrolled 14 percent of all African Americans attending college. Their graduates are leaders in medicine, education, government, the military, business, the arts, the law, and many other fields. ”

“ They include such heroes as Thurgood Marshall, who led the struggle for equal justice under law for African Americans and successfully represented African- American schoolchildren in Brown.
Half a century after the Supreme Court's historic decision in Brown, America is still working to reach the high calling of its ideals. ”