Charles Vert Willie

Ronald Brown

Richard J. Reddick

This study compares the culture of black colleges and universities a generation ago with those that exist today, and makes projections into the future, based on a comprehensive review of professional literature and an analysis of the management skills of contemporary black college leaders. The book considers the assets and liabilities of historically Black colleges and discusses the ways in which Black colleges can be of help to non-Blacks (including white students) who can benefit from the unique kind of education offered by such schools. The mission of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) a generation ago focused on opening doors closed to students because of their scores on standardized aptitude tests, providing remedial and supportive services to students whose academic backgrounds reflect low levels of achievement, combining academic as well as vocational course concentrations, modifying instructional methods and techniques to meet students where they are, and take them to the higher levels they are capable of attaining. This mission of opening new opportunities, giving support to overcome deficits of the past, and preparing students for professional and academic vocations continues today for these institutions.

The Black College Mystique

Charles V. Willie

Charles Willie and Richard Reddick's A New Look at Black Families has introduced thousands of students to the intricacies of the Black family in American society since its publication in 1976. Using a case study approach, Willie and Reddick show the varieties of the Black family experience and how those experiences vary by socioeconomic status. In addition to examining families of low-income, working, and middle classes, the authors also look to the family experiences of highly successful African Americans to try to identify the elements of the family environment leading to success. The authors puncture the myth of the Black matriarchy prevalent in the popular imagination; and they explore a variety of family configurations, including a family with same-gender parents. The sixth edition has been reorganized and updated throughout. The new Part III—Cases Against and for Black Men and Women—unites two chapters from previous editions into a cohesive discussion of stereotypes and misunderstandings from both scholars and the mass media. Also, a new chapter on the Obama family offers support for cross-gender and cross-racial mentoring, and it demonstrates the value of extended family relations.

Richard J. Reddick

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