While thousands of students are starting school at their chosen historically Black universities and colleges (HBCUs), high schoolers at a first-of-its-kind prep school in New York are making history. This week, HBCU College Prep High School opened its doors to students in Queens hoping to get a glimpse inside the HBCU experience. And while many are celebrating this historic victory, others online have shadier things to say…
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“It’s important because it doesn’t exist,” Dr. Asya Johnson, who is the principal of HBCU College Prep High School, told ABC News. “We often don’t explain to students what exists beyond just our state or our local tri-state area,” she added. “Why not expose students to that?”
Many folks took to X to agree and celebrate the school’s opening. @biggjoe18 said this type of schooling is well overdo. “About time,” he wrote.
Users like @biancasig expressed their shocking approval for the prep school. “I was really amazed at the students mannerisms,” she tweeted. “I’m so excited for them and SUPER inspired.”
Although there are over 100 HBCUs in the country, none are located north of Pennsylvania. For these New York students, that means fewer chances to visit HBCUs when it’s time to apply to college and little exposure to them. That all changes with this prep school, however.
“This is awesome,” @diva_bronze tweeted. But of course, Black folks can’t have anything for themselves without someone crying “woke.” Several online accused the prep school of being racist. @Rebecca91259721 said, “Segregation is illegal. Hmmmm…better allow other races to attend.”
To be clear, HBCU College Prep High School does not use race as a deciding factor for admissions. Any student of any background is welcome to apply. The same is true for all HBCUs, where 25 percent of active students are not Black, according to data from the American Council on Education.
@BobbyKingDeal broke down exactly why an HBCU prep school is not only historic but also a vital need in Black communities. “The argument around brown v board wasn’t that we wanted to be in schools around yt ppl but that we wanted our money to go into our communities! we were getting resources literally stolen,” he said. “So to see us now having resources and receiving a superior education. This is major.”
One parent celebrated her daughter getting into the school. “My kid got accepted into the new HBCU prep high school in queens,” @FunnyFaceMelly tweeted. “I’m soooo proud of my baby!”
“Honestly, I have tears in my eyes,” @jaslajefe began on X. “I’m so proud and happy for that new HBCU prep school.”
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