Cheyney

          There is constant debate -even between Historically Black Colleges and Universities- pertaining

to which institution is the oldest. Of course, I am going to always bolster my alma mater as the oldest.

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           Many Black historical educational venues were created by free, indentured, fugitive slave and White slave owners for their Black offspring.

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          More notably there were schools created by Black and White religious organizations. Mostly because they had more financial support from their larger memberships.

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          I give homage to the many different religious denominations which surreptitiously educated Black children without calling their teaching facilities schools.

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          However, this concession, as sincere as it is, does not diminish my declaration that, The Institute for Colored Youth, is the oldest. Based on the recorded fact that it is the oldest school for colored children identified, as such, by an established commonwealth.

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          Today, because of these HBCU greater undergraduate enrollment numbers, the diversity professional degrees they can bestow; and alumni distinguished by national media, I give respect.

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          However, I must remind or inform those who attended or attend the well-known HBCU that if they diligently research their institution’s history. They will find, for more than a century and a half, the professors who taught at their beloved alma maters were graduates of ICY, Cheyney Normal School, Cheyney State Teachers College or Cheyney University.