As a student at Alabama State University, I cannot help but feel concerned about the current presidential administration. It is not just a matter of politics, it is a matter of the future of our education, rights and communities.
From potential violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to student loan changes pushed by billionnaires like Elon Musk, it is clear that there are forces at play that threaten the very foundation of what Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) stand for. The question is: Should we all be worried?
Let’s start with the U.S. Department of Education. For schools like Alabama State University, this is huge. If this department is stripped of its power, it means cutting pell grants, federal student loans, and loan forgiveness programs, things that so many students at HBCUs rely on to continue their education. I rely on federal loans to pay tuition. Without this funding, many of us may have no choice but to drop out. We are already facing enough financial barriers, but if the current administration dismantles these essential programs, the future looks worst. More debt and less access to the education we need.
As someone who wants to continue my studies at this university, these changes raise a big question. Will our doors remain open if they strip away this funding? The university, like many other HBCUs, has always been a example of opportunities for Black students like me. We have a history of overcoming obstacles.
The Marion Nine fought to establish a school in Alabama so Black students could learn, something that was denied to our ancestors. Our legacy is being threatened by policies that aim to dismantle what was built. If the department is weakened or eliminated, what happens to the pell grants, the federal loans, the programs that ensure we have access to education at all? We have come too far to allow our education to be stripped from us.
It is not just about education either. The FBI has worked to protect civil rights, especially for people of color. This includes investigating violations of federal civil rights laws, laws that are foundational to our rights as Black people in America. According to FBI.gov, dismantling the FBI will have direct consequences for HBCUs. If this happens, how will we be protected when we continue to push for more opportunities? What will happen to the students advocating for their future, for their rights, and for the right to learn at institutions like ours?
And let’s not forget about the cultural and historical impact. As an HBCU student, I know that the education we receive is more than just academics. It is about history, empowerment and community. This administration is already trying to rewrite that history, one law at a time. The rights we have and the opportunities we are fighting for are constantly under attack. The cuts to education and student loan programs, the dismantling of the FBI, the limiting of reproductive rights for women, this is an attack on our right to exist.The cuts to food stamps, Medicaid, and the potential removal of the U.S. Department of Education are not just numbers on a screen. They are real, and they will have a direct impact on the lives of students, especially those attending HBCUs. If these changes are allowed to stand, we risk the future of our education.As a student here, I want to continue my studies at the university, not somewhere else, not at “Hillmantok” on TikTok. I want to be here, where our legacy matters, where our voices are heard, and where our fight for the future is supported.
So, let us stand up for ourselves, and for the future of HBCUs. We need to demand that our voices be heard, that our education be protected, and we are allowed to continue learning and growing at our university. Let us not allow these changes to go unnoticed. The history of Black students in Montgomery and the “Marion Nine” today, shows us that our education is something worth fighting for.