With just days before the 2024 U.S. election, North Carolina’s 10 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are ramping up activism efforts.
Local student government associations and other organizations across these schools have mobilized to energize a nearly 40,000-student voting bloc, according to an AP report. Leading up to Election Day on Tuesday, the North Carolina Black Alliance has been collaborating with each HBCU—and one predominantly Black institution—to transport students to the polls during early voting.
The “Votecoming” tour, a play on HBCU homecoming, aims to educate students on the entire ballot and encourage early voting to avoid voter ID or registration issues, said Gabrielle Martin, the alliance’s campus coordinator. Although Vice President Kamala Harris, an HBCU alum, is running for president, this is a non-partisan effort. However, her candidacy could influence some students’ votes.
RELATED STORIES
Harris’ presence at the top of the Democratic ticket is “positive attention on HBCUs,” said Justin Nixon, a senior and student government president at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. “We’ve always shown our capabilities, and now we can truly say this represents what HBCUs have produced.”
Still, students emphasize their focus on civic engagement over partisanship. “In an election like this, it’s crucial for us as students to take the reins on something so important,” said Kylie Rice, senior and student government president at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the state’s largest HBCU.
The history of activism among North Carolina HBCU students is longstanding. Bennett College students, for example, protested in the late 1930s against a local theater that edited out Black characters. In 1960, Bennett women joined North Carolina A&T students to protest segregation at a Greensboro lunch counter.
This activism continues today. In 2019, Black communities in North Carolina faced gerrymandering efforts that diluted their electoral influence. A&T students rallied against redistricting maps that split the university in half. The state now faces voter ID battles and Hurricane Helene‘s destruction, which residents worry could disrupt voting.
READ ALSO: HBCU football legends rally behind Kamala Harris with strong endorsement
“We want to encourage early voting so any registration or ID issues can be resolved,” Martin said.
The tour, which began on October 17 with North Carolina’s first day of early voting, will conclude Friday at Fayetteville University. Other voter engagement events include teacher-student information sessions at Bennett College, classroom discussions on voting at Elizabeth City State University, and game nights with Black fraternities and sororities.
North Carolina remains a pivotal battleground, with Trump’s 2020 victory margin in the state being the slimmest of any he won. “That’s a razor-thin margin, and North Carolina HBCUs are a significant voting bloc,” Nixon noted. “We shape the political dialogue on issues within the Black community.”
Both campaigns are making a push. Harris’ campaign has organized an HBCU homecoming tour, including a visit to Shaw University. The Trump campaign has also planned outreach, citing initiatives like his administration’s permanent HBCU funding bill, said Janiyah Thomas, the Trump campaign’s Black media director.
The focus on youth voters positions North Carolina HBCU students as a force in these final days. For many, this election marks their first vote. “This may be the most consequential election to date,” said Shelby Fogan, a senior and Bennett student government president, who changed her registration to North Carolina. “I want my vote to count where it matters most.”
Students are also focused on which candidates will prioritize HBCU funding. Many of these institutions face ongoing financial challenges, despite recent funding boosts. Bennett College, for instance, lost its accreditation in 2019 due to financial difficulties, which could have affected its participation in federal programs. It regained accreditation in 2023.
HBCUs’ lower tuition costs offer greater college access to Black students, making funding crucial, said Aleah Crawford, a junior at Elizabeth City State University. “Without funding, many students would have to pay out of pocket, which isn’t feasible for everyone,” she said.
Located in a rural area, Elizabeth City State University—serving fewer than 2,200 students—is the city’s only four-year institution, contributing significantly to local growth. Yet, students feel overlooked by political leaders, noted Caszhmere Chaison, a junior and student government member.
“We bring financial support to this city,” Chaison said. “If we don’t advocate for ourselves, who will?”
This sentiment resonates among HBCU students nationwide. Bennett’s student government president, Suzanne Walsh, urged students to make their voices heard: “Our role is to say, don’t overlook us.”
