Essay Examples on Harvard University

Literature Review From Obtaining Access to Obtaining Success African Americans have always recognized education as a powerful vessel for changing lives and communities From the infancy years of the United States African Americans were prohibited from obtaining an education Education in the 19th century for African Americans was prohibited A few higher education institutions such as Dartmouth College in 1824 and Oberlin College in 1833 began to provide an education for African American students Cohen 2009 However 20th century America introduced major landmarks for educational access and success of African Americans The decision of Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka Kansas 1954 and the Civil Rights Movement 1955 68 sparked the movement for equal opportunity The US Supreme Court ruled in the Brown v Board of Education case 1954 that racial segregation in education was deemed unconstitutional Cohen 2009 Nevertheless the 21st century African Americans students are still facing barriers associated with financial and other factors in education Opportunity barriers involving student enrollment and completion of a higher education still prevalent for African American students Understanding the barriers that African American students are challenged with in seeking higher education degrees is a critical factor in making African American students aspirations a reality Retention Barriers Underprepared Students