Morehouse College graduate here and I’m heading back for my 40th reunion. I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that helped many of us who graduated in 1986 succeed. Only about 50% of each entering class finishes college within six years. Here’s what worked for us:
- College must be affordable. HBCUs have lost that edge. I paid my tuition through work and loans. My parents helped, but I still paid student loans for 20 years.
- Peer pressure matters. Most graduates had strong peer and study groups. You can’t do it alone. You need partners, especially for homework and big exams.
- Class sizes should be small. Many of our upper-level courses had 15 students or fewer.
What Morehouse could do better:
- Reduce the 50% dropout rate.
- Encourage more active involvement from professors, counselors, and adjuncts in students’ academic lives. Morehouse needs to be more aggressive about getting involved with students academic lives.
- Keep costs low. Morehouse costs about $45K compared to $12K during my attendance. The extra costs destroys the value of a Morehouse education.
I also remember students who came in unprepared, and the school offered no help. Looking back, I realize everyone was smart—many were smarter than me—but I had better preparation.
The real key isn’t college—it’s middle and high school.
- Education in grades 4–7 is critical. Before discrimination sets in, students must develop curiosity, self-direction, and the ability to learn independently.
- Play team sports. Learn to lose, work with others, and grow through competition.
- Learn a trade in high school. Make things. Solve problems. Understand how to control your environment.
At every step, someone took an interest in me and decided to help. That made all the difference.
So, the single best thing I can recommend: more Black male teachers. And if not that, then teachers who care about developing Black male scholars.