This ‘HBCU Thread’ in my hand is tugging, Two weeks, back to back, with Tennessee State University Alumni. After 2024 Homecoming, we took our ‘Ole and New Tiger Spirit’ to DC for Howard University’s Homecoming. Writing now to determine the need to open Dialogue in Black Community/Black National life/Black America on —our field of Medicine.

The study to bring this word took me, first, to the Black America’s “Medical Schools LOST”.  I soon discover, (listing 1st Date as Founding – and 2nd Date as Closing)… the following: (f1870 Lincoln University Medical School, Oxford, PA c1874);  (f1873 Straight University Medical Department, New Orleans, LA c1874);  (f1882 Leonard Medical College, Shaw University, Raleigh, NC c1918);  (f1888 Louisville National Medical College, Louisville, KY c1912);  (f1889 Hannibal Medical College, Memphis, TN c1896);  (f1889 State University Medical Department, Louisville, KY c1903);  (f1889 Chattanooga National Medical College, Chattanooga, TN c1904);  (f1889 Flint Medical College, New Orleans University, NOLA c1911);  (f1895 Knoxville College Medical Department, Knoxville, TN c1900);  (f1900 Knoxville Medical College, Knoxville, TN c1910);  (f1900 College of Physician and Surgeons, U West TN, Jackson, TN c1923);  (f1900 Medico-Chirurgical, Theological College of Christ, Baltimore, MD c1908).

While some sources determine that the systemic Racism within American culture accounts for the troubling history of Black medical colleges, all point to the 1910 Report by Abraham Flexner Commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation. The Flexner Report evaluated all medical schools in the country, calling for high standards of excellence in teaching and curriculum. However noble his intentions were, the results delivered was a limiting of Black America’s access to Medical Education. “[Black people need] good schools rather than many schools.” Flexner wrote, “Of the seven medical schools for [Black people] in the United States, 5 are at this moment in no position to make any contribution of value…”.  His Report resulted in the closing of 5 institutions, leaving only 2 Black medical schools: Howard and Meharry — both of which Flexner asserted were “worth developing.”

It took another ’56 yrs’ for Black America to, in part, recover from Flexner’s work of closing ‘5 Black Medical Schools’. With the devastating results of fewer Black Doctors, diminished healthcare to Black communities, and the further assault by America’s medical community’s use of Black Lives as guinea pigs for the many ‘Experiments’ —both known and yet unknown.  56 years to open in 1965 the “3rd, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; only as a response to the Watts Riots AND the 1964 Civil Rights Act from which the term ‘Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ is credited in origin.

Only four HBMS exist today:

• 1868 HOWARD University College of Medicine
• 1876 MEHARRY Medical College
• 1965 Charles R. DREW University of Medicine and Science
• 1975 MOREHOUSE School of Medicine

In August of this year, Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg Philanthropies committed $600 million to the endowments the “Four HBCU/HBMS as aide to their future economic stability.  He delivered this news at the annual convention of the National Medical Association, who advocates for African American Physicians.  The billionaire former Mayor of New York City pointed to the closure of all but four Historically Black Medical Schools saying: “Lack of funding and support, driven probably in no small part by prejudice and racism, have forced many to close their doors.  We cannot allow that to happen again, and this gift will help ensure it doesn’t.”

This Bloomberg $600 million dollar commitment is designated as $175 million each to Howard, Meharry and Morehouse; while Charles Drew is determined to receive $75 million.

Xavier, Louisiana, is scheduled to open the “5th HBCU Medical School” before the close of 2024 and has been granted $5 million of these funds. This single Grant by Bloomberg Philanthropies will more than double the size of the Endowments of the oldest of the surviving HBCU medical schools.

All inquiries By email: talk2therev@icloud.com. “Words of Life Study” Wednesdays on Zoom.  12:00 Noon & 6:30 pm CST. Join the Dialogue at my “Swellcast”.  At all times: https://SWELLCAST.com/therev.