Historically Black Colleges and Universities Targeted During Black History Month

February 1st commences Black History Month; a month to recognise the achievements and importance of African Americans in the U.S. It is a significant part of the year, as it focuses on a group that has continued to be treated unfairly throughout American history. The first day of Black History Month showed the ever-present struggle Black people face, when at least 13 historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats, along with another a half dozen the day before.  

The wave of threats affected at least 18 colleges in a range of states like Mississippi, Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Florida, Delaware and Washington D.C. School officials nationwide called for lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders.  The FBI is investigating these threats as classified violent extremism and hate crimes. The FBI has identified six juveniles around the country as persons of interest, although no one has been publicly charged as the investigation is still active. One of the juveniles who called in a threat claimed to be connected with Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi group; they used sophisticated methods to try and conceal the source of the threats. The FBI also said that in addition to the colleges targeted, places of worship were targeted as well.  

The significance of these threats comes from not only the seriousness of the act, but also from the use of bombs in past years against Black communities. The Birmingham church bombing is an example of these events. It happened September 15, 1963, when a bomb exploded in a predominantly Black church before sunday morning survice killing four girls and injuring many others. Between 1947 and 1965, there were 50 dynamite explosions that happened in Birmingham alone, leading the city to earn the nickname “bombingham.” This was during the time of the Civil Rights Movement, when things like equal education were being fou. The bomb threats against the schools interrupted classes and frightened administration and students, trying to threaten these equal educational opportunities. These recent threats also came during a politically tense time, when more conservitive states are moving to ban books about race. The fact that the same actions are being threatened against Black communities today, especially during such an important month for them, shows that although the U.S has made progress, racism is still prominent in today's society. 

By Caroline Cranman