When I was invited to moderate Ellucian’s Juneteenth panel, What Freedom Built: The Enduring Legacy and Impact of HBCUs, I knew that the conversation would be meaningful. What I did not fully expect was how much I would still be thinking about it afterward. Particularly, the connections between history, education, opportunity, legacy, and the lived experiences of those shaped by HBCUs.
I was reminded that Juneteenth is not just about a date in history. It is about what it took for freedom to become real in people’s lives. Freedom had to be communicated. It had to be protected. It had to be lived out through access to education, opportunity, and the ability to imagine a different future. HBCUs grew from that vision.
During the panel, I had the privilege of speaking with President Pamela Wilks of Clinton College, Jay Taylor of Philander Smith University, and LT McCrimmon of APCO. Each of them brought a different perspective, but what stood out to me most was how connected their reflections were. They spoke about history, but they also spoke about people. They talked about institutions, but they also talked about the students, mentors, leaders, and communities that make HBCUs so powerful.
HBCUs were created at a time when Black Americans were intentionally denied access to education. Their existence says something powerful about what people believed was possible, even in the face of barriers that were designed to limit them. I really appreciated that the conversation did not treat HBCUs as only historical institutions. The panelists talked about HBCUs as places that are still shaping the future. They are preparing students to lead, helping them understand their own potential, and creating pathways that extend far beyond graduation.
The idea of being seen has stayed with me. We talked about mentorship, belonging, confidence, and purpose. As a UX researcher, I spend a lot of time listening to people and trying to understand what helps or hinders their success. So much of what I heard during the panel connected to something I believe deeply. People thrive when their experiences are understood and valued.
People thrive when their experiences are understood and valued.
HBCUs create environments where students are affirmed and challenged. They remind students that they belong in spaces of leadership and help students see something in themselves that they may not have fully recognized yet. They do more than educate students. These are things HBCUs have done so well for generations.
The conversation reminded me that celebrating HBCUs should come with responsibility. It is important to honor their history and recognize their impact, but appreciation alone is not enough. If we value the work HBCUs do, then we also have to think about how we support them in meaningful and sustained ways. I am grateful to be part of a company that recognizes the importance of that commitment and continues to seek ways to strengthen its partnership with HBCUs.
The title What Freedom Built feels so fitting. HBCUs are part of what Black communities built in pursuit of freedom, even when freedom was incomplete and opportunity was still being withheld. They represent what can happen when communities believe in education as a pathway to something greater. I left the panel with a deeper appreciation for the enduring legacy of HBCUs and for those of us who continue to carry that legacy forward. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not only about what was declared. It is also about what each generation builds, protects, and passes on.
