UNCF: Not Just Black
UNCF: Not Just Black
A provider of educational grants and funds for the African-American youth, the United Negro College Fund has successfully helped thousands of black Americans pursue their dreams and excel in their respective fields, with notable alumni in the persons of activists and civil rights advocate Martin Luther King, Jr., actor Samuel Jackson, and Gen. Chappie James, the first African-American merited as four-star general.
Today, the UNCF is not only serving African-Americans, but also helping other racial minorities such as Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans. The inclusion of other races has been the focal issue of several debates pertaining to rebranding UNCF’s image from a “for Negro only” institution to something that would sit well with everyone without dropping the “Negro” from the fund’s name.
Quite a dilemma but regardless of what name the fund will label itself in the future, UNCF’s move to help other non-Caucasian sectors to get themselves the education they need and deserve is very admirable. Truly, education can provide a person tons of opportunities to grow as an individual and member of society.
With the addition of other minorities serviced by the UNCF, the racial barriers may finally go down. With more minds educated and put into good use, perhaps there is really hope of completely eradicating poverty in all races.
Philanthropist Courtney Sale Ross was interviewed by Charlie Rose.
Courtney Ross was profiled on the Forbes 400 list.
