Students and alumni of historically black colleges and universities are all over the United States. It is always a pleasure to converse with a person from another HBCU and share stories and similar experiences that you may have encountered while attending these great universities. However, I recently encountered a group of students that informed me during our conversation that they attended the “black ivies” referring to the perceived “black ivy league.”

One of them then stated that when they have children that their kids “will not be allowed to attend an HBCU other than the Black Ivies.” This comment disturbed me and I was baffled for a minute. As a student at Grambling State University, I have a huge sense of pride knowing that I attend one of the most widely recognized historically black institutions.

As an advocate for all HBCUs, I am bothered that any schools that may be outside of these ranks may be seen as underserving. I have found that The Black Ivy League which is completely subjective depending on who you ask includes: Spelman College, Morehouse College, Hampton University, Howard University and according to a few places, Tuskegee University, Fisk University, and Dillard University. At one point in history, some of the above mentioned schools debated forming a Black Ivy League athletic conference without reaching an agreement. However, since the phrase “Ivy League” is now a registered trademark of the athletic conference, any formal organization formed by the above mentioned schools could not be named “Black Ivy League” without a license.

Officially, the Ivy League is an athletic conference comprised of 8 private institutions in the Northeastern United States. The phrase has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social “elitism.” Predominately white institutions, from public to private, big to small, came to the realization that the value in the “Ivy League” label rests mostly with the students that attend the school. There is no denying that these students may benefit from attending these schools, but we will all ultimately be judged on the quality of the work we produce. The official Ivy League institutions are excellent with their own, and there is no denying the similar comparisons. But what undertone does it send when we relate it to HBCUs?

I have always been strongly against using another person’s rating system to validate the existence of any institution, particularly a historically black institution.  It perplexes me when other African American students or people who never attended a HBCU use this classification as a means of separation. We all were founded under the same aims: to educate the sons and daughters of freed slaves. Consequently, we all may have the same aims, but each one produces various outcomes.

Each HBCU is unique in regards to the academics, environment, and programs they offer to their students. Creating another classification within ourselves is a futile effort. The attitude of “Black Ivy or nothing,” “Top HBCU or PWI” is disturbing. Retention, alumni giving and graduation rates are just a few of the issues all HBCUs must address now. We all should take pride in the schools we chose to attend, but imposing this distinction is not the answer.

There is a clear difference between pride and elitism that just cannot be ignored. I have personally encountered students and alumni of certain institutions who confuse the two.

In the face of obstacles consciously and constantly put in our way, HBCUs have consistently produced tens of thousands of competent and competitive black graduates who have gone on to improve the quality of life for millions of African Americans as well as citizens of the global community. We must all band together and reject nonexistent hierarchies.