Designated as Black History Month, February is the month we celebrate the impact of African-American culture in the past and present while looking forward with hope to the opportunities of the future. Black History Month is also a time to reflect on the connection Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have to America’s welfare. In a recent article exploring that connection, Jemayne Lavar King, Ph.D. explains that HBCUs were founded before 1964 and “aimed to educate former slaves and free Blacks – who were once legally denied a right to education – to provide them with skills and trades that would improve the quality of their lives.”
HBCUs continue that legacy today and are still a vital a part of the fabric of American society. According to the U.S. Dept. of Education, “HBCUs provided undergraduate training for 75% of all Black Americans holding a doctorate degree; 75% of all Black officers in the armed forces; and 80% of all Black federal judges.” Clearly, these institutions continue to play a vital role in America’s prosperity – academically, socially, and economically.
As Black History Month began earlier this month, there were some who didn’t care to see the celebrations continue on the campuses of HBCUs. The Washington Post reported on February 2, 2022, that the FBI is investigating a surge in bomb threats at HBCUs. The FBI has recorded threats targeting 17 institutions across the country. Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak reacted to that report in her column on February 10, saying that these bomb threats “remind us of the deadly Birmingham church bombing of 1963, of the angry White students trying to keep Black students out of schools, of campus violence that haunts us today.” Many HBCU institutions are worried the bomb threats will instill fear (just as the perpetrators wish) on the very campuses that were created as safe spaces for African American students.
It is important to acknowledge these threats and treat them as if they were real. Dvorak points out that even if there is no real bomb, the threats themselves are damaging. “This is the damage being done today. Rather than rip through bodies and buildings, the faux bombers are tearing at the security and safety of a community fabric.”
Whether a student on the campus of an HBCU, or at any other educational institution, you should know how to stay safe when a bomb threat has been issued at your location.
The OPTU System provides smart skills and concepts that will help you remain safe and reduce your risk of becoming a victim. When an active bomb threat occurs, you will usually be notified of the threat from a communication system via internet, cellphone, PA system, etc. Once alerted to the possibility of a bomb threat, it is important to act as if the threat is real. Bomb threats are the most common hazard schools face.
The OPTU system is comprised of several smart concepts, including situational awareness, continual observation, communication, and response activation, all of which combine to provide a road map for emergency situations.
A bomb threat is terrifying and the stress it creates often can lead to poor decision making. However, for those who implement OPTU’s smart concepts, the risks are greatly reduced while personal safety is increased during emergencies like bomb threats.
