1. Introduction. Who Are the HBCUs? -- History of private four-year, graduate and professional institutions -- History of public four-year, graduate and professional institutions -- History of Black community colleges and junior colleges -- The mission of HBCUs -- The debate over curriculum -- Outside forces on the mission and curricula -- Role of HBCUs in higher education -- Political aspects of HBCUs -- Fulfillment of the mission and role -- Status of HBCUs -- The continued need for HBCUs in the twenty-first century -- References -- 2. Chronology -- 3. Legal influences on HBCUs. Governance of higher education -- Federal government intervention in higher education -- Presidential executive orders -- U.S. constitutional amendments -- U.S. legislative acts -- Court cases -- Conclusion -- References -- 4. Philanthropy and government relations. Philanthropy defined -- Historical overview -- Contemporary philanthropy -- Individual philanthropy -- Government relations -- Conclusion -- References -- 5. Historically minority universities bioscience and biotechnology program initiative. Impetus for the model -- The model -- The model outcomes -- Conclusion -- References -- 6. Research agenda for the twenty-first century. References -- 7. Directory of organizations and print resources. Organizations -- Print Resources -- Appendix 1: HBCUs by state -- Appendix 2: Selected graduates of HBCUs.