This session considers the central role Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played in shaping American political development. It examines the federal government’s friend/foe relationship with HBCUs, challenging the conventional wisdom that education has been the domain of state and local lawmakers. We will also consider HBCUs’ unique approach to education, which has empowered generations of Black citizens and political leaders. Join the panel to learn new insights into the origins of HBCUs and the lessons they offer for using education to promote multi-racial democracy.