Educational and Cultural Tours of HBCUs

Educational and cultural tours of HBCUs in the South began thirty-two years ago under the leadership of Tuskegee University graduate Carl Ray, an engineer, author, playwright, and community advocate.

Please note: The HBCU tours are no longer offered by Genesis CDC. This page remains as a record of the program and its history.

About the Tour

Thirty Two Years of HBCU Educational and Cultural Tours

The HBCU college tour took thousands of students to gain exposure, knowledge, and appreciation of colleges and universities in the South. Students learned that predominantly Black colleges and universities are not second rate and are more than vestiges of segregation.

Over the thirty-two-year history, student groups ranged from three to one hundred and ten on a single trip. Students from the tenth grade through the second year in community college participated in the five-day tour.

Tour History

Campuses and Cultural Sites

The tours were usually scheduled for the fall and spring, depending on demand. Funding was solicited from the community and scholarships were usually available.

01Morehouse

02Spelman

03Clark Atlanta

04Alabama State University

05Tuskegee University

06Oakwood

07Alabama A & M

08Florida A & M

09Atlanta University Center

10Dexter Avenue Baptist Church

11Tuskegee Airmen Historical Site

12Booker T. Washington Home

13CNN Center

14Museum and Memorial of Peace and Justice

15Law and Poverty Civil Rights Center

1616th Street Baptist Church

17Civil Rights Museum

The Experience

What the Tour Offered Students and Families

The tour enriched the lives of Bay Area families and their children. It gave students the opportunity to see what they could become, converse with Black professors, witness Black professionals operating universities, experience being in an environment where they were the majority, and gain exposure to their culture, pride in their ethnicity, and dignified conduct.

Bay Area students were affirmed by seeing HBCU students studying, sharing their goals, and taking steps toward meaningful and satisfying lives.

The HBCU tours are no longer offered. For current events, workshops, and programs at Genesis CDC, please visit our Programs page.

View Current Programs Tribute to Carl Ray

Educational and Cultural Tours of HBCU's

Educational and cultural tours of HBCUs in the South began thirty-two years ago. Initiated by a Tuskegee University graduate, CARL RAY, an engineer, author, playwright, and community advocate. The HBCU college tour has taken thousands of students to gain exposure, knowledge, and appreciation of the colleges and universities in the South. Students learn that predominantly black colleges and universities are not second-rate…and are more than vestiges of segregation.

Over the thirty-two-year history, student groups have numbered from three to one hundred and ten, on a single trip. Students from the tenth grade through the second year in community college are welcome to join the five-day journey.

The tour is usually scheduled for the fall and spring, depending on the demand. The tours visited the following: Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, Alabama State University, Tuskegee University, Oakwood, Alabama A & M, Florida A & M, Atlantic University Center, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Tuskegee Airmen Historical Site, Booker T. Washington Home, CNN Center, Museum and Memorial of Peace and Justice, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Law and Poverty Civil Rights Center, 16th Street Baptist Church, and Civil Rights Museum. Funding is solicited from the community and scholarships are usually available.

Thus, the tour enriches the lives of bay area families. It is a necessity for many of them and their children. It enables students to encounter an environment where they see what they can become, gain tools to deal with the larger community in which they live, converse with black professors, witness blacks operating universities, they are placed in an environment where they are the majority, they are exposed to their culture, they witness pride in their ethnicity and dignified conduct. Bay area students are affirmed seeing and learning that HBCUs are institutions where students of color are getting along, studying, sharing their goals, and taking steps to ensure a meaningful and satisfying life. This tour will have an impact on the life of any participant.

Financial support is available. Contact us for more information.