The Forgotten GI: The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act and Black Colleges, 1944–54

Abstract

One of the greatest acts of Congress, in terms of the federal government’s participation in education, was the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944—commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights. The bill transcended its wartime context, inextricably linking the federal government and higher education. It also afforded opportunities for all veterans to expand their educational goals, such as acquiring a college or advanced degree. Numerous scholars and historians document that the primary effect of the GI Bill was the universal increase in enrollment at colleges and universities (Adkins, 1996; Bennett, 1996; Caliver, 1945; Clark, 1998; Greenburg, 1997; Herbold, 1994–95; Hill, 1984; Hyman, 1986; Jenkins, 1946; McGrath, 1945; Olsen, 1973; Thelin, 2004; Vaile, 1944; Walters, 1944; Weaver, 1945). Enrollment increases in higher education were significant, for comparatively few industries grew as fast, gained as much prestige, or affected the lives of so many people. Enrollment at Black colleges also increased exponentially following World War II because of the GI Bill. The purpose of this chapter is twofold. First, I will illustrate how the GI Bill increased access for Black veterans to attend Black colleges. Second, I will illuminate the issues Black colleges faced because of this increase in enrollment, namely, the readjustment of the veteran student and the curricular reorganization of certain programs of study.KeywordsHigh EducationBlack CollegeQuarterly ReviewTotal EnrollmentWhite InstitutionThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.