LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Protesters at Simmons College in Louisville Saturday demanded justice in education, from elementary to higher education.

What You Need To Know


  • Protesters gathered at Simmons College

  • They want justice in education for students

  • Organizers say education is crucial not just when students enter HBCUs

“Everyone doesn’t have to protest, but this is my protest,” organizer of the protest Andrea Houston said.

According to a 2014 survey by Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, 30 percent of U.S. adults in prison don’t have a high school diploma. 

The overall message of the gathering was education plays a crucial role in someone’s life and there is a correlation between lower education and imprisonment. However, education for Black Americans is still not equal and justice is wanted.

“Black people must be in the lead in directing the destiny of Black people. We do not need white institutions or white power brokers dictating what should be happening in the black community,” said Simmons College President, Dr. Kevin Cosby. 

According to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the nation’s largest organization that represents the black college community, nine percent of all African-American college students attend historically Black Colleges and universities (HBCU). Twenty-two percent of the current bachelor’s degrees granted to African-Americans are from HBCUs. Despite that, HBCUs receive one-eighth of the average size of endowments compared to historically white colleges and universities.

With about a dozen speakers, the topics didn’t just focus on HBCUs. The start of formal education was also discussed.

Michelle Pennix, a former principal at Louisville's Mill Creek Elementary had three ways to make education equitable for Black Students. One was to ban suspensions and instead asked students why they did what they did. 

“What happened to you that caused you to act in such a way?" Pennix continued, "And then we used our resources to build relationships with those children. "

Pennix said the other two things she did while at Mill Creek was to get rid of standardized testing and created a curriculum that cultivated curiosity. 

Students also got up and spoke to the crowd. High schooler Jose Velasquez believes teaching the "real story of African-American history" needs to be taught to debunk stereotypes.

Velasquez said, “We need to be taught the truth. Not just part of it, all of the truth.”

Dr. F. Bruce Williams pastor of Bates Memorial Baptist Church wrapped up the conversation saying there needs to be equity in philanthropy given to HBCUs compared to other U.S. colleges and universities. 

"We can’t wait till they get to HBCUs to find the right environment to be educated we’ve got to start as soon as they enroll in school,” Williams said.