Lockdowns at HBCUs: When “Class Dismissed” Means “Hide Under Your Desk”

Imagine your child’s school suddenly turning into the scene of a thriller—sirens blaring, lockdowns enforced, phones flooded with warnings. In September 2024, multiple HBCUs—including Alabama State, Hampton University, Virginia State, Southern University in Louisiana, Bethune-Cookman University, and Clark Atlanta University—were abruptly locked down because of hoax bomb and shooting threats. Tens of thousands of Black students found their campuses shuttered, classes canceled, activities suspended, creating a chaotic environment that is anything but typical.

While the term “hoax” might suggest a harmless prank—something trivial—these threats inflict deep psychological harm. For HBCUs, these “pranks” push already fragile safety nets off a cliff. Beyond physical safety, the mental health and emotional security of Black students and the communities around them suffer bruises that aren’t easily visible.

Why Target HBCUs? Why Now?

HBCUs have stood for more than a century as beacons of Black excellence and resilience—offering safe havens for students who historically faced exclusion from many other institutions. These schools are cultural hubs celebrating Black history, leadership, and achievement. They have launched generations of Black professionals, activists, and artists who shape society.

When threats target these institutions, it’s more than a campus crisis—it reverberates through the entire Black community’s soul. Think of your grandparents’ stories of fighting for the right to education, for schools not just to be places to survive but to thrive. Now, imagine that hard-won peace being shaken by anonymous threats aimed at intimidation. It’s a stinging reminder of how precarious safety still is.

The September 2024 Threat Wave: A Modern Horror Story

If you haven’t heard, the recent wave of threats disrupted multiple HBCU campuses nationwide. The FBI confirmed that no bombs were found and no attacks took place, but these calls were serious enough to trigger maximum security responses. Campus security heightened their vigilance as law enforcement deployed resources to ensure student safety. The result? Suspended classes and heightened anxiety—exhausting students who already juggle demanding academic and personal lives.

The Student and Family Impact: More Than Just a Drill

These lockdowns are not mere inconveniences. They represent a mounting mental health emergency. Students, confined indoors and away from normalcy, wrestle with “What if” scenarios, while families anxiously try to get updates and reassurance. One Alabama grandparent expressed profound fear for her granddaughter’s safety, underscoring that the trauma from these incidents extends beyond the campus gates.

A Disturbing Pattern: History Repeats Itself

This surge of threats echoes the 2022 wave when over 50 HBCUs faced similar harrowing experiences. It’s a distressing sequel to an already painful narrative. HBCUs, long marginalized through systemic underfunding and neglect, now grapple with threats that carry an unmistakable message: a targeted attempt to undermine Black educational spaces through intimidation.

This is not random mischief; it is deliberate harassment that threatens the foundation of Black education and community well-being.

Institutional and Law Enforcement Responses

The FBI, campus security teams, and local law enforcement are not sitting idle. Surveillance and threat monitoring have intensified, with agencies treating these hoax threats as real risks, recognizing the wider implications. Universities themselves are ramping up protective measures by enhancing security patrols, updating emergency protocols, investing in smarter surveillance technologies, and prioritizing culturally competent mental health services.

Advocates like the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) are fervently pushing Congress for increased funding dedicated to campus security improvements, emphasizing that protecting HBCU students requires substantial resources and commitment.

The Broader Meaning: Reflecting Ongoing Racism and Resilience

These threats highlight the persistence of racism and intimidation tactics that continue to infiltrate Black lives—even within safe educational spaces designed to nurture Black excellence. It’s a stark illustration of race-based fears that refuse to fade. The compounded trauma calls for immediate mental health support and demonstrates the vital need for a multi-layered community response involving students, families, university leaders, law enforcement, and policymakers.

Protection of HBCUs extends beyond fences and security cameras; it demands communal healing, empowerment, and unyielding resistance against anything aiming to destabilize these vital institutions.

Moving Forward: A Blueprint for Safer, Stronger HBCUs

To counter this disturbing trend, we need actionable strategies:

• Increased funding to ensure robust security infrastructure and trained personnel are standard, not optional.
• Swift, transparent communication during crises to keep communities informed and calm.
• Expansion of culturally aware mental health services that understand the unique experiences of Black students.
• Strengthening ties with alumni, families, and local leaders to create a united front focused on safety.
• Legislative efforts that specifically protect and prioritize HBCUs with long-term commitments.

Conclusion: Safeguarding Priceless Legacies

Threats against HBCUs resonate far beyond campus walls, shaking the dreams, hopes, and futures of Black students and communities. These institutions have stood as pillars of Black advancement despite adversity, and they deserve unwavering protection. Black students must be able to learn without fear, and their families deserve peace of mind.

This call to action is for all of us: support these institutions, raise awareness, advocate for stronger protections, and contribute however you can. Protecting HBCUs means preserving Black excellence and honoring the legacy of those who fought for these sacred spaces.

As a wise reminder, “We rise by lifting others—and by shutting down threats before they ever start.”

Resources for Further Information

• UNCF Statement on HBCU Threats
• Inside Higher Ed Coverage on HBCU Lockdowns
• ABC News: HBCUs Under Lockdown

Remember

Safety, solidarity, and strength are not just buzzwords; they are lifelines for HBCUs and the futures they nurture. Keep these ideals close, keep them loud, and, above all, keep Black educational spaces safe.