On the same day President Biden passed a law designating Juneteenth a federal holiday, Apple and Google announced new grants for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Four schools—Alabama A&M University, Howard University, Morgan State University, and Prairie View A&M University—will share a $5 million “Innovation Grant” from Apple, which last year introduced the broader $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.
With a focus on education, criminal justice reform, and economic equality, the REJI is Cupertino’s long-term effort to “help ensure more positive outcomes for communities of color, particularly for the Black community,” the company website said.
Each university will receive a $1.25 million cut of the three-year grant, designed to support engineering schools, prepare students for careers in hardware technology and silicon chip design, and expand emerging hardware technologies coursework, USA TodayUSA Today reported.
“The HBCU community is home to incredible Black talent and we are thrilled to work alongside these universities to enhance the opportunities for their students,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, said in a statement. “We know many jobs of the future will be in innovative areas like silicon engineering and we want to help ensure the leaders of tomorrow have access to transformational learning opportunities.”
More money for these universities means more lab space, guest lecturers, scholarships and fellowships, faculty training, and curriculum support, among other benefits. But Cupertino is no stranger to historically Black colleges and universities: As of July 2020, the tech firm’s Community Education Initiative extends to 24 locations across the US—12 of which are HBCUs and 21 of which predominantly serve majority Black and Brown students.
“Apple’s investment … underscores a recognition in the proven ability of HBCUs to produce top talent that not only enhances workforce diversity, but also contributes to the advancement of innovation and global competitiveness in critical STEM fields,” Morgan State University President David K. Wilson said.
Howard University Dean John M. M. Anderson echoed that sentiment, adding that “through design projects and internships, our students will have the opportunity to engage with Apple engineers and benefit greatly from their knowledge, experience, and mentorship.”
Google also promised to help close the tech industry’s racial wealth gap by offering a $50 million grant to 10 HBCUs “that will help support scholarships, invest in technical infrastructure for in-class and remote learning, and develop curriculum and career support programs,” Chief Diversity Officer Melonie Parker wrote in a blog announcement.
Spelman College, North Carolina A&T, Claflin University, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), and Thurgood Marshall College Fund—as well as Morgan State, Prairie View A&M, and Howard—will each benefit from a one-time, unrestricted $5 million endowment, part of Google’s largest-ever financial commitment for historically Black colleges and universities.
“Despite the success of HBCUs, Black professionals continue to be underrepresented across the tech industry. We want to do our part to support these institutions as we work to help close the gap, together,” Parker said. “This grant further solidifies our commitment to providing access and opportunities for underrepresented groups in tech. We’ll continue to partner closely with HBCUs to achieve this shared goal.”
