Harold Love Jr.’s (JECLI Fellows Class of 2023/2024) efforts to address funding inequities at Black land-grant universities, specifically Tennessee State University (TSU), have become central to a wider national debate on the persistent underfunding of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). For decades, Black land-grant colleges have received significantly less funding than their predominantly White counterparts, leaving students and faculty to operate in resource-strapped environments. At the heart of this issue is a $2.1 billion debt that Tennessee State University is owed, as confirmed by federal estimates.
Tennessee State University, located in Nashville, serves as a case study in the larger national trend. Over the years, its faculty and students have faced a myriad of challenges—outdated resources, deferred maintenance, and an overall lack of financial support—due to the state’s failure to provide equitable funding. TSU’s first woman president, Dr. Glenda Glover, alongside state officials like Harold Love Jr., has been at the forefront of uncovering this historical discrepancy. The root of the issue dates back to the Civil War and the Morrill Land-Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890. While these acts aimed to establish land-grant institutions to promote agricultural education, many Southern states, including Tennessee, opted to create separate institutions for Black students rather than integrate, leading to unequal funding.
Harold Love Jr., a TSU alumnus and current state representative, now chairs a committee dedicated to investigating this funding injustice. With decades of missing funds now documented, efforts are focused on regaining what is rightfully owed. His father, Harold Love Sr., also fought this battle decades ago, but little progress was made until recent investigations shed light on just how substantial the funding deficit had become.
The underfunding of HBCUs like TSU has far-reaching implications, not just for the universities themselves but for the students and communities they serve. For example, faculty in TSU’s music department are still using instruments dating back to the 1960s due to the inability to purchase new ones. At the same time, students—many of whom are non-Black—face inferior campus resources compared to their peers at predominantly White institutions, making this an issue of educational equity, not just racial justice.
The problem isn’t isolated to Tennessee. A recent Department of Education study revealed that nearly $13 billion is owed to land-grant HBCUs nationwide. The disparity between what HBCUs like TSU receive versus predominantly White institutions is stark. In 2015, for example, the state allocated $58.9 million to the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville but only $5.7 million to TSU—a significant difference that underscores the longstanding inequity.
While Tennessee Governor Bill Lee claims to have addressed some of the funding issues with a historic $300 million allocation, TSU notes that this is a one-time facility upgrade fund and not part of its yearly funding. Thus, the core issue of annual funding deficits remains unresolved.
Students have also stepped up, demanding the funds that are long overdue. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who now represents TSU students, frames this issue as a “historic civil rights battle” in line with broader struggles for racial equity in the U.S. His involvement has brought renewed national attention to the situation, marking it as a critical moment in the fight for educational justice.
The financial oversight issue is a matter of both systemic neglect and political hesitancy to make amends. While states like Tennessee may argue that the current funding levels are adequate, the evidence suggests otherwise. TSU’s efforts, alongside those of other land-grant HBCUs, are part of a growing movement to correct this injustice.
As Harold Love Jr. and others continue to push for restitution, the conversation is expanding beyond just Tennessee. The underfunding of Black land-grant universities reflects broader societal challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. For many, it’s no longer just about Black versus White; it’s about what is right versus what is wrong.
Ultimately, while recent efforts have raised awareness, TSU and other HBCUs are still waiting for the full restitution they deserve. The battle for funding, however, isn’t just about money—it’s about correcting a long-standing injustice that has held back generations of Black students and faculty. As Harold Love Jr. and his coalition work toward a solution, the future of these institutions—and the students they serve—hangs in the balance.
