1867
Morehouse College founded as Augusta College in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia, and relocated to Atlanta in 1879.
Notables: Dr. Martin L. King, Edwin Moses, Julian Bond, Donn Clendenon, Spike Lee, Samuel Jackson, Maynard Jackson
1877
Natchez Seminary (Jackson State University) founded by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York and moved to Jackson, MS in 1882, and renamed Jackson College.
Notables: Walter Payton, Rod Paige, Lem Barney, Robert Brazile, Jackie Slater, Coy Bacon, Archie Cooley, Lindsey Hunter
1887
Florida A&M University founded as the State Normal College for Colored Students.
Notables: Althea Gibson, Bob Hayes, Ken Riley, Vince Coleman, Willie Galimore, Nat Adderley, Marquis Grissom, Meadowlark Lemon, Clemon Johnson, Eugene Milton
1928
Johnson C. Smith University organized its First Men’s Basketball Team.
Notables: Fred “Curly” Neal, Eddie McGirt, Earl Manigault, Shermaine Williams, Twiggy Sanders, Richard Spencer, Vincent Matthews, Henry Hill, Pettis Norman, Calvin Grover
1950
First All-Black District 29 organized by the NAIA in the first step towards breaking the color barrier in college basketball. Al O. Duer, the executive secretary of the NAIA accepted the petition of the Black Coaches Steering Committee which led to the integration of the national basketball tournament. John B. McLendon, Jr. led the Tennessee State A&I Tigers to three consecutive championships in 1957, ’58 and ’59. Notables: Dick Barnett, John Barnhill
1984
Circle City Classic was established in Indianapolis, Indiana as an annual football classic featuring two HBCUs and became one of the most successful events in HBCU history. The first contest was a wild shootout won by Mississippi Valley State 48 – 36 over Grambling State before a crowd of over 60,000 fans.
