Uncovering Bomb Threats towards HBCUs

Since late December of 2021, various Historically Black Colleges and Universities have receiveived anonymous threats of their campuses being struck by a bomb. Southern University and A&M was a part of this extensive list of HBCUs targeted, causing worry among students, staff and supporters.
At least 6 Historically Black Colleges and Universities received bomb threats Monday, Janauary 31st; Southern University and A&M, Howard University, Bethune-Cookman University, Albany University, Bowie State University, and Delaware State University. With classes across many campuses already delayed due to the surge of the recent COVID-19 variant, Omicron, students and staff were already introduced to an unprecedented way to start the school year off. The date of the threats, which coincided with the beginning of Black History Month, have lead some to speculate they may have been racially motivated.
On Monday morning, Southern University sent a message around 7 a.m. to students that the campus was on lockdown and classes were canceled until further notice. Students living on-campus were also warned to stay in their dorms and apartments.
After 1:00 PM, the university then sent an “all clear” message to students advising that no bombs or explosives were found by Southern University Police Department and external law enforcement, and the campus was free to roam.
A spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to CNN that “the scene has been cleared with no hazardous materials found” at Howard University. Jackson State University tweeted on Twitter that the university received a call at 4:15am on Tuesday then later on in the day stated that “The Jackson Police Department and JSU Department of Public Safety have swept the campus and found the threat unsubstantiated”. In some cases, a few schools had to relocate students, faculty, and staff while these searches went on.
Although everything was good to go, SUBR students, as well as other HBCU students around the nation, were shaken up that their lives were still stunned and disturbed by the threats.
Kamryn Johnson, a junior at Southern University, stated that her mental health is fine after everything but she was stunned when she first saw the message the university sent out by the university. “I remembered that a few other HBCUs had received the same a few weeks ago…and I was just like ‘wow, it really happened to my university.’”
Another Jaguar named Laila Hazel, a freshman and native from Carson, California, also felt fine mentally because of what one of her professors instilled into her. Her professor proclaimed, “The black youth getting an education for themselves has caused society to be afraid of us, causing them to threaten us.”
HBCUs around the nation will likely continue to keep their students save and have stricter security on their campuses. When SUBR students were asked on how they think the university will move forward amongst the bomb threats, they felt secure that Southern University will move in caution.
Ms. Johnson assured, “All these HBCUs are receiving these, I truly believe that they shouldn’t be taken lightly, and I would love to keep the faith in my university to believe that they won’t just let it pass without keeping an eye out and keeping the students and faculty safe.”