“Tell Them We Are Rising” is a powerful 90-minute documentary by Stanley Nelson that explores the profound impact Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have had on American history. From the earliest efforts to educate enslaved and freed African Americans to the vibrant campuses existing today, the film reveals the resilience and determination behind these institutions.

Historically, the education of Black Americans was met with fierce resistance and fear. As noted by an unknown source, “the teaching of slaves to read and write has a tendency to excite dissatisfaction in their minds,” highlighting how literacy was seen as a threat to the status quo. This fear extended to the establishment of HBCUs themselves. The Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, once condemned the founding of colleges educating Black people as “unwarrantable, dangerous, interference,” urging southern states to discourage such efforts.

Despite such opposition, HBCUs have been beacons of hope and advancement. They have nurtured leaders, scholars, and innovators who have significantly shaped not only Black communities but the nation as a whole. “Tell Them We Are Rising” provides an essential narrative that honors these institutions’ legacy and their ongoing role in the pursuit of equality and empowerment through education.