Photo: Collected
At Howard University, the historically Black college that educated Kamala Harris four decades ago, students are dreaming about how her victory in the US presidential election could elevate the institution -- and their own ambitions.
"I like seeing people that look like me and are doing such great things, like Kamala," said Serena Evans, who said she experienced racism at majority-white schools in her native North Carolina before she enrolled at Howard two years ago.
Evans followed in the footsteps of Democratic presidential nominee Harris, who began her studies in 1982 at the university, located in the nation's capital -- one of around 100 such institutions nationwide that cater primarily, though not exclusively, to African Americans.
For many, these so-called "historically black colleges and universities" or HBCUs serve as safe havens in a country still marred by racism -- even if those same racist attitudes lead to some doubting Howard's credibility.
"People think that we're underdeveloped compared to Ivy League schools like Harvard," said Evans, who is studying classics.
But with Harris aiming for the White House in November's vote, Howard students are feeling "on top of the world," 20-year-old Jomalee Smith told AFP.
"I feel like once Kamala wins, (Howard) will not only be an American thing, it will be a global thing," said Smith, an international relations student.
"More people will know about Howard. It will showcase more job opportunities internationally, not just domestically," Smith added.
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