Final answer:
Since the Civil Rights Act, there has been marked advancement in educational attainment among Black Americans, facilitated by the growth of HBCUs and policies aimed at encouraging Black enrollment in higher education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The educational attainment among Black Americans has seen significant growth since the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Notably, the percentage of Black men with high school diplomas rose from 38% in 1970 to 64% a decade later, and college attendance increased from 13% to 28%. Additionally, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a crucial role in this advancement.
Many HBCUs were established through various means such as missionary groups, Black churches, the Freedman's Bureau, and the Morrill Land Grant Acts. By 1950, HBCUs accounted for 3.6% of the total US college enrollment, a significant increase from 1% in 1940. Despite challenges, these institutions supported the advancement of Black education and contributed to the civil rights movement.
Recent policies to encourage Black enrollment in higher education, such as the point system at the University of Michigan and the Top Ten Percent (TTP) policy at the University of Texas, have been implemented with varying degrees of success and criticism. The pursuit of diverse student bodies remains a key focus for many universities.