This week, the government of Qatar announced its new partnership with three Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Hampton University in Virginia, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Prairie View A&M University in Texas. From the Qatar Tribune:
The agreements…are designed to deepen cross-cultural exchange and understanding between US and Qatar-based students. HCBUs [sic] are US universities established before the country’s 1964 Civil Rights Act with the principal mission of educating African American students, with 107 of these institutions now educating students regardless of race.
“The agreements reflect Qatar Foundation’s commitment to building globally connected learning environments and advancing partnerships that promote inclusion, cultural exchange, and academic excellence,” said Francisco Marmolejo, president of Higher Education and education advisor, QF, who, during NAFSA 2026, addressed delegates on the topic ‘Beyond Borders: How U.S. Policies are Shaping Global Student Mobility’.
Many HBCUs have independently established memoranda of understanding and collaborative agreements with universities in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. In this regard, what Qatar is doing is not unique or noteworthy. And, while only about 10% of Black American college students attend historically Black colleges, HBCUs punch well above their weight in terms of degree production, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and professional programs, and they continue to be a primary choice for students seeking a campus environment deeply rooted in Black history and community.
However, Qatar’s role as a chief sponsor of global terrorism, the de facto headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist apparatus, a primary source of anti-Israel and anti-American propaganda, and one of the largest African slave holding states per capita are just four reasons HBCUs should proceed with extreme caution, if not walk away altogether. Qatar is following the pattern established in the 1960s, where Islamic terrorist focus their exploitative propaganda efforts on the Black community. The Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI) and Founder Dumisani Washington have written and produced digital content extensively on this issue. IBSI’s online and in-person Forum on Israel, Africa, & Black America is another resource available to Black and African community leaders and lay people.
Qatar’s new HBCU effort should also be seen in its global context. In Africa-Israel Weekly (AIW)’s December 2025 piece, Israel’s Enemies Frustrated by Growing African Christian Zionism, the case is made that decades of anti-Zionist disinformation have had a negligible effect on Christians in Africa, the world’s fastest-growing population on the world’s fastest-growing continent. Black Americans have long been the most influential members of the African diaspora, and Israel’s enemies have always seen both groups as connected. Thus, lies about Israel’s systemic racism, apartheid government, and imperialist aspirations are key weapons of deception used on Black Americans. Further, about 5% of HBCU students are from abroad, and those from nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya often represent a significant portion of these international cohorts. No doubt, Qatar is seeking to thwart what will increasingly be Israel’s greatest support — Black/African Christians.
For Black/African leaders, this report should serve as both a warning and an encouragement. We should be warned that Israel-haters and antisemites have increased their focus on us. We should be encouraged that Israel-haters and antisemites are fearful of us. As AIW said last December, “Israel’s and Africa’s enemies are indeed concerned. They should be.”
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