Covering the business of education and training

I can't recall how many times I have read this term, but it's the second time this week.

While reading a news article on LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, it was noted that the school was 'historically black.' And then the article went on to explain about a fight for money to keep the school alive...blah, blah, blah.

This morning I read about a school, the Clark Atlanta University, in Atlanta that is 'historically black."

Someone tell me, why does it make a difference whether a school is 'historically black' or not?

What does that have to do with needing more money to keep a school alive (LeMoyne-Owen), or students griping about a raise in tuition despite bad service.

Why isn't it possible to read a news report in black and white WITHOUT knowing whether the people involved are black or white?