Lawsuit Alleges Decades of Underfunding at Missouri HBCU, Part of Broader Effort

A lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges decades of underfunding at Lincoln University in Missouri, a historically Black college and university (HBCU). The suit, brought by students and graduates, claims the lack of resources harmed their education and devalued their degrees. This legal action marks the beginning of a broader effort by the newly formed 1890 Project to address underfunding at HBCUs in more than a dozen states.

The case stems from the Second Morrill Act of 1890, which required states to either integrate Black students into existing land-grant universities or establish separate land-grant schools for Black students. Missouri established Lincoln University to fulfill this requirement, building on an institute founded by Black Union Army veterans. The lawsuit asserts that Missouri failed to provide equitable funding to Lincoln University compared to its flagship University of Missouri campus.

In 2023, the Biden administration found that HBCUs in 16 states had missed out on $12.6 billion in funding over the past three decades, prompting calls for increased state investment. The issue centers on funding for land-grant universities, originally established in 1862 to focus on practical fields like agriculture and engineering. Jeanneth Johnson, a plaintiff in the Missouri lawsuit, stated, “It is very unfortunate that we still live in a climate where, depending on the color of one’s skin, one gets precedence over the other.” Both the University of Missouri system and the governor’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation. The 1890 Project intends to pursue similar legal action in other states, including those with a history of segregation.

Where they differ

• The Independent emphasized the quote from plaintiff Jeanneth Johnson, framing the lawsuit within a context of racial disparities.
• The Washington Times led with the announcement of the lawsuit itself, presenting it as a direct effort to address underfunding.
• Both sources reported the same facts, but the Independent provided more detail on the historical context of the 1890 Act and the Biden administration's findings.

What is not yet known

• The specific amount of funding Lincoln University alleges it was underfunded by is not detailed.
• The full scope of the 1890 Project’s strategy beyond Missouri and the other states in its crosshairs remains unclear.

Background

• The Second Morrill Act of 1890 mandated states to either integrate Black students or create separate land-grant institutions for them [background knowledge].
• Lincoln University was established in Missouri as a land-grant university for Black students, building upon an institute founded by Black Union Army veterans [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-02].
• In 2023, the Biden administration identified $12.6 billion in underfunding across HBCUs in 16 states over three decades [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-02].
• Land-grant universities were originally created in 1862 to focus on fields like agriculture and engineering [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-02].
• The 1890 Project is a newly formed organization intending to pursue legal action regarding HBCU underfunding in over a dozen states [Fact Refinery, 2026-10-02].

Our reading

Our reading is that this lawsuit represents a coordinated effort to address historical inequities in funding for HBCUs, leveraging a recent federal report and a new legal organization. The framing of the case as stemming from the Second Morrill Act highlights the long-standing nature of the alleged underfunding, while the involvement of the 1890 Project suggests a broader strategy beyond Missouri. The differing emphasis in reporting, one outlet prioritizing the plaintiff’s statement and the other the lawsuit itself, indicates a potential debate over how to contextualize the legal action.

What to watch

• The specific amount of funding Lincoln University claims it was underfunded by, which could indicate the scale of the alleged harm [reporting on the case].
• The states the 1890 Project targets next, revealing the scope of their legal strategy and potential impact [1890 Project announcements].
• Any response from the Missouri governor’s office or the University of Missouri system, which could signal their willingness to address the allegations [official statements].

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