Some black college student’s first interactions with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is rooted within the family–a father who graduated from Fisk, or a sister that pledged Delta Sigma Theta sorority during undergrad.
Like a family doctrine, many says the individual experiences shared by different family members who attended one particular black institution is what lures future HBCU students into the black college tradition.
The same can be said for Bakari Taylor.
Bakari Taylor, who has a B.S. in Recreation & Tourism Management at Hampton University, says his older cousin’s early experiences at Hampton is what attracted him to attend.
“I had an older cousin who went to Hampton University. I would visit him a couple times throughout the year and it was an amazing experience,” Taylor told me, via email. “The school, the people, the location was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.”
Asked why he chose the “real HU” over Howard, Bakari noted Hampton’s leadership and the family atmosphere as key reasons to his decision: “Isn’t Howard going through some financial issues?” said Taylor.
Now a certified trainer and “fully committed to getting in shape,” Bakari is touring six cities on the east-coast and offering his signature “BodybyBakari” boot camp to college students and young adults–free of charge.
It’s called the No Excuses Tour and Taylor is eager to help motivate students and get them excited about improving their lifestyle.
“As a young child in middle school, I was somewhat overweight. After quitting the first day of tryouts for the basketball team, I decided things had to change,” said Bakari.
“I started to eat right and work out everyday after school. In less than 2 months I had lost 20 pounds and grew a love for fitness and wellness. Going into college I maintained a disciplined approach to health and fitness ultimately ending up with starting my own business in [the fitness] field,” he said.
The BodybyBakari brand was created during Taylor’s college years. In his senior year at Hampton U. Taylor and a friend skilled in branding and marketing got together and turned what started as a small on-campus workout routine to a full operating business.
“I started training some of my close friends and the routine workouts began to grow with more and more people,” Taylor said. “I did it for fun and sometimes even charged $1 just to see if people were willing to pay for a good workout.”
Taylor, who lists “high intensity” workout regimens that challenges not only your body but also your mind as his favorites from the BodybyBakari boot camp, says Hampton prepared him for his career in the fitness industry.
“I am in the business of building relationships and helping others. The skill sets, mindsets, and obstacles that we learned or faced at Hampton University allowed me to become better prepared today for my clients, friends, and family,” Taylor said.
Get tickets for the BodybyBakari boot camp tour at a free cost. Tour dates for Bakari Taylor’s workout tour are still open. The DMV area will be the first stop after Independence Day weekend, followed by Atlanta and New York. Exact dates to come soon.
That’s great. ‘Cept Howard is the real HU