A few months ago, the ALS ice bucket challenge went viral and many people around the world poured water on their heads to support the ALS disease. But American Baptist College, a historically black college or university (HBCU), has created a video denouncing the ALS ice bucket challenge because it doesn’t address major issues in the African American community, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease, HIV/AID’s, asthma, mental health issues, domestic violence, mass incarceration, unemployment, racism, classism and sexism to name a few.
Instead, the College has challenged our nation’s HBCUs to “pour knowledge into their students heads rather than water on their heads,” as ABC student and Student Union President says in the video above.
The challenge is called “Starting with One: HBCU Book Challenge.” Students will read four books per month and pledges to read a review of the books in a video. They plan to raise awareness, create deeper thought, and apply critical analysis to issues that affect the African-American community.
“…it all started from crucial conversation in the classroom that we all understand that we are all modern demonstrators of change. We made it our business to tackle the problems of the day,” Attaway told HBCU Buzz on how the book challenge was created. “Our goal is to bring a shining light to the majority so the minority will be aware and be able to be critical thinkers,” he said.
