For years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have produced great athletic talent and football players that have reached National Football League (NFL) status. NFL greats, from Jerry Rice and Deacon Jones to Shannon Sharpe and Michael Strahan, came from HBCUs before making their mark in the NFL. Today, HBCU football players in the NFL are continuing to leave it all on the field. Although this year’s NFL draft had a disappointing turnout with only one player (Isaiah Bolden) from an HBCU being picked, HBCU Buzz would like to highlight the HBCU football players that are currently in the NFL while we continue to call for the NFL to recognize HBCU talent. Check out the list below!
Bowie State University has met its goal of raising $50 million as part of its fundraising campaign, BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence, two and a half years ahead of its December 2025 closing date.
In December 2021, Bowie State announced The BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence campaign, the largest fundraising in the university’s history. The campaign has been fueled by strengthening the university’s professional fundraising organization and developing new relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations.
“We have not wasted a moment asking our philanthropic partners to invest in the success of our students through this campaign,” said Aminta Breaux, president of BSU. “We are appreciative of all the individuals and organizations who have invested in our historic institution. Now we’re able to provide more of our students with scholarships.”
According to WJLA-TV, BSU Bold fundraising will increase Bowie State’s private scholarship funding and call attention to the university’s athletic program, which does not receive state funding, fine arts, and nursing programs, and its entrepreneurship education ecosystem.
Breaux said the university’s endowment increased more than 500% and is now standing at $40 million.
Many corporations contributed to the campaign, such as Adobe, the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Truist Bank, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation, and more.
BSU received its largest gift of $25,000,000 from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott back in 2020.
Although the school has reached its campaign goal, its fundraising efforts are far from over according to Breaux.
“While we have met our initial campaign goal of $50 million ― we are challenged and inspired to continue our fundraising and expand the campaign, inviting others to join as we raise an unprecedented level of support for our students,” Breaux said. “We must continue and work to help make college more affordable and reduce student loan debt.”
On Wednesday, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) announced that it received a $1-million gift from Chick-fil-A.
The gift was presented by CAU alumna and director of community affairs for corporate social responsibility at Chick-fil-A, Carol Waddy during the university’s 34th annual commencement on May 20.
Accordig to the school, the donation will support the university’s historic $250 million Campaign for Clark Atlanta University, which has a principal goal of generating much needed funds for student access, retention, and graduation support.
The $1 million gift is set to be distributed over the next two years, according to a press release.
“Chick-fil-A’s generous commitment of $1 million is an investment in the bright futures of Clark Atlanta University students and will help ensure that we continue building on our mission of delivering education that is accessible, relevant, and transformative,” Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French, Jr. shared in a said.
“With partners like Chick-fil-A, our vision of being a leading institution of higher learning that impacts society through transformative, educational experiences is within reach,” he continued. “At Clark Atlanta, finding a way or making a way is a community endeavor.”
In addition to Chick-fil-A’s gift, CAU received a $2.5 million gift from the William F. Pickard Foundation to establish a scholarship fund and rename Beckwith Hall in honor of Dr. William F. Pickard and Thomas W. Dortch, Jr.
The HBCUs have created a new program called, PHIT4DC. It allows anyone from high schoolers to working healthcare professionals to enroll in public health informatics and technology courses.
“The program is offered in several pathways,” said Dr. Mary Awuonda, director of Howard’s Telepharmacy Center. “We have a no-wrong-door model for entry. So, we can make sure we have an impact in D.C.”
“Health care now is in the community,” Awuonda said. “The lack of direct engagement is what led to a lot of the poor outcomes Wards 7 and 8 saw over the pandemic. Frontline workers naturally know that a connection is important and know how to inform them.”
The program is geared towards students from Wards 7 and 8, who will focus their training on patients and residents in that area. They will train healthcare providers to understand a patient’s lived experiences and help those residents navigate healthcare information systems, according to Awuonda.
“When we’re talking about our communities in D.C., especially our underrepresented communities, we know that we need people we can trust,” Charletta Washington, PHIT4DC program director at UDC said the program said. “So, if and when the next public health emergency comes along, we know that we have a workforce that’s ready to engage the communities that are sometimes left out of the conversation.”
Whether you are in the process of job hunting or already in the beginning stages of your career, navigating your professional life after college can be intimidating. You may feel unprepared or just plain lost, but we’ve compiled a few tips that will help you in your professional career. Here are five tips to succeed in your professional life!
Grow Your Professional Network
There’s truth to the saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know” in the professional world. Networking is crucial when it comes to starting your career and discovering new opportunities. Get connected with your former classmates and professors on LinkedIn, and consider joining university alumni groups or career-related organizations to expand your network.
Get Recommendations
A benefit of networking and keeping in touch with teachers and former employers is getting recommendations to showcase your character and skills. Personal branding pioneer William Arruda advises getting a recommendation on letterhead and on LinkedIn. “LinkedIn is a great place to request and showcase them,” he said. “Get in the habit of doing this whenever you are praised for a job well done. Testimonials are the best form of proof of performance, which enhances your credibility.”
Build Your Skills
It’s never too late to learn something new and continue to strengthen your skills. Develop your professional skills by taking classes, attending workshops, or doing some research. You can even seek out mentorship from someone who is working in the profession you seek and get feedback from them. Remember to update your LinkedIn profile as you add more hard and soft skills to your resume.
Set Goals
When entering the professional world, it’s essential to go in with a plan and a set of goals. Take time to discover what you want to do with your career and create a detailed list of goals that will help guide you to where you want to be. Having a career plan and goals will help you find out what skills you need to develop and what certifications you’ll need to earn in preparation for your career.
Be Confident
Confidence is key when it comes to entering the professional world. Job searching after college is a challenging task and may force you to face rejection, but having confidence and believing in yourself and your abilities will help you keep going and trying to get your foot in the door. However, confidence may not come as easily to some as others. Build your confidence by telling yourself positive affirmations, reminding yourself of your qualifications, and lean on your support system.
HBCU baseball players Nolan Santos from Bethune-Cookman University, Xavier Meachem from North Carolina A&T University, and Trey Paige from Delaware State University have been selected in the 2023 MLB Draft.
On Monday, Santos became the first player from an HBCU selected in this year’s MLB draft as he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the 207th overall pick.
Meachem was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round with the 293rd overall pick, and Paige was selected by The St Louis Cardinals with the 515th pick of the 17th round.
Santos is the first B-CU player selected in the MLB draft since pitcher Anthony Maldonato in 2019 and the highest since Michael Cruz in 2016.
A standout at B-CU, the right-handed pitcher started 16 games during his junior season and finished with a 3.51 earned run average in 97 ⅓ innings. He had 138 strikeouts last season, placing him sixth in all of Division I college baseball.
Santos was one of 50 athletes who competed in the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic last week.
“(The Twins) are getting a hard worker,” Bethune-Cookman head coach Johnny Hernandez said of Santos. “They’re getting a straight competitor, a bulldog on the mound. But they’re also getting a team-first individual.”
“No matter what individual accolades Nolan was able to earn this year, it was all about the team and what he was able to do to make not only the program but his teammates around him better.” Hernandez continued. “They’re going to get a really good, quality, high-character individual that is going to represent not only Bethune-Cookman but the SWAC as well.”
Meachem is the 21st North Carolina A&T player selected in the MLB Draft since the Texas Rangers selected RHP Leon Hunter in 2019 and is the highest since Al Holland in 1975.
In 2023, the right-handed pitcher secured five saves and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. Meachem eventually became a starter and finished the season 2-1 with a 5.59 ERA in 48.1 innings pitched, according to N.C. A&T athletics. He also posted 47 strikeouts, became an MLB Draft prospect, pitched in the first annual HBCU Swingman All-Star Game, and made the USA National Collegiate Team.
“When all of this started happening, I just thought back to my younger self,” said Meachem about getting drafted. “I never thought I would be in this position. I’m just really trying to enjoy the moment. It’s a dream come true to play for USA Baseball. Putting on the colors and playing for your country is very exciting. I’m proud to be representing African-American baseball players and HBCU players. It’s an all-around great opportunity.”
“I’m super excited for Meach,” said N.C. A&T head coach Ben Hall. “He is a first-class person, and I know his best baseball is still ahead of him. It is always a fun time to see one of your guys accomplish a dream, especially one who has stepped up and really made it happen for himself. Xavier had a great year, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
Meachem will graduate from N.C. A&T with a degree in business management in December.
Paige is the seventh player in DSU history to be drafted by an MLB team since 1991.
The 2022 MEAC Player of the Year, Paige is the eighth player in program history and seventh under current head coach JP Blandin to have been drafted by an MLB organization. He is also the second-highest MLB Draft selection in program history.
This season at Delaware State, Paige hit .372 with 14 homers, 15 doubles, 53 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a 1.159 OPS in 48 games and was named second-team All-NEC. Paige is also one of eight players in Delaware State history with more than 200 career hits, according to Reading Eagle.
The recently graduated Delaware State infielder was one of three HBCU players to participate in the 2023 MLB Draft Combine and had the first hit at the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic.
“Our Hornet family is excited for Trey. ‘Cap’ has put in the work, and now he gets the opportunity he deserves,” said Blandin. “I am very grateful that the Cardinals drafted him as we have some former assistant coaches in that organization, and all told, it will be a perfect fit for him. He will make a great professional baseball player, and we all wish him the best.”
The Cardinals have listed Paige as a third baseman.
You voted. We listened. The Results For The Top 5 HBCU Hosts Are In!
MC, or Master of Ceremonies, is the person who hosts an event by introducing performers, speakers, or other participants. The term ‘master of ceremonies’ has been used since at least the 1600s, but the term ‘MC’ started to become heavily associated with rap music and hip-hop culture during the 1970s. The letters MC took on new meanings, such as “Microphone Controller,” “Move the Crowd,” and “Mic Checka.” An MC is also called a host at times.
It’s the hosts’ job to keep the crowd entertained and the event flowing. They’re tasked with drawing energy and invoking excitement from the audience through storytelling and improvisation. HBCU Hosts at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are no different and are known around campus for their skills and stage presence. Whether it’s a homecoming party or a regular campus event, HBCU hosts light up the room with their personality, and we want to know who your favorite is.
You voted. We listened. The results for the Top 5 HBCU Hosts are in! Check it out below!
1. Michael Bivens (JussMikey) – North Carolina A&T University
Credit: Instagram @jussmikey
Micheal Bivens a.k.a JussMikey is a senior at North Carolina A&T University majoring in kinesiology. He said coming in first place “means the absolute world” to him. “This is something I wanted when I was a freshman and I didn’t get nominated. I really just want to impact all HBCUs across the nation and with this platform, I can exceed my goal of creating an experience that people with remember forever.”
2. Lil Obezzy – North Carolina A&T University
Credit: Instagram @lil_obezzy1
Lil Obezzy is a senior liberal studies major at North Carolina A&T University. “Being a Top 5 HBCU Host is a dream come true, I have worked a lot over the past year, so to see my hard pay off is the best feeling in the world” he said. “Being a host is more than just yelling on a mic, it is giving your crowd an experience they’ll never forget. Sometimes music isn’t enough it’s up to the host or MC to break the ice and bring the students together. So I can’t wait for all the memories and daze that lay ahead.”
3. Zion Dean – Virginia State University
Credit: Instagram @ball0ut.ent
Zion Dean is a junior at Virginia State University majoring in mass communication. When asked what placing in the top five HBCU Hosts means to him he said, “Honestly it means that my hard work didn’t go unnoticed. I started off in apartments, to owning clubs, renting out spaces to throw some of the biggest events while bringing awareness to my HBCU.”
Kevontae Kelly is a graduate student at Savannah State University working towards his Master’s in Business Administration with a Minor in Marketing. “Being a Top 5 HBCU Host means a lot to me, I’m getting the opportunity to not only represent my university but also my hometown,” he said. “I take pride in the fact that I get to show the world the great things that can come out of small towns like Colquitt, GA. I’m thankful for my University as it has provided me the opportunity to work with a lot of great people and the support that my university community has given me, means the world. I want this to be an example to all of my tiger family and mentees that they can achieve anything that they set their minds and hearts to! BIG CMO!!! Being a top 5 HBCU host is an honor and I’m proud to be a part of the number. I’m looking forward to the future and any amazing opportunities that this may bring.”
The Supreme Court has blocked President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan which aimed at delivering up to $20,000 of relief to millions of borrowers.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision for a 6-3 court. The majority ruled that the program was an unlawful exercise of presidential power because it had not been explicitly approved by Congress.
The Biden administration sought to use the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, or HEROES Act to waive the debt. The law says the government can provide relief to recipients of student loans when there is a “national emergency,” allowing it to act to ensure people are not in “a worse position financially” as a result of the emergency.
Roberts said the HEROES Act language was not specific enough. “The Secretary’s comprehensive debt cancellation plan cannot fairly be called a waiver – it not only nullifies existing provisions, but augments and expands them dramatically,” Roberts wrote. “However broad the meaning of ‘waive or modify,’ that language cannot authorize the kind of exhaustive rewriting of the statute that has taken place here.”
According to CNN, Biden will announce new actions to protect student loan borrowers when he speaks later Friday.
“I will stop at nothing to find other ways to deliver relief to hard-working middle-class families,” Biden said in a statement. “My administration will continue to work to bring the promise of higher education to every American.”
On Thursday, June 29, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action, making it unlawful for colleges to take race into consideration as a specific factor in admissions.
According to various news outlets, the ruling will impact admissions policies that have historically benefited Black and Latino students applying to predominantly white, highly selective institutions. However, Historically Black Colleges and Institutions will also be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision.
HBCUs are expected to see an increase in enrollment as a result of the ruling. Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick said that this may bring challenges to the universities.
“Historically Black colleges and universities are carrying an outsized burden to diversify so many industries in America. We represent only 3% of the higher [education] institutions, but we are responsible for 25% of the bachelor’s degrees,” Frederick said in an interview with CNN. “By not allowing race to be considered in admissions elsewhere, you can put an even more outsized burden on historically Black colleges and universities who don’t have the capacity to carry that type of a burden.”
Eddy Carder, an assistant professor of constitutional law and philosophy at Prairie View A&M echoed Frederick’s sentiments in an interview with Axios, saying “Increased enrollment can become a practical issue because enrollment means more resources, buildings, space, and technology.”
Other HBCU leaders have spoken out, welcoming new prospective students in response to the end of affirmative action.
“We more than want to welcome those students here and it is our hope that maybe they broaden their perspective in terms of where they might be searching,” Dr. Ricardo Phipps, Provost and vice president of academic affairs at St. Augustine’s University, told Spectrum News.
“More students of color, who might have chosen to apply to a predominantly white institution, will now apply to and attend an HBCU instead. HBCUs — and an ever-broadening array of HBCUs — will draw a greater number of talented students of color,” Delaware State University President Tony Allen said in a statement. “We will welcome them as we have always done. And we will need stalwart partners to help us in our work.”
People swear we as HBCU Alumni always talk about our institutions are underfunded but that underfunding makes it an uphill battle for us to accommodate the possible increased enrollment that this decision on Affirmative Action could cause.
“Despite the achievements of HBCUs, philanthropy funds these higher education institutions at significantly lower rates than comparable PWIs,” wrote Susan Taylor Batten, the study’s author and President & CEO of ABFE, which promotes philanthropy in Black communities. “This leaves HBCUs with less than adequate funding to support their operations, educational programs, infrastructure, and endowments.”
Additionally, compared to their predominantly white counterparts, the nation’s Black land-grant universities have been underfunded by at least $12.8 billion over the last three decades, according to Forbes.
Last year, students at Florida A&M University sued the state of Florida and the board of governors, claiming decades of discriminatory underfunding of the school and that the state prioritizes funding for predominantly white institutions like Florida State University over HBCUs like FAMU.
Tennessee State University has partnered with the NHL, the National Hockey League Players Association, and the Nashville Predators to become the first HBCU to introduce an ice hockey program.
On Wednesday, Tennessee State University (TSU) announced that it will become the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to introduce an ice hockey program.
TSU has partnered with the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Hockey League Players Association, and the Nashville Predators to create the new program and will hold a joint news conference at Bridgestone Arena ahead of the NHL draft on Wednesday.
The university has been exploring the idea of implementing a hockey program since May 2021, when it took part in a feasibility study administered by College Hockey Inc., an entity that works to grow the collegiate game. The study was offered to see if TSU is in a position to add a hockey team.
“The idea of establishing a collegiate hockey program at TSU is a tremendous opportunity as the nation’s first HBCU to take on this endeavor,” TSU President Glenda Glover said in 2021. “This allows us to expand the sport, increase diversity, and introduce a new fan base.”
According to ESPN, the men’s team will start play as a club program in 2024 and while no timeline was given, TSU said its goal is to eventually field both a Division I men’s and women’s team.
“Bringing ice hockey to Tennessee State University is a part of our continued commitment to provide our students with new opportunities and to broaden new interests in areas where they have traditionally had limited or no access,” Glover said in a statement. “We appreciate our ongoing partnership with the Nashville Predators which has played a pivotal role in our decision to pursue this historic undertaking of starting an ice hockey program at TSU, and the first for a HBCU.”
Honorary Howard University grad and two-time nominee Angela Bassett will finally take home an Oscar at the 2023 Governors Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced Monday.
The Honorary Award is “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or outstanding service to the Academy.”
Bassett received her first Oscar nomination for best actress for her remarkable performance as Tina Turner in 1993’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” At this year’s ceremony, she made history as the first actor from a Marvel Studios film and the first woman from a superhero movie, to receive acting recognition when she was nominated for best supporting actress for her powerful performance as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
“Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting,” said Academy President Janet Yang in Monday’s news release.
Filmmaker Mel Brooks and editor Carol Littleton will also receive honorary Oscars at this year’s Governors Awards. Sundance Institute exec Michelle Statter is set to receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
The 2023 Governors Awards will be held in Los Angeles on November 18.
Since its creation, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have provided a safe space for Black students to learn, excel and be free to be themselves.
In a world that often rejects those deemed “other,” at an HCBU, minorities are finally given the chance to be the majority—but what about those of double minority, identifying as both a racial and sexual minority? Considering HBCUs’ roots and founding in the Black church and the prevalent homophobia within the Black community, students belonging to the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and more) community may not experience the same support as their cishet peers.
LGBTQIA+ students at many HBCUs have created a safe space within a safe space, with the establishment of queer-friendly and allyship organizations on campus. For instance, Hampton University’sM.O.S.A.I.C (Motivating Open-Minded Social Acceptance and Inspiring Change) was founded in 2016 to be a safe space for LGBTQ+ students and allies to come together and promote acceptance, tolerance, and awareness of sexual orientation and gender identity. Group member, Katelynn Flowers, a junior entrepreneur major says progress has been made, but there’s still a ways to go.
“My experience at Hampton being pansexual has been pretty good so far,” Flowers said. “I don’t feel as though I’m left out or discriminated against, however, we definitely have a long way to go when it comes to getting everyone, including administration on board with new societal norms. We have a very traditional approach to life at Hampton and it’s time to change that.”
Morehouse College alum, Jauan Durbin, who served as the first openly queer Mr. HBCU, said most queer students at HBCUs don’t get to publicly live in their truth while serving in high leadership roles.
When talking about his experience as the first openly queer Mr. HBCU at Morehouse, he recalled a lack of acknowledgment of his history-making feat by colleagues and administrators. “It was disheartening because HBCU kings are uplifted by our HBCUs as the male representation of the institution, [and it] often celebrates hyper-masculinity,” he remarked.
“[College] was the first time that I was actually able to express myself in terms of how I dressed, appeared, and showed up in the world,” Durbin continued. “I started dabbling in makeup. I never had a battle with my gender expression or identity getting in the way until that moment. “We have to understand people come into our HBCUs with 18 years of life experience. We have to create an environment where we are not allowing harmful ideology to penetrate our walls. Getting people from a place of tolerance to acceptance means creating safe spaces on our campus.”
Mark Davis Jr., a Tennessee State University (TSU) alum and the 31st Mister TSU had a more welcoming experience as a queer HBCU king, detailing his experience as a queer person at an HBCU as a “great” one.
Showing up unapologetically as himself, Davis centered his Mister TSU platform around pride with the goal of creating space for everyone, especially those of the LGBTQIA+ community. Along with TSU’s Mister Sophomore at the time, Davis & hosted the first Pride N Sip, an event where participants were invited to come and paint what pride looks like to them. “Immediately we got an overwhelming amount of support from students, alumni, the HBCU world, and the administration. At the close of my reign, It meant a lot knowing that this was one of my highlights as King, being that voice to make sure the LGBTQIA + was heard. I always felt accepted and welcome because I surrounded myself around people who accepted me for who I was.”
“I ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF I WOULD NEVER JOIN SOMETHING OR ATTACH MYSELF TO ANYTHING WHERE I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR BEING 100% ME. YOU WILL TAKE ALL OF ME FOR WHO I AM OR YOU WILL GET NONE OF ME AT ALL.”
– Tennessee State University alum and the 31st Mister TSU, Mark Davis Jr. on his reign as a queer Mr. HBCU.
Throughout history, queer people have fought for equality, visibility, and social acceptance in society, and some HBCUs have made strides to become more supportive and accepting of the community.
Howard University is the only HBCU to offer gender-inclusive housing, according to CampusPride. In 2017, Spelman Collegeadopted a policy that allows transgender students to enroll in the all women’s university. Two years later, its brother school, Morehouse College followed suit, voting to adopt the same policy and admit transgender men into the university.
This is a progressive step for Morehouse as it wasn’t that long ago that a junior was beaten with a baseball bat by another student, in what was seen as an anti-gay attack in 2002, and the dress code previously banned students from wearing women’s clothing.
Additionally, according to TVOne, Morehouse students can now participate in the annual Festival of Eccentrics, “a queer-centric dance show hosted by Atlanta HBCUs.” The school also recently hosted its first-ever ball, celebrating “Queer Black Excellence.”
In another first, Last October, Hampton University football player Byron Perkins made history by becoming the first football player at an HBCU to come out as gay.
He made the announcement in a social media post that went viral and expressed that he wanted to be an inspiration for other Black gay men to feel comfortable sharing their truth.
Perkins recently shared with ESPN SportsCenter that his relationship with his teammates remains strong and focused on their shared goal of competing at a high level in the Colonial Athletic Association.
“These are the guys I go to war with, and for them to say, ‘We’ve known him since day one, we know his character and his work ethic,’ that in itself has been one of the most precious things in the world to me,” he said, adding that building chemistry with the Pirates has been key.
Although there have been some improvements when it comes to inclusion and support for queer students at HBCUs, there is still much more progress that needs to be made according to students.
Flowers suggests that HBCUs incorporate more gender-neutral settings, like “gender fluid dorms, bathrooms, and activities.”
Davis says that HBCU institutions need to take into account how they are showing up for LGBTQIA+ students. He said the leaders of the institutions need to ask themselves questions like, “How is the living situations for them in residence halls? do they feel like they have resources on campus regarding transitioning, health services, and safe places?” —“There should be training or initiatives to integrate LGBTQIA + students within the culture of our institutions,” Davis concluded.
In light of Black Music Month and this year marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we are taking a look at the genres’ longstanding relevance at HBCUs.
Declared in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, June is Black Music Month. This month celebrates and recognizes the influence that Black music has had on the U.S. and on the world.
Black people have had a role in spearheading the creation of nearly every major music genre in America. One of the leading genres that have made a major impact on society and have helped shape HBCU culture is hip hop.
Hip-hop has its origins in the Bronx Borough of New York City during the early 1970s. Intersecting communities of Black, Latinx, and Caribbean Americans would come together at block parties that featured DJs playing soul and funk music. New York City DJs and Hip Hop pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa began to experiment with different techniques during block parties, including longer percussive breaks (called “breakbeats” or simply “the breaks”), turntable techniques, scratching, freestyle, and improvised vocals based on Jamaican “toasting.”
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we are taking a look at the genre’s longstanding relevance at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Hip-hop has been the soundtrack to HBCU campuses throughout every era. From the conscious rap craze to the blog era to the rise of trap music, hip-hop continues to be a staple in the community.
Anyone that has attended an HBCU during the 2010s knows the thrill of ‘swag surfin’ or the right of passage to sing Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill or Faneto by Chief Keef at the top of your lungs at a party or an event. This music brings people together, strengthening the HBCU community and creating long-lasting memories with friends.
As much as the HBCU community loves hip-hop, the hip-hop community has shown love back.
Throughout the years, artists have performed at homecomings and events and have referenced black colleges in songs, and featured them in music videos.
In 1995, The Notorious B.I.G. put on a performance at Howard University’s Yardfest alongside Diddy and Foxy Brown—largely regarded as one of the most memorable moments in Howard homecoming history.
Additionally, Atlanta rappers natives have given some love to the AUCC (Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College) All three schools have been referenced by artists like Ludacris, Gucci Mane, and Trinidad James. Self-proclaimed “King of the South” T.I. even taught “Business of Trap Music,” at Clark in 2020.
Fellow Atlanta native rapper and Alabama State University alum, 2 Chainz dedicated his 2020 hit “Money Maker” to HBCUs and shot the music video on the campus of Fort Valley State University. Fort Valley’s Blue Machine Marching Band is also featured in the music video as well as band footage of several other schools including Southern University’s Human Jukebox. HBCU dance teams like Alabama State’s Honeybeez and the Stingettes, as well as Southern University’s Dancing Dolls also got some screen time.
Rapper E-40 also paid homage to his alma mater Grambling State University in the music video for his single “Bands” back in March. In the video, the rapper is accompanied by The Grambling State University ‘World Famed’ Tiger Marching Band and is shown rapping the lively song across various hot spots on Grambling’s campus.
During homecoming this past year, chart-topping, hip-hop, heavyweight, Drake made a surprise performance at Spelhouse, joining Atlanta rapper 21 Savage on stage.
From performing at HBCUs to featuring and referencing them in songs, to giving back to these institutions, it’s clear that hip-hop artists and hip-hop culture have always been ingrained in HBCU culture.
HBCU football players, Robert Mitchell, from North Carolina Central University, Keyron Kinsler Jr., from Alcorn State University, Kemari Averett, from Bethune-Cookman University, and Justin Ragin, from Jackson State University are set to play in the XFL.
On Friday, Mitchell and Kinsler were selected in the XFL Rookie Draft. The Vegas Vipors chose Mitchell, and the Orlando Guardians selected Kinsler for the upcoming season.
Averett and Ragin were acquired as undrafted free agents by the St. Louis Battlehawks on Wednesday, per HBCU Sports.
Mitchell’s remarkable performance at NCCU earned him the title of 2022 MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
During his redshirt senior season, he started all 12 games on the offensive line, achieved a team-high grade of 90.2%, and allowed just 8 pressures with 69 pancake blocks in 731 plays.
While Mitchell was playing for the Eagles, they held the fifth-highest-scoring offense in the nation, averaging an impressive 38.6 points per game. NCCU also led the NCAA Division I-FCS in third-down conversions at 55.8%, and ruled the MEAC in total offense (445.3 yards per game), rushing offense (210.6 yards per game), and passing offense (234.8 yards per game).
In 2022, Mitchell helped NCCU secure the MEAC championship and the HBCU national championship with their win against Jackson State in the Cricket Celebration Bowl. The Eagles ended the season with an impressive 10-2 record, earning them a No. 17 ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll and the HBCU national championship title.
Kinsler excelled as a defensive back at Alcorn State, wrapping up 53 tackles, ranking fifth on the team, along with 4.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
A highlight of Kinsler’s performance with the Braves was against Savannah State when he registered a career-high 10 tackles.
Kinsler was also a standout player in high school, where he started on the varsity team beginning his sophomore year. As a senior, he was recognized as First-Team All-County and as a junior, he was recognized as Second-Team All-County. During his senior year, Kinsler recorded 115 tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles, awarding him Honorable Mention All-State honors.
Averett led the Wildcats in receiving in each of his two seasons with the team, compiling 91 receptions for 1,333 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He was named to the All-SWAC First Team in 2021 and 2022.
At Jackson State, Ragin totaled 94 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three pass breakups, and two blocked kicks in 34 career games.
Ragin was named to the All-SWAC Second Team this past season.
This story was updated on Thursday, June 23, 2023, to clarify which players were selected in the XFL Rookie Draft and which players signed on as XFL undrafted agents.
This Pride Month, we are celebrating the LGTBQIA+ community and those that are products of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Here are 6 Influential LGTBQIA+ HBCU Alums!
June is Pride Month, an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQIA+ community to history, society, and cultures worldwide. This Pride Month, we are celebrating the LGBTQIA + community and those that are products of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Here are 6 Influential LGBTQIA+ HBCU Alums!
Wanda Sykes – Hampton University
Iconic comedian, actress, producer, and Emmy Award-winning writer, Wanda Sykes graduated from Hampton University in 1986, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has ranked among Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Funniest People in America” and her peers have called her “one of the funniest stand-up comics” in the field. In 2008, Wanda married her wife Alex Sykes, and publicly came out as a lesbian a few weeks after their wedding at an equality rally in Las Vegas. Since then, Sykes has used her platform to champion LGBTQIA+ voices and equality through years of activism.
Hope Giselle – Alabama State University
Hope Giselle is an Alabama State University alum and a national organizer, author, artist, and activist. Giselle graduated with a Master’s in Fine Arts as the first openly trans woman to do so at the institution and hit the ground running with her modern social take on trans and black bodies in public spaces. She is the proud author of two books “Becoming Hope: Removing the Disguise” and “Until I Met Black Men” as well as the founder of the non-profit organization AllowMe, which supports LGBTQIA+ youth of color in their journey to becoming productive leaders, artists, and activists.
Misster Ray – Virginia State University
Ray Cunnigham, better known as “Misster Ray” is a two-time Virginia State University graduate, television personality, award-winning producer/multimedia expert, and best-selling author. He first gained recognition in 2006 as the first openly gay cast member on BET’s “College Hill.” Since then, he has made appearances on “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood,” released his first memoir, “Mess With a Message” in 2021, and launched the HBCU board game Yardopoly last year.
Tre’vell Anderson – Morehouse College
Tre’vell Anderson is an award-winning journalist, social curator critic, editor, and podcaster. They obtained their Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Morehouse College in 2013 and got their Master’s in communication from Standford University in 2014. Named to The Root’s 2020 list of the 100 most influential African Americans, they have dedicated their career to centering those in the margins, grey spaces, and at the intersections of life. Tre’vell co-hosts two podcasts, Crooked Media’s “What A Day” and Maximum Fun’s “FANTI.” Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of Slayzhon, Inc., they are also the authoress of “We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film” and “Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One Of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’” Tre’vell is also the immediate past president of the National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles, co-chair of NABJ’s LGBTQ Task Force, and the organization’s Region IV Director.
Camerron Dangerfield – Alabama A&M University
After attending Alabama A&M University on a full academic scholarship, Chef Camerron Dangerfield is now an award-winning private chef, cookbook author, TV personality, and restaurateur. He went from selling soul food plates to Alabama A&M students and faculty to cooking at four or five different nightclubs around Huntsville, and private dinners in people’s homes. Dangerfield is a two-time Food Network champion (“Chopped” & “Cut Throat Kitchen”) and has his own show called “Cooking with Cam Live” on the Food & Lifestyle Network. He is also the chef at DINE VIBE Dining Experience, an Immersive Vibe Dining Experience curated by internationally acclaimed Celebrity Event Designer Courtney Ajinça.
George M. Johnson – Virginia Union University & Bowie State University
George M. Johnson is an award-winning non-binary writer, author, and executive producer, and proud HBCU alum. They are two-time HBCU alum, having graduated from Virginia Union University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and Bowie State University in 2012 with a master’s in human resources development. They are the author of the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” which discusses their adolescence growing up as a young Black queer boy in New Jersey through a series of powerful essays. The book was optioned for television by Gabrielle Union. In 2021, Johnson released their second memoir “WE ARE NOT BROKEN,” which received the Carter G. Woodson Award which recognizes books that “accurately and sensitively depict the experience of one or more historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups in the United States.” They were also listed on The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2020, The Out 100 Most Influential LGBTQ People in 2021, and in 2022, were honored as one of the TIME100 Next Most Influential People in the World.
The New Horror-Comedy, “The Blackening” is a Must See!
“The Blackening” is a horror-comedy directed by Tim Story, begging the question, “If the entire cast of a horror movie is Black who dies first?”
The film turns the stereotypical horror trope of the Black character dying first on its head by featuring an all-Black cast fighting to survive in this soon-to-be classic.
The smart, suspenseful, satirical film unfolds as nine friends from college reunite for Juneteenth weekend at a cabin in the woods. This movie succeeds in what the typical horror movie fails to do by giving Black characters depth and relatability, which ultimately drives the film.
Dewayne (Dewayne Perkins, also a co-writer and producer of the film), proves to be much more than a stereotypical gay best friend to loveable Lisa (Antoinette Robertson) — who is secretly back with her ex Nnamdi (Sinqua Walls). This causes tension between Lisa and Dewayne, as he has had to pick up the pieces after Nnamdi left her brokenhearted in the past.
Allison (Grace Byers) is the biracial Hotep-esque friend with (white) daddy issues; King (Melvin Gregg) is the reformed thug with a new direction in life, Shanika (X Mayo) is the fabulous bold friend who brings the comedy, and Clifton (Jermaine Fowler) stands out as the nerdy outsider — who voted for Trump twice.
After arriving at the cabin and playing a game of Spades, the group finds their way to the basement game room. There, they see a trivia board game titled The Blackening with a disturbing plastic Sambo as its centerpiece. Suddenly an old black-and-white TV turns on and a sinister figure with a blackface caricature mask appears, alerting them that their other friend Morgan (Yvonne Orji) – who arrived a day early, is being held hostage and they must play the game in order to save her.
The group goes rounds playing essentially a high stakes Black trivia, but when a trick question causes them to lose, the masked killer demands that they sacrifice the “blackest” person in order to spare the rest.
The concept is based on a 2018 sketch from Perkin’s comedy sketch group 3Peat, in which he also wrote and starred. Together, Perkins and co-writer Tracy Oliver (“Girls Trip”) seamlessly brought the sketch to the big screen without sacrificing the comedic and unapologetically Black elements that make this film work.
“The Blackening” serves as a commentary on what does it truly mean to be Black? Refreshingly, it does this without falling into worn-out stereotypes, but still incorporating and celebrating shared Black experiences. We see this in the scenes where the group plays Spades, dialogue on overly sweet Kool-Aid, or when Lisa and Allison can tell what each other is thinking just by a look.
Anyone that has screamed, “Don’t go in there!” while watching a horror movie, will enjoy this film and the hilariously self-aware characters. At one point in the movie, we watch Dewayne simply close a door that was mysteriously swung open, a movie moment much to the audience’s satisfaction.
Although inspired by “Scary Movie,” “The Blackening” is far from a parody film — yet while a social commentary, it doesn’t take itself as seriously as the likes of “Get Out.” It is the perfect balance of genuine horror, hilarity, and satire, that will leave you laughing and screaming till the end.
