Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Center for International Agricultural Trade Development Research and Training (CIATDRT) will help lead global efforts to advance production, handling, and consumption of fruits and vegetables as part of a five-year $15 Million award from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for its Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture.
“One of our main objectives, as we lead FAMU’s effort within the Horticulture Innovation Lab, is to help the targeted communities develop the much needed sustainable solutions to the challenges faced globally within the horticultural value chains to improve productivity, incomes, and livelihoods,” said Harriett A. Paul, CIATDRT and International Agriculture programs director for FAMU’s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS).“As we move forward with the project’s implementation, there may be additional opportunities for FAMU faculty members to participate.”
Lambert Kanga, Ph.D., director of FAMU’s Center for Biological Control, will serve as lead scientist for Entomology/Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program as he joins the FAMU CIATDRT in this effort.
“One of the most important aspects of food safety in the global food supply chains is pest management. As climate changes, economic losses due to insect pests will increase, thus, we will contribute to the implementation of successful integrated pest management strategies for the communities we will serve,” said Kanga.
Locally Let, Globally Supported
USAID will provide a base $15 million investment over the next five years, with up to $34.5 million total funding possible to support this global research program and consortium, led by the University of California-Davis. This competitive program was first awarded to UC Davis in 2009 and renewed in 2014.
The global consortium aims to help develop sustainable, local expertise and innovative technical and social solutions for horticulture producers and their communities. The consortium consists of: Florida A&M University, Michigan State University, Texas A&M University, UC Davis, and the World Vegetable Center, along with subject matter experts from Penn State University and Making Cents International, to help manage this program.
Within the consortium are partners and specialists with expertise in horticulture, agronomics, agri-sociology, agribusiness and agri-policy. The Horticulture Innovation Lab will convene these global, regional, and local experts to determine research needs in each geographical area, and the team will emphasize a holistic, locally led approach to build community resilience and support inclusivity.
The Horticulture Innovation Lab will work with and promote local leadership in communities across the globe while focusing their efforts in West Africa, East Africa, South/Southeast Asia and Central America. At the forefront of their research is the development of environmentally sustainable, market-oriented production and post-harvest handling methods that improve income for smallholder farmers and other stakeholders in fruit and vegetable value chains, as well as providing them more access to nourishing fruits and vegetables.
Professor Kanga will serve as the lead scientist
Building on fertile grounds
Fruits and vegetables provide vital nutrients for healthy communities, empower women and youth, and improve overall sustainability in production systems – this was the central tenet informing all of the work that the Horticulture Innovation Lab did during its first 10 years.
As a direct result of the Horticulture Innovation Lab’s work, more than 750 horticultural technologies are now available for transfer and scaling in communities across the globe. More than 32,000 farmers are applying or using these technologies as a result of the lab and its network’s collective work, and more than 13,000 hectares of land are under new management practices.
The Horticulture Innovation Lab produced a number of innovative technologies, including a chimney solar dryer that more efficiently dries and preserves fruits and vegetables for long-term storage, and a simple tool called the DryCard that lets farmers know if food is safe for dry storage.
Additionally, researchers facilitated the adoption of improved agricultural methods, such as drip irrigation in Guatemala, and conservation agriculture for vegetable production and a packinghouse in Cambodia, that led to climate and social resilience.
The Horticulture Innovation Lab is a part of Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty. It brings partners together to help some of the world’s poorest countries harness the power of agriculture and entrepreneurship to jump-start their economies and create new opportunities. For more information visit: https://www.feedthefuture.gov/.
The 2021 class of HBCU Buzz’s HBCUTop 30 Under 30 features an extraordinary list of trailblazers and history-makers. If you’re looking for inspiration in your industry, then look no further!
The seventh class of honorees are creating lasting change in a wide variety of industries including politics, sports, education, business, health and music. In fact, this list is the perfect example of just how quickly the HBCU experience can catapult the careers of its students. The youngest person to make this year’s list is 19-year-old Rajauh Caruth, current student at Winston-Salem State University who made NASCAR history.
“We’re thrilled to spotlight this year’s honorees as it reflects a great diversity of HBCU graduates in our community” said HBCU Buzz Founder & CEO Luke Lawal. “Each year, the Top 30 Under 30 are selected based on their exemplary devotion to their alma mater and impressive achievements to build a better future.” Get inspired by the impressive list of students and alumni from HBCUs all over the nation! Check out the former classes: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Randolph Ross Jr. – North Carolina A&T
Track and field is a family sport for Randolph Ross Jr., who is coached by his Olympian father at North Carolina A&T State University. So, it wasn’t a surprise when Ross, one of the world’s best 400 meter runners, made it to this year’s Olympics! Prior to qualifying for the iconic games, Ross was a trailblazer who helped to shatter records. Along with N.C. A&T’s Akeem Sirleaf, Trevor Stewart, and Daniel Stokes, Ross’s team had the fastest world time in the 4x400m with a time of 3:00.23 to qualify for the big games.
Rajah Caruth – Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem State University sophomore Rajah Caruth developed a love for NASCAR at a very early age. He knew he wanted to be a racecar driver when he saw his first race in person at Richmond Raceway in Virginia at the age of 14. Now at not even 20 years old, he is on track to becoming the 8th African American in NASCAR history to make a national series debut. In 2022, the history-maker will race part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series team with “Alpha Prime Racing,” a venture with Caesar Bacarella and Tommy Joe Martins .
Never missing an opportunity to work toward his dreams, he currently majors in Motorsport Management at WSSU.
Nia Page – Spelman College
Nia Page is a rising star in the political space, and she is working with leaders at our country’s highest levels. The recent Spelman College alumna has worked on the Joe Biden for President campaign, as well as for Congressman and Morehouse College alum Cedric Richmond, who now serves as Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
Page’s time at Spelman laid a strong foundation for her career aspirations. She majored in International Studies and served as president of the Student Government Association. She interned with civil rights greats Congressman Elijah Cummings and Congressman John Lewis, who fueled her goals of advocacy. By her senior year in 2019, she had begun working with the Biden campaign. Notably, she helped create the campaign’s national HBCU Students for Biden program, and became its co-chair and program lead. One of her proudest feats was planning the program’s Homecoming Week; where HBCU students from the AUC, now Vice President Kamala Harris, and more attended one of the week’s events. Page went on to become the Biden campaign’s National African American Program Coordinator. Additionally, Page was a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the International Education Policy Program.
Terayle Hill – Clark Atlanta University
Terayle Hill is an actor, producer, musician, and entrepreneur. Hill was born in Pomona, California in 1994 and raised in Moreno Valley, California – before venturing over to Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 2016 with a Mass Media Arts Degree; with a concentration in Television and Film.
Outside of acting, Terayle engages his time and energy in other areas of the entertainment industry. Since 2014, he’s been directing and producing films that have garnered much attention and recognition in yearly film-festival circuits. One of his award-winning films, “Novella” (produced by Damn Write Originals) can currently be found on RevoltTV. Terayle has also brought his first love, rapping, to the main stage of television and film. He’s landed a few musical placements in the film industry and television industry and most notably writes and performs music for the Starz television series “Step Up.” Terayle also released his debut album, “Hyena” on February 21, 2021 and is available everywhere!
When he is not in the studio, on set, or behind the camera, Terayle makes time to connect with the youth across the country. Since the loss of his brother Tevyn in August of 2018, Terayle has instituted a legacy scholarship award in his brother’s name.
Today, you can find Terayle progressing on his journey toward a higher truth to live by example and educate himself and others. Hill is the co-founder of the mulit-media enterprise, “Everybodies Inc,” and is on a daily pursuit of mastering his on-camera abilities.
Victor Solomon – North Carolina A&T State University
You might hear Victor Solomon before you see him! At only 22 years old, this soulful singer finished in the top 5 contestants on the 20th season of NBC Universal’s popular show The Voice. With sultry singer John Legend as his coach, Victor mesmerized audiences and was an instant favorite who left viewers craving more. Ironically, Solomon won his 8th grade talent show by singing Legend’s hit “Ordinary People,” so to make it so far on the show was a well-earned full circle moment for him.
Prior to his time on the show, you could hear his melodies at church. While he does sing well, many have come to know Victor Solomon for his leadership and engagement on campus at North Carolina A&T State University. He has made a name for himself with students and community leaders as Mr. N.C. A&T, and Mister HBCU 2021-22. He has served on the Student Government Association Executive Board. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He began singing at the age of 6, so of course, he sings in the gospel choir on campus.
Quanera Hayes – Livingstone College
World-class track and field runner Quanera Hayes is a force to be reckoned with. Most recently, she competed in this year’s Olympics. Yet even before that, she broke records as a student-athlete at her alma mater Livingstone College. By the time she was a sophomore, she had become Livingstone’s first female NCAA champion. She then became the first woman at any Division II school to win three straight NCAA titles for outdoor 400 meter races. Hayes also became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
After graduating, she didn’t stop her hustle! In 2016, she won the USATF National Championship, earning a bronze medal in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m relay. Hayes has in the past credited a coach in middle school who saw her potential and encouraged her to join the track team.The North Carolina native is also inspired by her young son Demetrius.
Ezinne Kalu – Savannah State University
Nigerian basketball star Ezinne Kalu was a star player at Savannah State University, and has kept her momentum up ever since. Ironically, Kalu eyed cheerleading as her sport of choice as a young girl, before her mother helped her to discover her love for basketball. She went on to become the first women’s basketball player in Division I history to score more than 1,000 career points. She earned 1,607 career points and averaged 16 points per game. After her time at SSU, Kalu was recruited to play professionally in the European basketball league in Portugal, and then went on to play for Hungarian, German, and French teams.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Kalu has most recently graced the courts of this year’s Olympics, where she performed well with an average of 12.3 points, 4 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Camerron Dangerfield – Alabama A&M University
Chef Cam, aka Camerron Dangerfield, is an Alabama A&M University alumnus taking the culinary world by storm. He prepared himself for a successful career as a celebrity chef, author, restaurant consultant, reality tv personality and entrepreneur when he decided to major in International Business. He has also made time to return to his alma mater to advance Food Science programs during its Community Health Fair, and conducted virtual cooking classes for Global Employee Health and Fitness Month.
Chef Cam is a chef with lots of personality, and lots of accolades to back it up! He is a Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen Champion, a Georgia Chef of the Year honoree, and was a participating chef in seasons 9 and 10 of Master Chef, hosted by world renowned Chef Gordon Ramsey. He is also a Resident Chef on the NBC Universal daily talk show Sister Circle Live. Over time, the chef has worked with big brands like Anheuser Busch, Walmart’s Repurpose Brand, Bolthouse Farms, and more. Plus, he’s even written a few cookbooks! In the fall, Chef Cam even plans to open his first restaurant: “Brunch at CAM’s.”
Chef Cam also has a philanthropic side. He created Chefs For Change to feed the less fortunate in food deserts and for families who experienced income loss during COVID-19. He challenged other chefs around the country to join his efforts, so that the reach extended further than his home state of Georgia. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he also serves as an advocate and Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce rising star honoree. He continues to use his platform to bring communities together and produce executive events for like-minded creatives.
Trevor Stewart – North Carolina A&T
Olympian Trevor Stewart is another hot shot on North Carolina A&T State University’s track team. He broke the 4x400m record with Randolph Ross Jr., Akeem Sirleaf, and Daniel Stokes to qualify for the Olympics, but there’s so much more to him.
Despite having asthma, Stewart has collected titles like the 400m title at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) outdoor championships. He also held the fastest 400m qualifying time at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round. He has twice finished top 4 in the nation for NCAA Championships for 400m races, including placing 2nd in the nation in 2019.
Ultimately, Stewart is a two-time Olympic medalist, taking home 1 gold (4×400-meter relay) and 1 bronze (for the 4×400-meter mixed relay) during his trip to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!
Mike Hamilton – Howard University
If you’re a serious artist looking to have visibility in the industry, Mike Hamilton is the person you want to know. The cum laude Howard University alumnus and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has made a name for himself as the Senior Director of Commerce at Epic Records. Just in August Hamilton was recognized as one of Billboard’s 2021 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players. He was also honored in October 2020 by HITS Magazine as one of the music industry’s Noisemakers.
The impressive catalogue of R&B and hip-hop artists that Mike Hamilton oversees includes artists like Future, 21 Savage, Rick Ross, Travis Scott, and DJ Khaled. Plus, he’s boosted rising stars like GIVĒON, which he personally prides himself in after celebrating the artist early on. As a result, GIVĒON, who has 2 RIAA platinum singles and other accolades, was named an Apple Music Up Next artist in 2020, and became the face of Spotify’s Are & Be playlist rebrand. Hamilton worked in the same executive role at Atlantic Records, supporting the rollouts of Grammy-nominated albums like Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy (the 2019 winner for Best Rap Album), Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap, Meek Mill’s Championships, and Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer.
Outside of work, Hamilton continues to advocate fearlessly for diversity and inclusion within the music industry. Among other endeavors, he is involved with #TheShowMustBePaused organization & helped to craft its “From Books to Boardrooms” virtual career fair during Black History Month, which paired college students from underrepresented communities with music industry professionals. He also sits on an internal task force at Sony Music that further helps underrepresented students realize their dreams in the challenging yet rewarding music industry.
Jasmine Butler – Bowie State University
Jasmine Butler is an award-winning events professional who in her spare time thrives as an entrepreneur. By day, the Bowie State University alumna is the Events Manager for the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Having majored in Communications and Public Relations at Bowie State University, she has been able to showcase her ability to strategize events and campaigns, and capture strong engagement. In just a few short years, she has gone from Events Specialist at Marriott International where she managed over 300 events and meetings annually to Event Manager at CNAS, where she now manages budgets upwards of $200,000. Just this summer, CNAS recognized Jasmine Butler’s hard work by honoring her with the 2021 Bacevich Award for leaders in national security. It honors emerging leaders who show courage, integrity, and commitment to public service.
Although CNAS keeps Jasmine Butler hard at work, she has ventured into entrepreneurship with 2 different businesses! She entered the beauty space with her unique lip gloss line Juicy By Jay. Prioritizing product quality over profits, she created a line with well-made vegan and cruelty-free products. The brand also has a philanthropic side. To stand with her community as a business woman, Jasmine donates a lip jelly to women in programs and facilities that protect them. Butler is also the CEO and Event Director of a second business: J. Butler Events, LLC. Based in Washington, D.C., Butler continues to bring on clients to plan, manage and execute special events, conferences, and more. Similar to what she does at CNAS, she handles everything about the event from invoicing, to contracts, to vendors, and day-of execution.
John T. Rose – Hampton University
John T. Rose is a dynamic young attorney taking the entertainment industry by storm, and his accolades speak for themselves. For one, the Hampton University alum is among the youngest attorneys ever to be honored on Billboard’s Top Music Lawyer list, and has been featured 2 years in a row. He has also been chosen for Variety’s Legal Impact list and named a 2020 Noisemaker by Hits Daily Double. Whether the case is against an award-winning entertainer, a rising star, or a major corporation, Rose is ready to fight to win.
Rose has presided over many high-profile cases. He earned a victory for client Rick Ross in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals after he was sued by 50 Cent for using “In Da Club” on a mixtape. The landmark win set a precedent, clearing the way for creators to sample music without permission on projects they aren’t profiting on. He has had lawsuits dismissed against labels Universal Music Group (UMG) and Def Jam. Also, clients of John and his team have been able to negotiate and secure seven-figure deals with companies like Facebook, Bleacher Report, BET, and Sprite. Rose also entered a groundbreaking joint venture with renowned music photographer Cam Kirk with Atlantic Records. Kirk is not only a client of Rose’s but also a fellow member of this year’s HBCU Buzz Top 30 Under 30. Together, they sign and develop visual content creators, offering a full-service creative division to use as a resource.
When he’s not fighting cases or closing deals, Rose often uses his voice to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Mainly, he uses his membership and connections with BESLA, or the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the largest professional organization of its kind to be a vessel. During the racial reckoning of the pandemic he brought Black creatives amazing opportunities to showcase their talent and create content for big names in the music industry through his photography label collective gallery.
Rose frequently volunteers his time as a speaker on professional, business and music industry topics to groups such as 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Tuskegee University’s 8th Annual Men’s Leadership Conference and Black Law Student Association chapters at universities in and around Atlanta and throughout the South.
Mike Carney – Howard University
If you’re looking for a connector in the entertainment industry who has helped craft some of the best events in music, then you may be looking for Mike Carney. The Howard University alumnus earned his BA in Economics, but soon learned that he could make a career out of uniting people and exciting experiences.
Currently, Carney thrives in the Booking department at the famous Live Nation Entertainment. Yet his coordination experience can be traced all the way back to his time at The Howard Theatre, where he served as Homecoming Coordinator for a year and then Events and Partnership Assistant for the next year. He then entered the music industry in Atlanta as an executive assistant to the co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records. While there, he coordinated and facilitated events like Grand Hustle Weekend, BET Weekend, and more. He then moved on to record label LVRN, helping to launch their flagship studio in Atlanta. The experience opened him up to tour management and operations with artist 6black’s Free 6lack Tour and DRAM during Kendrick Lamar’s The DAMN. Tour.
By prioritizing focus, humility, and integrity, Mike Carney will continue to move higher and higher up the ladder at his own pace! He has had his hand in booking for big festivals like Broccoli City, The Roots Picnic, and H.E.R.’s Lights On Festival, plus specialty shows for Amazon, Michelle Obama, Youtube, BET, Budweiser, and more. You can find him and his team forging unique opportunities for urban content, developing up and coming Hip Hop and R&B artists, and beyond.
Chidi Okezie – Hampton University
Double Hampton University graduate Chidi Okezie has lived and breathed track and field all his life. He earned many accolades at his alma mater. He has been recognized several times by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and has made several All-American teams.
Most recently, Okezie’s talents allowed him to qualify for this year’s 2020 Olympics. In fact, Okezie competed in a way contenders rarely do: he had the opportunity to compete for 3 different countries! He has a Jamaican mother, a Nigerian father, and was ultimately raised in the United States, in Philadelphia. He made his choice diplomatically, considering the unity that could come from Nigerians in Africa and America rooting for the same athlete. While his team didn’t qualify to run in the actual Olympics due to a tragic blunder of no fault of his own, his Mixed 4×400 relay team set a national record time for Nigeria at 3:14:09 when they competed to qualify for the Olympics in Lagos.
Jahliel Thurman – Virginia State University
Host and executive producerJahliel Thurman stepped onto the campus of Virginia State University with a full academic scholarship and a level of determination that has since paid him 1,000 times over. While majoring in Mass Communications with a focus in Television, he chose to become a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and became president of the Nu Psi chapter. He served as the SGA Vice President for two years, eventually becoming SGA President in his senior year. He then graduated from VSU magna cum laude.
Thurman’s love for HBCUs and his goal to ensure they were positively represented and discussed led him to create the Yard Talk 101 digital marketing agency. Putting his mass communication skills to work, the VSU alum created a path for HBCU students and alumni to have meaningful conversations that extend beyond their campuses and communities to major corporations and beyond. Yard Talk 101 has collaborated with companies and organizations like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Shawn Carter Foundation, Cigna, and Toyota.
In addition to the valuable marketing work being done at Yard Talk 101, Jahliel Thurman also hosts and executive produces a television series about HBCUs and trailblazing alumni for AsprieTV. Aptly named “HBCU 101,” the show has featured actress Keisha Knight-Pulliam, film producer Will Packer, actor, host and entrepreneur Terrence J, and more!
Sidnee Michelle Douyon – Howard University
You can count Sidnee Michelle Douyon as one of the most gifted storytellers of our generation. She has blazed the entertainment industry as a reporter, journalist, producer, editor, and media and pop culture guru for close to a decade. Originally from Brooklyn, the Howard University alumna got her start writing and reporting for her alma mater. Determined, she climbed her way from being an on-camera personality at The Source Magazine to Forbes Magazine’s first-ever woman of color to ever report on camera.
Douyon now works as a freelance journalist with interviews under her belt from the likes of Michelle Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Cardi B., Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Eddie Murphy, and more! She is also one half of the famous travel blog Black Travel Journey. In her free time, she pays it forward mentoring Howard students through Howard’s Entertainment Group, which is powered by Amazon.
Taylor Reeanna Johnson – South Carolina State University
Taylor Reeanna Johnson is an ambitious television writer and actress who has enjoyed storytelling since she was a child. Her third grade teacher’s assignment to write an essay about Martin Luther King, Jr. unlocked her love for writing. She honed her craft by attending South Carolina State University, where she received a BA in Communications and Journalism. She then went on to earn her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She went on to found Vir Madera Productions, a company that uplifts other writers, actors, directors, producers, and more professionals of color, giving them a community to call their own. Over time, Johnson’s career has taken her from BET, to OWN, Aspire TV, and more television networks.
Maya Allen – Howard University
If you have somewhere to go and want to look effortlessly fly, find Maya Allen! The writer, director, beauty director and Howard University graduate is a woman on the move. She is currently the beauty director for In Style Magazine, overseeing all of the magazine’s beauty coverage! In the past she has worked with big brands like Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Byrdie.
Allen first found her purpose in the beauty industry when she looked through her mother’s beauty magazines as a kid. She began collecting them herself, and found an issue with the fact that she had difficulty finding people who looked like her. Determined to lead the change that she wanted to see, she interned every summer in college at leading magazines in New York. While there the Journalism major and African American Studies minor learned all she could from accomplished editors there. Since showcasing her dedication as a young college student, Allen’s writing has appeared in magazines like Essence, In Style and O, The Oprah Magazine, and more. Always a fan of beauty and fashion, Allen is known for her bold style and impressively large collection of at least 200 red lipsticks!
Dr. Alexandria Washington – Florida A&M University
What doesn’t Dr. Alexandria Washington do? She’s an award winning health advocate, TEDx speaker, a former Miss Black Florida US Ambassador, three-time FAMU grad. The Rattler received her BS in Health Science, Master of Public Health, and Doctor of Public Health all from Florida A&M University.
With work that has spanned governmental and non-profit sectors, Dr. Washington is motivated by a designer to positively change her community from its foundation. She currently works as a federal contractor with the Administration for Children and Families.She has had a wide-reaching impact, serving as a Miss Black Florida US Ambassador, where she used her platform to advocate for people suffering from often-overlooked health conditions like Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait. Dr. Washington was one of twenty women in the inaugural cohort of United State of Women Ambassadors as well, where she advocated for gender equality in Tallahassee. Notably, she was recognized by Forbes for her work encouraging the city’s commissioner’s decision to remove gender-neutral language from the City Charter and other governing documents, which was done in 2019!
Gregory Tyrone Wright Jr. – Bowie State University.
Gregory T. Wright Jr., LGPC is dedicating his life to the pursuit of mental health, social equity, and combating the miseducation of marginalized cultures. Among many things, he is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor, entrepreneur, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Wright is also an Adjunct Professor at Bowie State University and has also volunteered his time to tutor young men and women that are incarcerated. He is a 2-time HBCU graduate, having earned his BS in Psychology and his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bowie State University.
Wright created the brand “The Wright Mindset” to provide services and therapeutic products that make personal and relationship experiences easier to unpack. With his game “It’s Levels To This Ship,” players can ask their significant other questions to get to know them on a deeper level. The questions include inquiries like “how do I know that you are reliable,” “do I touch you enough,” and “what was the last time you considered ending our relationship.” Although blunt at times, the game offers self reflection as well as elusive relationship transparency through three different levels.
Having built a successful brand for himself, Wright has spoken all over the country to share his perspective. With expertise in mental health counseling, psychological assessment, research methodologies and more, he is influencing others to take a holistic approach to mental health advocacy. Over the years, he has won awards spanning across organizations that support HBCU retention, clinical research, and educational leadership. Gregory hopes to continue the push towards breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and introducing non-traditional ways to provide human services.
Charlyne Smith – Coppin State University
Dr. Charlyne Smith was born and raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica. She moved to the United States at the age of 17 to pursue a career in science and technology with the goal of developing clean energy solutions for current and future generations. She graduated summa cum laude from Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland as a double major in Chemistry and Mathematics. She went on to obtain her master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Florida (UF) and more recently became the first black woman to graduate with a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the UF.
Dr. Smith’s PhD research contributed to the advanced characterization and post irradiation examination of nuclear materials by using several microscopy techniques and image analysis to study their microstructural response post-irradiation in reactor environments. During her PhD, she authored and co-authored five peer-reviewed journal manuscripts; received three research proposal awards totaling ~$150k; presented at eight professional conferences and mentored six undergraduate students. Dr. Smith is currently a distinguished postdoctoral associate at the Idaho National Laboratory where she is performing research that contributes to demonstrating and securing nuclear energy solutions. She is also actively engaged in nuclear energy advocacy efforts with several non-profit organizations including the Generation Atomic, Students for Nuclear and Mothers for Nuclear organizations. Her long-term career goals are to introduce nuclear energy technology to the Caribbean as well as to build a STEM-based high school in Jamaica. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Dr. DeVonte D. Johnson – Tennessee State University
When it comes to keeping your lifestyle up, people often think about working out, and eating right. But what about your oral health? Dr. Devonte D. Johnson, an alumnus of Tennessee State University, is making sure that’s something we don’t forget. The son of a craniofacial surgery nurse and barber, Dr. Johnson chose dentistry for the impact that the profession could have on people’s self esteem.
The earlier people start taking care of their teeth, the better they’ll look and feel. So the creative dentist has made two lifestyle brands “Protect Your Teeth” and “We Must Stay Healthy” to make oral health more appealing to his community. Protect Your Teeth is a creative outreach campaign that takes into account the everyday health challenges of young people. For example, it helps educate children on what to do if a tooth is accidentally knocked out while playing sports. Alternatively, the We Must Stay Healthy brand merges music, fashion, entertainment, and education to make oral health more appealing for young people.
Dr. Johnson is also a philanthropist, having co-founded Menergi. The start-up focuses on helping diver non-profits receive more funding and resources to have the impacts on our communities that they set out to have.
Candace Chambers – Jackson State University
Candace Chambers is an award-winning educator, public speaker, and author who has made it her mission to uplift communities of color through education and purpose. She has earned numerous awards, including the Carolyn P. Handa Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Alabama, the Scholar from the Dream Award by the National Council for Teachers of English, the President’s Future Leader Award by the International Writing Centers Association and more. She was also an HBCU All Star through the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and has earned over $1 million in scholarships, grants, and assistantships.
Currently, the Jackson State University alumna teaches English composition at a community college, and also teaches incarcerated students at a university. She has gone to Dillard University, Spelman College, and more schools across the nation about college prep and writing scholarship essays. She is also an entrepreneur who founded Educational Writing Services LLC to provide editorial and college coaching services to students and professionals. She has also written the guidebook “Write Your Way To A Successful Scholarship Essay” to help others when she can’t directly. Through all of this, the multi-faceted educator credits Jackson State with giving her the educational foundation she needed to thrive.
Mulbe Marcellus Dillard IV – Florida A&M University
Professional golfer Mulbe Marcellus Dillard IV once expressed his feelings for golf as a “a very, very strong love for the game.” He was first exposed to golf by his father, who brought him to a range when he was 2. By 5 he played in tournaments. After high school he committed to Florida A&M University to bring his talents to the team. He also established his own place to teach others in his community at an accessible price: “The Mulbe Dillard Golf Academy.” He learned to juggle, balancing school work, his own practices, and frequently booked lessons through his academy.
Dillard has done well for himself as a young golfer. He has earned a sponsorship to amateurly compete in the APGA Tour’s summer circuit. Late last year, he also ranked number one in the country for the APGA’s ranking of black golfers in the NCAA. Dillard hopes to ultimately earn a spot in the PGA Tour. With his golf career taking off, and considerations of graduate school, Dillard is only getting started!
Tamerras Leonard – Texas Southern University
Tamerras Leonard is an up and coming journalist whose early success has led her to explore reporting and marketing management. To date, she has interviewed big names like Travis Scott, Kahlana Barfield, Congressman Beto O’Rourke, and Roland Smith. Yet none of her accomplishments are surprising, because she was already such a powerhouse in college.
While at Texas Southern University, Leonard chartered the third chapter of Women of G.O.L.D. at TSU, an organization that offers motivation, mentorship, and life skill development to young women. She served as Director of Marketing at the TSU Herald, which is Texas Southern’s official newspaper. She also became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Starting off as an intern at ABC News, Tamerras has worked her way up. Her next stop was Production Assistant. She then became an Associate Producer for the star-studded Soul of a Nation tv mini series, which featured Common, Taraji P. Henson, Carmeo Anthony, Marsai Martin, Sterling K. Brown, and more. She has now been accepted into the highly selective ABC News Fellowship program, where 10 people from the entire company are able to do rotations in each department, plus shows in the newsroom.
Tahir Murray – Howard University
Fashion-forward celebrities and major companies like Nike have been clamoring for the clothing line of Howard University alum Tahir Murray. The third-generation entrepreneur has built an HBCU fashion empire with his line Legacy History Pride. In fact, Murray grew up appreciating fashion considering his grandfather was the first Black sneaker shop owner to secure a Nike account! His father was one of the first streetwear designers to hit the fashion scene. Also, his mother and sister are HBCU graduates!
Murray celebrates HBCUs with the 3 pillars of the brand’s title. The brand celebrates the “legacy” of HBCUs with classic styles, honoring the legacy HBCUs provide to educate generations of African Americans. The designs of the brand honor the “history” of HBCUs by incorporating historic people, places, and things that are the backbone of HBCU culture. Lastly, the “pride” aspect honors Murray’s own family’s entrepreneurship journey. With every sale, the brand gives licensing profits to the HBCUs featured on the apparel, and it also partners with students and alumni at these HBCUs to offer scholarships!
Jeremy Peaches – Prairie View A&M University
Jeremy Peaches works to leave our earth better than he found it. Spending time outside with plants and animals was always therapeutic to him, and seeing fields was something he missed when his family moved from Mississippi to the city of Houston when he was a boy. By the time Peaches arrived at Prairie View A&M University, his love for nature hadn’t changed at all. He majored in Agriculture, setting him up for the birth of his now booming agriculture consulting, service, and farm company Fresh Life Organic (FLO).
When Houston began to grow an organic food scene sometime around his 2015 graduation, FLO was the perfect move. Peaches was able to become an Agriculture Consultant at FLO to assist landowners, companies, farms, garden, schools, and more in Houston’s growing organic food movement. FLO specializes in operations, row crop farming, aquaponics/hydroponics. risk management, and marketing agriculture products. The company sells organic vegetables to the community, restaurants, and more, in addition to maintaining farms, gardens, and greenhouses. Even after all of this, he has co-founded Black Farmer Box with fellow PVAMU alumna Ivy Wells. Together, the two have created a system that dismantles food deserts, distributing fresh produce to communities in Houston and beyond.
Ernest Holmes – Morehouse College
Coding is difficult, but the earlier you are introduced to it, the better. This was the lesson Ernest Holmes learned, and he’s taken a hands-on approach to mentor students of color with his company CodeHouse. The New Jersey native majored in Computer Science and Mathematics at Morehouse College to prepare himself for a career where he could one day do what he loved and serve others. Before he even graduated, he had racked up offers from Microsoft, Salesforce, Chick-fil-a, and Clorox. He ultimately chose to become a software engineer at Google, where he had previously completed three internships at the company.
While there aren’t many who look like him in his field, he is doing the work it takes to change that. He grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, and grew to appreciate the value of diversity especially at Morehouse. His experience ultimately led him to establish CodeHouse, where he serves as President and Co-Founder. The non-profit is closing the diversity gap by preparing for internships and work in coding, while also facilitating a pipeline for them to be employed at leading tech companies. Aside from wanting to help others, in the bigger plan, Holmes plans to continue to lead the way by becoming an innovative leader in technology in his own right.
Charity Croff – Wiley College
Charity Croff is not just an influencer, but an experience. He is an inspiring content creator, rapper, producer, and fashion designer, among many other things. Through his social media and other outlets, he works to encourage others to find their own unique way to harness their infinite potential. While at Wiley College he studied physics and music, and was a member of the debate team.
He has amassed over 300 million views on social media advocating for his followers to be their best selves through empathy, critical thinking, and self awareness. Croff created a monthly letter called the Genius Factory. He has also set up a Patreon, where he encourages followers to get special information like book recommendations, articles, music, educational videos and more. With Croff’s engaging and welcoming personality, he makes it easy to theorize and discuss social issues like race, gender, theology, and the environment.
Darius Leonard – South Carolina State University
Some dream their whole life about making it to the NFL. The league is full of the best football players in the world, so the competition is stiff. But for South Carolina State University graduate Darius Leonard, it not only pays to be the best, it pays to be the best of the best! With his hard work, this year Leonard became the highest paid linebacker in the NFL. He wasted no time in climbing his way to the top after being chosen in the 2018 NFL draft. His deal with the Indianapolis Colts signed him on for 5 years worth a whopping $99.2 million, with $52.5 million guaranteed.
According to sports data company PFF, Leonard is one of four linebackers in the entire league who has held onto a 70.0 on at least 500 defensive snaps every season since joining the league. With Leonard on the field, his team has had stronger coverage and blitzes. Leonard, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., is now set to make about $20 million a year.
HBCU graduates interested in sports journalism are being encouraged to apply to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications for an opportunity at a full-ride scholarship! Get the full story from Charlotte Che at The Daily Northwestern.
A newly launched full-tuition scholarship will fund a graduate student enrolling in the yearlong Sports Media master’s program at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications.
The scholarship is hoping to specifically fund an alum from a historically Black college or university. The Simmons Family Scholarship for Sports Journalism was established by Kari and Bill Simmons, CEO and founder of The Ringer, a website and podcast network dedicated to sports and pop culture reporting. The scholarship, which is currently accepting applications, will be Medill’s only financial award offered in its Sports Media specialization.
Financial accessibility is one of NU’s top priorities, according to Julie Collins, Medill’s director of graduate admissions and financial aid.
“It costs more to go to graduate school,” Collins said. “(They) are making sure graduate students are able to do this program, regardless of their financial situation.”
While Medill awards grants and scholarships, the office of Federal Student Aid only offers a few federal loans to low-income graduate students: Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans.
Undergraduates, however, can receive assistance through the Pell Grants and subsidized Stafford loans, which do not charge interest to students. The Simmons Family Scholarship aims to relieve some of the financial burden, Collins said.
“I’m always impressed by the commitment of NU alums, their commitment to give,” Collins said. “I think it’s just vitally important that people see us as a good steward of money and a way for us to actualize (students’) goals and passions.”
The Simmons Family Scholarship is the only Medill program specifically aimed toward alumni of historically Black colleges and universities. But the school does also offer a Reuters fellowship for students who are members of the National Association of Black Journalists. NU also has established connections with the Morehouse College Journalism & Sports program, run by Ron Thomas (Medill M.S. ‘73).
In 2019, just 7.59% of Medill graduate students identified themselves as Black or African American. This scholarship intends to improve the diversity of Medill, according to Medill Dean Charles Whitaker.
“Scholarship funding for graduate students is one of our most critical needs at Medill,” Whitaker said in a news release. “This level of support will make a life-changing difference for students who receive it.”
Collins said Medill also hopes to extend scholarships to graduate students in the future so students from diverse regions and academic backgrounds can learn from each other.
Students who come from smaller sports journalism programs across the country and the world enrich learning inside and outside the classroom, she added.
“Making sure we have all those voices present is key — representation is important,” Collins said.
Medill Prof. J.A. Adande, the school’s director of sports journalism, said he hopes this scholarship will further encourage collaboration to diversify NU and the larger field of sports journalism.
While COVID-19 halted some of the Sports Media specialization’s immersive programs, Adande said this year’s opportunities have been “surprisingly good.” This past May, students reported in-person on the Kentucky Derby as a part of Medill Explores.
Adande said the current class of sports journalism master’s students is the largest group he’s seen since joining Medill.
“We’re really grateful to last year’s students who endured and persevered through the pandemic and didn’t complain and did outstanding work,” Adande said. “We’re thrilled to be back and bigger than ever.”
The Simmons Family Scholarship will offer the opportunity to acquire a foundation in what Adande refers to as a “rapidly changing sports landscape,” citing the rise in popularity of podcasts, social media, television and other forms of multimedia reporting.
“This could turn into the starting point for someone to have a great, wonderful career in this field,” Adande said.
To thank him for his honesty, a teen boy from Liberia is being showered with accolades, including a full-ride offer at Livingstone College! Get the full story from Livingstone below.
Livingstone College is offering a full scholarship to a Liberian teenager, who became a national hero in his country after finding and returning $50,000 to its rightful owner.
Emmanuel Tuloe, 18, was driving his motorcycle taxi in northeastern Nimba County on a highway when he saw a bunch of money wrapped in a plastic bag on the road. It contained $50,000 USD and $100,000 in Liberian money.
News reports say the teenager took it home and gave it to his aunt to keep until he found out to whom it belonged.
Later that day, the owner, businesswoman Musu Yancy, went on the radio appealing for the money to be returned, and he took it to her.
Tuloe’s gesture has earned much-deserved public commendations including from the President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr. George Manneh Weah, with whom he met in person on Oct. 18. The President said he would present the teenager with one of the country’s highest Orders of Distinction in a future ceremony.
Upon meeting the President, Tuloe was prepared to discuss one thing: his education. Like many teenagers in the country, Tuloe dropped out of school in the seventh grade to run a motorcycle taxi service to make money for his family.
Tuloe told President Weah on Monday that his desire was to finish his education. He also asked him to encourage other young people to leave the taxi business and focus on going back to school.
President Weah and his family personally offered a scholarship to Tuloe to attend any school of his choice in Liberia, up to the master’s level. Additionally, the president gave him $10,000 USD and two new motorcycles.
To further secure the young man’s future, Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, is offering the teenager a full scholarship upon his completion of high school. Liberian ambassador to the United States George S.W. Patten, Sr., will visit Livingstone on Wednesday to meet with President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., to thank the college for its generosity.
The historically black college has a longstanding history with Liberia through its founding denomination, the A.M.E. Zion Church, and through its collaboration with the Liberian Organization of the Piedmont (LOP), based in Winston-Salem, NC.
Livingstone College currently sponsors two Liberian students every four years through its partnership with the LOP. The college also supports A.M.E. Zion University in Monrovia as its international sister college.
“It’s the perfect complement to the work Livingstone is already doing in Liberia,” said Dr. James Hunder, LOP chairman of the board, who met with Jenkins on Thursday to discuss the proposition. “When I heard about this young man’s story, I thought of Livingstone College right away and knew Dr. Jenkins would be receptive to the idea.”
“Education is the surest vehicle for upward mobility in the world,” Jenkins said. “This young man clearly understands that. He could have asked for anything from his country’s president, but what he wanted most was to finish his education. He is a beacon of hope for his generation and for his country. We would be proud to have him among our student population.”
According to a press release from the Liberian Executive Mansion, President Weah called the young man “a prime example of what the Bible teaches us in Proverbs 22:1, that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”
Tuloe faced criticism from his peers for returning the money with some mocking him, saying he will never get rich in his lifetime and die poor.
The owner of the money presented him with cash and materials valued at $1,500. Among his gifts was a mattress, which he said he would give to his grandmother.
Wrestling at Morgan State University is making a comeback thanks to the largest-ever donation to Morgan State’s athletics! Get the full story from the Morgan State release below.
Morgan State University today announced the return of competitive collegiate wrestling to its athletic programs, making Morgan the only Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the country to offer the sport of wrestling at the NCAA Division I Varsity level. Following a 24-year hiatus, the sport’s revival comes as the result of the largest donation in history to Morgan’s Athletic Department: a $2.7-million gift from HBCU Wrestling (HBCUW), a new initiative reestablishing wrestling programs on HBCU campuses, in partnership with billionaire philanthropist and former hedge fund manager Mike Novogratz. The University has also been working with Baltimore-based nonprofit Beat the Streets to make the return of wrestling at Maryland’s largest HBCU a reality.
The gift, which is among the largest received from a private donor to the University, will provide funding for men’s wrestling at Morgan and will support up to nine full scholarships annually. In addition to the re-emergence of Wrestling, Morgan State Department of Athletics is continually assessing the University’s sport portfolio to improve the access, equity, and opportunities for current for future Morgan Students.
“The purpose behind this donation is to create access and equity which will serve to further diversify the sport of wrestling by providing opportunities for student-athletes that do not currently exist,” said Edward Scott, Ph.D., vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Morgan. “We are extremely grateful to Mike Novogratz and HBCU Wrestling for this tremendous contribution to Morgan State University Athletics. This gift is the largest in Morgan athletics history and believed to be one of the largest donations to any HBCU athletics program from a private donor.”
The Morgan Bears have a rich and illustrious history in the sport of wrestling that began in the early 1950s. The Bears dominated competition throughout that decade and continued the trend in the ’60s, capturing Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) titles in 1963, 1964 and 1965, among many other achievements.
In 1975–76, the legendary coach James Phillips took over and led the Bears to unprecedented success over the next 20 years. Under Phillips, the Bears won 13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles. He also earned MEAC Coach of the Year accolades 12 times and was instrumental in bringing the NCAA Eastern Wrestling Regional Championship to Morgan State University in 1984. Under his guidance, Morgan produced four national champions and had more than 75 wrestlers named All-American. Morgan’s wrestling program was discontinued at the conclusion of the 1996–97 season, in part because of a lack of resources.
“Morgan as an institution is predicated on expanding opportunities, promoting equity and creating access, and by way of this generous gift, we will be able to resurrect a program that opened the door for so many young men to bask in the promise and experience the magic of education,” said David K. Wilson, Ed.D., president of Morgan. “Historically, Morgan has served as home to a nationally competitive, championship caliber wrestling program, producing numerous national champions in the sport. We embrace this opportunity of being the only HBCU nationwide offering a D1 varsity wrestling program, and we invite those seeking a competitive athletic experience in this sport, and a world-class education, to consider Morgan State University.”
There are nearly 400 men’s wrestling programs in colleges in the D1, D2, D3, NAIA and NJCAA divisions. For a number of scholar-athletes, the allure of competing at a D1 wrestling college is a huge draw, as the students are presented with the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Scholastic wrestling is now practiced in 49 of the 50 states in the United States.
“Wrestling teaches leadership. Fifteen of our 46 presidents wrestled as well as many important business, political, and community leaders.” says Mike Novogratz CEO of Galaxy Investment Partners. “That is what HBCUW is about, it’s about growing the sport of wrestling and our bench of future black leaders who will make our nation more justice and prosperous. I fully support the HBCU Wrestling Initiative and hope that many others will help push this endeavor forward.”
In addition to furthering the University’s relationship with Beat the Streets, which works to develop Baltimore’s youth through wrestling and STEM programs, Morgan will also engage the Coaches Association and the Black Wrestling Association as part of a broader effort to increase African-American participation in the sport. It is widely believed by those involved in the sport that wrestling builds character and teaches young people how to overcome obstacles, handle their emotions, respect authority and become good teammates. It also reinforces the knowledge that success has to be earned through hard work and determination.
“In partnership with Morgan State, we are working to enrich the HBCU experience and look forward to having more underrepresented students get involved with the wrestling community,” said Jahi Jones, Director of HBCUW.
Over the last decade, there has been an influx of African-American students participating in wrestling globally. Approximately 20% of the All-American wrestlers in NCAA Division I, II and III and NAIA are African American or are of mixed race with an African-American parent. In 2021 alone, five of the 10 NCAA Division I wrestling champions were African-American, continuing a tradition of representation and excellence in the sport.
After balancing part-time college courses with the busiest period of her career, rapper Megan Thee Stallion is set to graduate from Texas Southern University in December.
The Houston native shared the news with fans on Instagram yesterday along with a selfie in her graduation outfit. After taking a brief hiatus, Megan returned to Texas Southern in 2019 to complete a degree in health administration. Her re-enrollment came months after the release of Tina Snow, the mixtape that kicked off her meteoric rise.
Her educational pursuit is inspired by her mother, Holly Thomas, and her grandmother, who both passed away in March 2019. According to Pitchfork, when Thomas—a former rapper herself—discovered her daughter’s talent, she made it a requirement that Megan could pursue a music career only when she turned 21 and promised not to abandon her education to pursue a rap career.
A year after resuming her studies, Megan explained to People that the women in her family continued to serve as her motivation, even in death.
“I want to get my degree because I really want my mom to be proud,” she said. “She saw me going to school before she passed. I want my big mama to be proud. She saw me going to school before she passed. My grandmother that’s still alive used to be a teacher, so she’s on my butt about finishing school. I’m doing it for me, but I’m also doing it for the women in my family who made me who I am today.”
The bulk of Megan’s success has happened since she went back to school. Over the last two years, she’s amassed 11 platinum singles, including her viral hit “Savage,” which, boosted by a Beyoncé-assisted remix, has sold over 4 million copies. The song also earned Megan two Grammys in 2020—for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance—the same year she took home the Grammy for Best New Artist.
During this period, she has expanded beyond the music world, becoming an ambassador for Revlon and Mielle Organics and launching successful marketing campaigns with CashApp, Fashion Nova, Nike, and most recently, Popeye’s Chicken.
While she won’t be pursuing a career in health upon graduation, Megan plans to open an assisted living facility in her hometown. She’s previously said that she plans on hiring as many students from her soon-to-be alma mater as possible.
Texas Southern’s Fall 2021 graduation is set for Dec. 11.
Three HBCU graduates hailing from Clark Atlanta University and Spelman College will be honored at this year’s ASCAP Women Behind the Music event! Get the full story from Mia Nazareno at Billboard below.
Jamila Thomas (Credit: Flo Ngala)
Motown’s Jamila Thomas, Columbia’s Phylicia Fant, and entertainment attorney Alicia Ferriabough Taylor, Esq. will be honored at ASCAP’s 2021 Women Behind the Music event, which is set to take place on Wednesday (Oct. 27).
In an event titled “Women Behind the Music: Homecoming Edition,” ASCAP is set to host a virtual conversation “between the three women whose talent, drive and passion have powered some of today’s most popular music,” the performing rights organization shared in a statement.
Hosted by Nicole George-Middleton, ASCAP’S svp of membership, the roundtable discussion is part of the PRO’s week-long event called ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Homecoming SZN, which features career and networking initiatives in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Thomas, Fant and Ferriabough Taylor have all attended HBCUs, and are slated to “speak candidly about how they rose to the top of their class in a male-dominated business and the decisions they made to get them where they are today,” the release notes.
As vp of marketing at Motown Records, Thomas co-founded #TheShowMustBePaused in 2020. A graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Thomas got an early start as an intern at Def Jam records.
After working with such top artists as Prince, Kid Cudi and Daniel Caesar, Fant is executive vp/head of urban music at Columbia Records and is a Spelman College alum. At Columbia, she oversees a roster of talent including Lil Nas X, Raphael Saadiq, Pharrell, Chloe x Halle, Polo G and Lil Tjay.
Ferriabough Taylor is a fellow graduate of Spelman College, and currently practices at the law offices of Robert A. Celestin. With a decade of experience, she has has advised recording artists, producers and songwriters in entertainment-related matters including music distribution, licensing, management and media. Before earning her JD at Northwestern University School of Law, she played snare drums for the Morehouse College Marching Band and trap set in the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble.
The conversation is set to take place on Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. ET. Visit ascapexperience.com/rsvp to register for the event.
Prayers have been answered! Thankfully, a young Morgan State University student who was shot on campus over the weekend will recover. Get the full story from Johnathan M. Pitts and Sanya Kimidi at The Baltimore Sun below.
A Morgan State University officer stands inside the Montebello building after a shooting on campus that injured a student during homecoming weekend. (Credit: Karl Merton Ferron)
The 18-year-old Morgan State University student who was injured in a shooting on the Northeast Baltimore campus Saturday night is expected to make a full recovery, university President David K. Wilson said in a statement Sunday.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 2300 block of Argonne Drive at approximately 6:40 p.m. Saturday and found the student suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a hospital where he was “conscious, alert and stable” at the time, according to a previous news release.
Wilson said in the statement that the student was expected to be released from the hospital Sunday. Both university and police officials said the investigation was active and ongoing.
The shooting occurred near the Montebello Complex on south campus “as the crowds were winding down and the campus was clearing,” after the homecoming football game ended, according to Wilson. The four-wing building houses “a variety of functions to include student support services,” according to a campus building guide on the university’s website, and is separated from the main academic buildings by Argonne Drive.
Officials said there was no active threat at the time to the campus community.
North Carolina Central University beat the Bears in the homecoming football game, 28-17, earlier Saturday. A day earlier, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan visited the campus for the grand opening of the Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall Student Services Building. U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who chairs the university’s board of regents, also took part in the event.
“There is no place on this campus for violence. I can assure you that if you are not in alignment with these core values, we will not hesitate to send you home,” Wilson said in his statement. “Morgan is about growing the future and leading the world. The last act that occurred during Homecoming Week is simply not in alignment with who we are.”
On Sunday, the campus was operating as usual, with students practicing football and studying outdoors. University officials said the counseling center would make counselors available to students who need them.
The shooting was one of several in Baltimore during a violent weekend. As of Sunday night, nine people had been shot, four fatally, across the city since Saturday, and seven people were injured in a drive-by shooting in West Baltimore on Friday night.
Northeast District shooting detectives are asking anyone with information about the Morgan State shooting to call detectives at 410-396-2444. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
During the 162nd Mississippi State Fair, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson recognized the partnership between the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and Alcorn State University. Commissioner Gipson was joined by Dr. Felicia Nave, president of Alcorn State University, and other representatives of Alcorn State University. Pictured on front row (L-R): Dr. Ontario Wooten; Sheba Moses; O.D. Howard; President Nave; Commissioner Gipson; Tommy Milton; Leslie Walker; and Manola Erby. Pictured on back row (L-R) Ralph Arrington and Antione Tenner.
“Alcorn State Extension has been a staple here at the fairgrounds, and a partner with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC), for years,” said Commissioner Gipson. “This partnership dates back to 1994, when Alcorn State started with two mules as part of their working exhibit that created hot, fresh cane syrup. Today, the Alcorn State booth includes a similar, but more modern exhibit with a mobile syrup processing unit. The syrup they make goes hand in hand with the buttermilk biscuits provided by MDAC’s famous Biscuit Booth.”
Alcorn State Extension’s display boasts of the only sugar cane harvester of its kind in the United States. The booth is located next to MDAC’s Biscuit Booth along the Midway at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. A related sugar cane exhibit and mule are next to the Alcorn exhibit inside the State Fair’s Mississippi Frontier Village.
“We are delighted to continue our working relationship with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce,” said President Nave. “Not only have we recently partnered on an initiative highlighting Mississippi universities, our school has proudly participated in the annual State Fair for over 20 years by offering an educational and delicious exhibit in conjunction with the Biscuit Booth.”
In 2021, a seat on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds Advisory Council was added to represent Alcorn State University. And in recognition of Alcorn’s 150th anniversary and as the nation’s oldest public historically Black land-grant institution, MDAC’s 2021 regulatory inspection stickers used across the state from fuel pumps to scales featured the purple and gold colors of Alcorn State University.
The Mississippi State Fairgrounds, a division of MDAC, is hosting the 162nd Mississippi State Fair through Sunday, October 17. Visit www.msstatefair.com for more information on the Mississippi State Fair.
Tuskegee University recently partnered with Auburn University’s School of Communication to streamline opportunities in the communications field! Get the full story from the Tuskegee release below.
TU President Charlotte Morris and AU President Jay Gogue signing MoU
Tuskegee University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Auburn University to help streamline collaboration and networking opportunities between the two institutions’ communications programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Under the agreement’s purview, signed by Tuskegee President Charlotte Morris and Auburn President Jay Gogue, Auburn University will work closely with Tuskegee and offer joint programs in various communication specializations. The association also sets in place a program through which students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Tuskegee and then a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Auburn.
“This partnership will open an array of programming opportunities for our students, thus increasing their career prospects,” said Morris. “Auburn University has excellent infrastructure and faculty expertise in these frontier areas, and we are delighted that the opportunity for expanded studies has been extended to our Tuskegee University students. We look forward to this partnership and other ways of collaboration in opening new doors of access for our students.”
The agreement allows Tuskegee students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and maintaining a 3.0 GPA to complete their senior year at Auburn at no additional cost (including those from out of state)— being able to enroll in a wide variety of courses in Auburn’s four undergraduate majors within the School of Communication and Journalism: communication, journalism, media studies, and public relations. Tuskegee students could arrive on Auburn’s campus as early as spring 2022, but the first cohort is expected to arrive in fall 2022.
Benefits to Tuskegee students include access to more communication courses and faculty, student exchanges, and access to software and additional equipment. Students will also have access to Auburn libraries as well as career and academic services.
“Auburn enjoys a strong collaborative relationship with Tuskegee University,” Gogue said. “This partnership is yet another way in which we can strengthen that bond while living out our land-grant mission of bettering our community and providing greater access to educational and professional opportunities.”
Early in the fall semester of their senior year at Auburn, Tuskegee students would then be eligible to apply for admission to Auburn’s Graduate School and would need to meet standard entrance requirements. After admission to the Graduate school, Tuskegee students would work with a graduate program officer who serves as the advisor for all graduate students in Auburn’s School of Communication and Journalism. Upon completing all graduate degree requirements, the student would receive a master’s degree in Communication from Auburn.
The agreement marks the second such partnership between the neighboring schools. In 2018, Tuskegee and Auburn’s veterinary colleges signed an agreement furthering the relationship between the two schools and increasing the number of under-represented, board-certified specialists and diversity in the veterinary profession.
Willie Kay, a seamstress who fought through racism to follow her dreams of fashion and education at Shaw University will have her work honored. North Carolina A&T State University now has Kay’s dresses on full display in its University Galleries! Get the full story from news station WFMY below.
(Credit: Woody Marshall/News & Record)
The work of Jim Crow era seamstress, Willie Kay, on display at University Galleries at NC A&T
There’s a little bit of North Carolina history sewn into every dress on display at the University Galleries on North Carolina A&T State University.
The artist behind all the beauty is Willie Kay.
The Raleigh native was born during the Jim Crow era, but that couldn’t keep her talent hidden. She followed in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps in becoming a seamstress to support her five children after her husband died.
The Shaw University graduate dressed women of all colors including many first ladies of North Carolina.
Paul Baker, Director of University Galleries, said she didn’t even use patterns. That’s how good she was at her craft.
He said one of her gowns graced the cover of Life Magazine and just a couple of years ago one of her designs was found at a consignment shop in Paris.
(Credit: Woody Marshall/News & Record)
“She was beyond her time in many cases. Today she would be known as an international fashion designer, but because of Jim Crow, she was relegated to being a dressmaker and a seamstress,” Baker said.
Kay also has ties to Aggie Pride. Two of her children and her grandchildren graduated from N.C. A&T, and her great-grandson will be on campus next month for his freshman tour.
Baker said a lot can be learned from her life and legacy.
“She was faced with so many obstacles, but she was able to overcome those and become a successful businesswoman, become an entrepreneur because she had that steady guide. She was inspired by her mother, her grandmother, sisters so all of that really enveloped into becoming a huge success for her,” Baker said.
The “Made Especially for You” exhibit will be on display until the first week of December.
Dune is the mysterious new thriller that will take you to a new galaxy. With themes of love, familial loyalty, and war, this film will feel like it hits home even though it’s set millions of miles away. The film follows the story of a young and gifted Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), who has spent his whole life preparing to lead as the heir to the great House Atreides. He has been trained to keep a level head, and yet for some inexplicable reason, he is plagued by visions of a girl who seems to be sending him signals about the future. Everything Paul has ever known is put to the test when the visions lead him to a new planet and through a dangerous war. Amid the fight for the planet’s irreplaceable resources, the heir will find the path to his destiny — if he can survive.
STUDENTS: Win a personal dorm room screening by tweeting or posting an Instastory of you, in your dorm with “#Dunemovie.” Don’t forget to rock your HBCU gear and tag @dunemovie + @hbcubuzz. Simple as that, win instantly.
Dune is based on the bestselling novel by Frank Herbert of the same name, which was written in 1965. With an earlier film adaptation of the book having been released in 1984, this year’s version will feature a refreshing retake with more effects and excitement. In fact, this 2021 film will be the first installment of a two-part adaptation, brace yourself for a ton of action! True fans of Dune will appreciate the loyalty and mercy of the House of Atreides, the power and brutality of the House Harkonnen, and the survival and resistance of The Fremen.
The star-studded cast of Dune is truly out of this world. Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides. But although many fans of the young actor may plan to keep their eyes on the young actor, there are plenty more familiar faces. Dune also features Zendaya (as Chain), Jason Momoa (as Duncan Idaho), Rebecca Ferguson (as Lady Jessica Atreides), Stephen McKinley Henderson (as Thufir Hawat), Josh Brolin (as Gurney Halleck), Dave Bautista (as Beast Rabban Harkonnen), Javier Bardem (as Stilgar), and so many more…
Gov. Andy Beshear announced new roadside signs to recognize the state’s two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — Kentucky State University and Simmons College of Kentucky.
This week contractors will begin work to install five signs on two Kentucky interstates and a local Jefferson County roadway.
“Louisville and Frankfort are home to the state’s only HBCUs, and these signs will elevate awareness to Kentuckians and travelers alike of the historic significance these higher learning institutions have played in Kentucky’s history,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “These institutions, their missions and the people they serve are vital parts of Team Kentucky and crucially important as we build a better Kentucky for every family.”
“We’re proud to display the names of these long-standing institutions on state signs to help visitors easily locate these campuses while giving a nod to one of the many reasons they are notable in Kentucky,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said.
Stephanie J Hunt (KYTC)
Today, three “Historic Simmons College” signs honoring Simmons College of Kentucky will be installed facing both directions of Interstate Highway 65 near Exit 135 in Jefferson County. A third sign will be installed on St. Catherine Street before Seventh Street (Kentucky Highway 1931). This is the first appearance of interstate signage recognizing the college.
“Louisville is blessed to have what only a few cities in America has, and that is a Historically Black College and University,” said Simmons College of Kentucky President Dr. Kevin Cosby. “While being only 3% of the colleges, HBCUs graduate almost 20% of Black baccalaureate degree recipients, 50% of all Black teachers and 75% of all Black doctors, dentists and attorneys in the United States. This sign will point Louisville students to a historic institution that will help them become the absolute best version of themselves.”
“Simmons College of Kentucky, our city’s only HBCU, is a beacon of opportunity and a vital partner in the work of developing, attracting and retaining Black talent – building the next generation of Black professionals and leaders necessary for Louisville to reach its full potential and truly become a city of equity,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “I join in thanking Gov. Andy Beshear for recognizing early on the important role Simmons plays to Louisville and to Kentucky. These signs are literally helping lead the way to Simmons, just as Simmons is helping lead young people toward bright and successful futures.”
Two “Kentucky State University” signs will be installed this Friday facing both directions of Interstate Highway 64 near Exits 53B and Exit 58, respectively. While KSU directional signage has been present on I-64, the new signage will identify the institution as a HBCU. Each sign is 19-feet tall and weighs 907 pounds.
“As Kentucky State University celebrates a proud history of 135 years as the commonwealth’s only public HBCU, the KSU Board of Regents, the faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters are excited to join Gov. Beshear in recognizing the state’s HBCUs with the installation of new highway signage,” said Kentucky State University Board of Regents chairperson Dr. Elaine Farris. “Today marks a momentous occasion for Kentucky State University as we are honored to continue our legacy of serving and educating Kentuckians.”
“Today we celebrate the rich history of both Simmons College and Kentucky State University for their significant contributions to improving the lives of Black Kentuckians and others beyond our state through higher education,” said Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson. “These HBCUs are the colleges of choice for many students because of their unique missions and distinctive roles in creating culturally competent graduates and a more vibrant workforce. This designation is well-deserved, and all of us in the higher education community look forward to their continued success.”
The feeling of being undervalued or unseen can be draining, especially if you’re an entrepreneur! But for determined double Alabama A&M University graduate Maleeka Hollaway, early feelings of failure became the basis for her business empire! Now, she spends her time helping others get the media and press visibility they deserve but may not necessarily know how to receive. By creating a branding and PR agency, she helps everyday small business owners, entrepreneurs and professional service providers.
Hollaway had always been a hard worker. She initially graduated from AAMU with a B.A. in English and Literature/Letters, and then returned for graduate school to earn her M.S. in Communications. Once she graduated with her second degree, she found herself surprised by the tumultuous time she was having. “I looked great on paper but I did not have one piece of experience many of the companies wanted from me at the time — and that experience was in graphic design,” she said. In addition to the burden of her job search, she was also 24 and fresh out of an abusive marriage.
It wasn’t until Hollaway received great advice from her sister that her life took a turn for the better. “…My younger sister told me to charge for my writing and editing skills,” said Hollaway while reflecting. “She told me to start a business… so that’s what I did! Periscope was hot at the time so I built up a huge audience and following there and the rest is HERstory.” And with that, OMG, or the Official Maleeka Group, was born!
Founded in 2015, OMG offers three types of services: Public Relations, Brand Communications, and Marketing. Public Relations services include campaign strategy, press release write-ups, media pitching and training, plus researching, speaking & appearance opportunities. Under Brand Communications, there are options for website creation & copy, landing/lead page creation & copy, and video communications, and more. Lastly, Marketing services include brand messaging and marketing, video marketing, social media and digital content marketing and more!
OMG is so successful now that Hollaway has employed her own mother! “At every level of business, there are new levels of rewards and challenges and I am embracing them all,” said Hollaway. “From hiring a winning team and creating harmony at home and in the office to scaling my company offerings and staying on top of current industry changes, I’ve been hit with it all and have come out on top.”
To highlight how businesses can help support each other, Hollaway has partnered with the first-ever Facebook Elevate HBCU Hackathon. “We all need a community where we can bounce ideas off one another and get support on growing and scaling,” said Hollaway. The venture will help OMG reach the next level, despite both the anticipated and unexpected growing pains of navigating a small business. We are proud of our growth and our tenacity to roll with the punches and continue to grow in spite of small business challenges.” The next Hackathon event will be November 6th! Interested marketing and engineering students with an interest in supporting black-owned businesses through pitching ideas and designing solutions are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about Maleeka Hollaway and her exciting work, find her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or check out her website today!
CeeLo Green is taking his talents to Paine College! He’ll be taking on responsibilities that range from recruitment, to bringing new life to the choir, to being an artist in residence! Get the full story from Tom Corwin at The Augusta Chronicle below.
CeeLo
Paine College added a big voice to its efforts to recruit new students and restore its fabled choir.
Grammy Award-winning singer CeeLo Green was the surprise guest at a student assembly and will be taking on a musical and mentorship role with the historically black college and university.
Green described his position as a “visiting professor.” Paine Vice President Helene Carter said Green’s title will be the school’s Distinguished Artist in Residence and will help with recruiting and development. The famed singer will also help redevelop the choir, which had received both local and national acclaim and at one time toured nationally, and give it back some of its national prominence, she said. Green said a more formal announcement about his role will come later.
Green is friends with some Paine alumni in Atlanta and, according to J.R. Henderson, a member of Paine’s Board of Trustees, he saw an opportunity at Paine. “(Green)he said, ‘I am really going to effectuate some positive change at Paine College,’” Henderson said.
Paine has only recently emerged from accreditation problems caused in part by difficulties with funding and maintaining certain financial standards and handling external grants. But now administrators are looking to restore the glory that includes famed alumni like Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowery and novelist Frank Yerby.
Green, whose real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, has had a string of hits both as a solo artist and as a member of the groups Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley. He has appeared in videos and movies and served as a celebrity judge on singing competition shows like “The Voice” for several years.
“I’m at a point in my career where philanthropy is my passion,” Green said. “How can I give back? How can I show the appreciation for what I’ve been given?”
Decked out in purple and white Paine gear, the Atlanta native said he has a relative who attended Paine years before, and he visited the school as a child. But it is really the city that drew him back.
“I’ve always had an affinity for Augusta, Ga.,” he said. “The city just speaks to me. Every time I cross that line into Augusta, Ga., something comes alive for me.”
Or perhaps it is someone that is drawing him, Green joked.
“I call it the Ghost of James Brown, that’s what I call it,” he said. “I’m Soul Brother No. 2 if you ask me.”
As someone who dropped out of high school and never got to go to college, “I have an affinity for education,” Green said. “I come to aid and assist in every way possible.”
That includes bringing more students to Paine.
“We want to see this gymnasium full,” he said. “We want to see (enrollment) increase. We want to see success for our youth and for the future of our people. We want to see it transpire. We want to see it manifest and become a reality.”
As for his musical influence on the school, “I want to be able to make your voices be more effective outside of these walls and outside of these limitations,” Green said. “I believe that harmony is a vehicle to convey a message. I believe that all music, its origin and its intent is praise and acknowledgement.”
It has a purpose, he said.
“How we can make songs about solution, songs about solidarity, songs about our strength, our plight and our perseverance,” Green said. “How can we make those songs sound good and be effective and be influential.”
He wants to be an influence with the students directly and get to know them and share his wisdom and experience.
“I want to be an encouragement,” Green told the students. “I want to be a fire in your bones.”
Mel Groves, a student who would light up the room on campus Alcorn State University and with friends and family elsewhere, is being remembered. Groves was killed earlier this year, and his death is part of an alarming trend. Get the full story from Jo Yurcaba at NBC News below.
Mel Groves, a 25-year-old studying plant and soil science at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, was the definition of a tree hugger, his friend Que Bell recalled.
Bell and Groves met through a mutual friend. The three of them linked up because they were all Black transgender men around the same age. Bell said that one time he was landscaping in his yard and Groves stopped him before he began to trim a tree.
“He was like: ‘No, you can’t do it like that. That’s going to hurt the tree.’ And I was like: ‘OK, let’s go back to the drawing board. Let’s figure out something that’s good for us but also that’s good for the tree,’” Bell said, laughing. “He cared about everything, especially plants.”
On Oct. 11, Groves drove himself to Merit Health Central, a hospital in Jackson, where he lived, and collapsed outside his car, Jackson police said. He had been shot multiple times. Hospital staff members transferred him to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he died later in the afternoon.
Groves’ loved ones said news articles have reduced his life to a statistic: He is at least the 39th trans person to have been killed this year, the deadliest on record for trans people, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which has been tracking fatal anti-trans violence since 2013. They said his story does speak to how law enforcement and social safety nets fail trans people, but they stress that he was more than just a statistic in an increasing tally.
At a virtual memorial Sunday, people who knew Groves described his vast knowledge of plants, his “generous heart” and a smile that made people want to talk to him.
A memorial was held for Mel Groves in Jackson, Miss., last week. (Courtesy TC Caldwell/The Knights and Orchids Society.)
In addition to studying plant science, Groves was also a farmer for the Knights and Orchids Society, an organization based in Selma, Alabama, that prioritizes supporting the Black trans and gender-nonconforming community. Bell, who is the group’s executive director, said Groves drove it to start a community garden program after a supporter donated land. Just before he died, he was about to become the full-time garden manager for the society.
Bell said they used to joke that Groves just wanted to “play in the dirt.” Since his death, Bell said, one of Groves’ former professors has reached out to tell him about important research Groves conducted in plant science. Another professor told Bell that he used to text Groves plant trivia questions and that he had been waiting for Groves to become his colleague one day.
“I’m just thinking that wasn’t even his best,” Bell said. “That was him performing, still, while dealing and facing all these other barriers he was fighting through, so imagine how much he could have contributed to technology, to science, to agriculture if he had been stable and if he actually had a chance. He’ll never get an opportunity.”
Since the two met in 2016, Bell said, Groves had experienced homelessness frequently. His immediate family rejected him after he came out as trans, and he experienced violence and discrimination in college. Groves also previously said he repeatedly experienced discrimination from medical providers.
A deadly system
Sam Brown, the public information officer for the Jackson Police Department, said there has been no indication that Groves was killed in a hate crime.
But his loved ones say that doesn’t mean that his identity as a trans man can be separated from his death. Caleb Gumbs, the mutual friend who connected Groves and Bell, said he has seen comments online that say, “Do we actually know that he was killed for being trans?”
“And that made me really think about, wow, is that really what it takes for us to understand the systems that are at play that have ultimately led to his murder, whether or not it was directly related to him being trans?” Gumbs said.
Gumbs met Groves when they were both about 19, and Gumbs turned 26 the day Groves died. He said it was jarring and telling, because he and Groves lived “parallel lives.” They both grew up with families that weren’t affirming, went to historically Black colleges in south Alabama with full-ride scholarships and were close in age.
“At every turn, the difference between us was so small,” said Gumbs, a Ph.D. student in pharmaceutical sciences at Florida A&M University. “Everything that happened to me was just this minor change and difference — a little bit more acceptance, a little bit more luck. And now, the vast difference between the two of us.”
He said that Groves experienced repeated homelessness but that he couldn’t go to shelters, where many trans people report experiencing violence.
“If he didn’t feel like the streets were his only option available to him, I truly do believe things would have been different,” Gumbs said.
He wrote in a post on Medium that Groves “embodied resilience” but that a culture of transphobia, racism and cissexism, which is a subtler form of discrimination based on sex and gender, led to his death.
“That same system that did ultimately kill him really could have killed me and still can,” Gumbs said.
Even after Groves’ death, his loved ones were fighting those systems. Just hours after he died, they had to reach out to local news outlets that misgendered and deadnamed him while also grieving his loss, Gumbs said. Some updated their stories; others said they couldn’t change them without confirmation from law enforcement or Groves’ immediate family.
A week after Groves died, Jackson police provided the same statement to NBC News that it first issued, which misgendered and deadnamed him. The department has not responded to a request for comment about whether it plans to update the statement.
An increase in violence
At least 41 trans people have been killed this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Advocates have said the number is likely to be low because police often misidentify trans people in reports of their deaths. A disproportionate number have lived in the Southeast.
Known trans killings — which, according to the Human Rights Campaign, include both fatal violence motivated by anti-trans prejudice and fatal violence in which a person’s trans identity may have put them at risk — are the most on record. The increase is due in part to better tracking but also to legislation in the last few years that harms trans people and reinforces prejudice, advocates say.
More than 30 states — including Mississippi — have considered over 100 bills this year that would bar transgender minors’ access to certain gender-affirming health care or restrict their participation in school sports, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Nearly one-third of those bills have been considered in Texas, whose Republican governor, Greg Abbott, is expected to imminently sign a measure barring trans students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identities. Ricardo Martinez, the CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said bills like the one headed to Abbott contribute to anti-trans prejudice and violence because “they perpetuate fear and misinformation about who trans people are.”
Mel Groves, a farmer from Jackson, Miss. (Courtesy Mel Groves)
“They build this caricature of trans people as folks that people need to fear,” he said. “When you repeat, time and time again, a lie about a marginalized or group of people that folks may not necessarily have a direct contact with, if you repeat it enough, then some people internalize it as the truth, and that is what’s happening here.”
Nov. 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance, an annual effort to honor the memory of trans people killed in acts of anti-trans violence. Bell said he is already dreading it, because someone had already shared a photo of Groves with a hashtag next to his name.
“I was not prepared yesterday just to open up Instagram and see a hashtag beside one of my closest friends’ names,” he said. “And it’s different for me, because I’m in the work — we’ve been organizers, we’ve been activists, we’ve done these vigils, we’ve done these memorials for folks. But it is different when you know the person, you have poured into the person and there’s that connection. It’s hard to see it.”
Bell said he feels so much pain for trans people whose names are on the list but whom the public doesn’t know anything about aside from the fact that they were killed. That’s why he is trying to celebrate and memorialize who Groves was as a person.
Once, when the two were driving from Mississippi to Alabama, they were taking turns choosing songs to play. When it was Groves’ turn, Bell said, he chose “the oldest blues or jazz song that you could think of.”
“He was a Nat King Cole type of guy,” Bell said. “And I was like: ‘How are you this old? And you’re only like 20-something.’ He was an old soul. He was well before his time.”
