The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization whose core mission is to “Empower under-represented minorities in the wine industry by providing resources and financial support through educational scholarships, wine education, mentorship and job placement. The Roots Fund is committed to investing in the black, indigenous & latinx wine community to provide opportunities to those seeking a career/education in all aspects of wine.”
Rooted In France Scholarship
The Rooted in France Scholarship was created byexecutive director of The Roots Fund Ikimi Dubose, Hue Society CEO Tahiirah Habibi, and master sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr., in partnership with the Burgundy School of Wine & Spirits Business, and Domaine Dujac to bring HBCU students a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in France and earn an MBA in Wine Management.
This opportunity is exclusive to a Historically Black College/University student graduating with their Bachelor’s degree this Spring 2021 or have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in the past 10 years from an HBCU! Not only will this student receive a master’s degree, this student will be part of a life-changing experience. The chosen recipient will be living and working in Dijon France, studying with top educators in the wine and spirit world. Led by Dr. Jérôme Gallo, the School of Wine & Spirits Business is in the top 1% of business schools around the world. The Masters/MBA of Wine focuses on wine business, entrepreneurship, advanced WSET courses, and management skills. Known for their longstanding commitment to the International community, BSB is a state of the art institution focused on academic excellence with access to elite educators in wine & spirits.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
For all non HBCU Bachelor’s Degree holders, The Roots Fund has other opportunities for you! The Roots Fund is constantly giving away scholarships to students in the black, indigenous & latinx wine community. Follow them on Instagram and check their website often to see what open opportunities are available.
In a world where classics like Waiting To Exhale, Eve’s Bayou, Menace II Society, and Fruitvale Station were never nominated for Oscars, taste-makers in the Black community have had to step up to the plate. Washington, D.C. native Agnes Moss seized opportunity and created an initiative to celebrate and cultivate black talent.
Agnes Moss
Her passion is creating a social movement that is going through great lengths to make sure Black films in particular get the visibility they deserve. Having graduated from North Carolina Central University, Moss created the National Black Movie Association because she understood the impact that representation could have on aspiring talent, youth who need to see successful people who look like them, and the world at large.
As part of the Association’s year-round initiatives to highlight Black film, it’s 2nd annual National Black Movie Day is coming up! All day Saturday February 20, you are encouraged to watch Black films. They may be short films or films as long as Malcolm & Marie! They can be drama, comedy, action, horror, and everything in between.
Although you can watch the films on your own all day, plenty of festivities are lined up to celebrate beginning at 7pm EST! Among them is the announcement of the Reel HBCU Challenge winner. One lucky HBCU student will win a $3,000 scholarship after submitting the best short film depicting the madness that was 2020. Plus, Radio One personality Russ Parr will be hosting a conversation about how Coming To America has contributed to the culture! A special celebrity guest will also be joining the conversation. The event is free and open to the public.
Russ Parr
This is all thanks to Agnes Moss, Founder and President of the National Black Movie Association, who decided her team had to go all out— especially to lift spirits dampened by the pandemic. In fact, she has been fulfilled by seeing the hard work of Black actors, directors, writers and more in the entertainment community be recognized, remembered, and shared. Many of them have lost income as a result of COVID-19, and yet they continue to press on to tell our stories.
“Black films amplify our culture and our stories for not only our community, but the entire world,” Moss said. “I created National Black Movie Day as a show of solidarity for the films that matter to our community. We have such a rich legacy in storytelling that educate, inform, and shape our perspectives. From impactful events and extraordinary people who have done amazing things to showcasing our talents and creativity, Black films are critical representations of who we are. It’s my hope that National Black Movie Day will be a day we celebrate the greatness of our storytelling on screen.”To enjoy 2021’s National Black Movie Day event, click here. We’ll see you there.
Some love songs are just instant classics. They bring you back to that special moment in time when you were looking for love, in love, and even ready to lock your love down on your wedding day.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ve compiled 28 of the most classic songs that have become anthems for love in our community. All of these hits have come from Black artists who describe love so poetically it gives you chills. From Whitney Houston, to Beyoncé, to Luther Vandross, to Boys II Men, we’re bringing you the love songs that have topped the charts across several decades. See if your favorite one made the list below!
1. “All My Life” By K-Ci & JoJo
2. “I Will Always Love You” By Whitney Houston
3. “If I Ain’t Got You” By Alicia Keys
4. “Let’s Stay Together” By Al Green
5. “Sade” By Your Side
6. “Let’s Get Married” By Jagged Edge
7. “Always Be My Baby” By Mariah Carey
8. “Untitled (How Does It Feel?)” By D’Angelo
9. “There Goes My Baby” By Charlie Wilson
10. “At Last” By Etta James
11. “Hotline Bling” by Drake
12. “All Of Me” ByJohn Legend
14. “Nobody” By Keith Sweat
15. “Outstanding” The Gap Band
16. “Here And Now” By Luther Vandross
17. “Spend My Life With You” By Eric Benet And Tamia
Silicon Valley tech company ServiceNow is investing in equitable opportunities for black communities and recently launched a $100 Million fund to do so. In an effort to push for more diversity and inclusion in the fields of technology and science for black students, they are hosting a virtual roundtable Courageous Conversations to bring together representatives from top HBCUs for S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) to discuss career readiness for students of color and solutions for engaging more HBCU students in tech careers.
The discussion will feature 2x Grammy winner/actor Common, President Dr. Rosyln Artis of Benedict College, President Bobbie Knightof Miles College and top representatives from ServiceNow to discuss the relevance of HBCUs today, HBCUs building strong partnerships with companies, and the intersection of ServiceNow’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. This is an amazing opportunity for HBCU students interested in S.T.E.A.M as they will get to hear directly from HBCU presidents who are focused in providing education and opportunities students interested in S.T.E.A.M, as well as seasoned professionals working in technology. Viewers will also be able to apply for open positions at ServiceNow via an ‘opt-in’ link after registration and during the conversation. Students can send their resume via the link so do not miss this chance to make yourself visible to leaders S.T.E.A.M! We want to see our HBCU grads leading the future of tech and science!
Courageous Conversations: Black History Month Edition will feature 2x Grammy winner/actor Common, Benedict College President Dr. Roslyn Artis, Miles College President Bobbie Knight, SVP Global Head of Design ServiceNow Amy Lokey, Sr. Director, Strategy & Operations ServiceNow Cheick Camara and Sr. Program Manager Diversity & Inclusion Chris Rogers. Tune on February 18th at 12:00 p.m. PT/ 3:00 p.m. ET on Zoom.
Please click here to register and get more information.
Businesses and communities across the southern U.S. affected adversely by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a huge boost from a new partnership that includes nine historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and seven cities. Get the full story from Chris Burt at University Business.
Colleges and universities taking part in the initiative will be asked to provide their expertise in a number of areas, including strategic business planning, marketing guidance and procurement opportunities, according to the DSEMC. The chance to collaborate on a mission that will boost the collective economic power of Birmingham, Montgomery, Little Rock, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Jackson and Memphis along with entrepreneurs was a no-brainer for HBCUs, who also have so much to gain.
“Southern University and A&M College is excited for the opportunity to partner with national leaders to advance small business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in our community,” said Southern University and A&M College President-Chancellor Dr. Ray Belton. “As an anchor institution, we are poised to assist thousands of Black and women-owned businesses.”
The other eight institutions that will be assisting in this enormous economic mobility effort include Alabama State University, Miles College, Philander Smith College, Southern University and A&M College, Xavier University, Dillard University, Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, and LeMoyne-Owen College.
Dr. Ray Belton, courtesy of Southern University and A&M College
The coalition expects nearly 5,000 small businesses and 30,000 employees to be impacted by this endeavor, which is also getting the backing of the Ford Foundation, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and the continued generosity of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who has donated billions to HBCUs over the past year.
For many businesses in the Deep South, the struggle to survive since the start of the pandemic has been difficult. More than 40% have closed, while White businesses haven’t seen the same kind of impact (17%). The coalition also noted that the disparity in value between businesses located in those Southern cities is greater than those in other parts of the U.S.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is one group that is helping to provide stability and capital, as well as education and other supports. Its name recognizes more than 10,000 business owners who have gone through its training program. Hope is another organization that helps generates financing for businesses throughout the South.
“For centuries, racism and economic inequality has thwarted human and economic potential in the Deep South, but our story doesn’t end there,” said Bill Bynum, CEO of Hope. “Equipped with opportunity and the right tools, people of this region can accomplish anything. Fueled by their resilience, and harnessing the collective resources of DSEMC, together we will knock down the barriers facing underserved businesses and communities in a way that has never been done before. The collaborative will help build a more inclusive economy that will yield benefits now and for future generations.”
“You can kill a revolutionary but you can’t kill the revolution”- 50 years later… these words made famous by Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya) echo louder than ever. In Judas And The Black Messiah Shaka King paints the painful reality of revolution, a message we are all too familiar with today, as we continue to fight against police brutality and push for racial justice reform.
On December 4th, 1969 an eight month pregnant woman named Deborah Johnson watched as the Chicago Police busted into her apartment and shot her boyfriend dead as he laid next to her in bed. That man next to her was the young charismatic Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton.
Chairman Fred was forming the Rainbow Coalition at the time and inspiring a generation to rise up against oppression, which put him directly in the line of fire of the government, the FBI and the Chicago Police. J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) and the FBI saw the Panthers as a threat and their charming leader Hampton, a “messiah” that needed to be stopped. To destroy the revolution, they had to do it from both the outside…and the inside. The FBI as embodied by agent Roy Mitchell (played by Jesse Plemons) coerced a petty criminal named William O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) to help them infiltrate the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and gain intel on Hampton. With the help of O’Neal, the FBI and the Chicago Police finally were able to silence Fred Hampton, but they can’t silence the revolution.Chairman Fred Hampton was only 21 years old when he was assassinated by the Chicago Police.
HBCU Buzz Movie Night Screening:
On Thursday February 4th, HBCU Buzz hosted a virtual movie night screening of Judas And The Black Messiah followed by a cast Q+A and a virtual meet and greet. The cast Q+A was hosted by Southern University alum Van Lathan with Dominique Fishback (Deborah Johnson), Hampton University alum Darrell Britt-Gibson (Bobby Rush), Delta Sigma Theta member Dominique Thorne (Judy Harmon) and Algee Smith (Jake Winters).
The cast was open and honest about what it was like to be taken back to the environment of 1969 Chicago, and the weight they carried on set each day knowing the shoulders they stand on. As Darrel Britt-Gibson beautifully put it:
“We will never be able to repay the Panthers for what they did for us so trying to get it right every day and feeling that anything could be a misstep or just going back to the hotel…and thinking like is that going to make them proud or did I do that right?… That is a weight that I still carry and there are scars from this that will never go away.”
Van Lathan asked Dominique Thorne “How has Delta Sigma Theta molded you into the person that you are today?”
“Grit. Fortitude…Someone on set… actually use that word when speaking to me like something about your fortitude and it shook me for a moment. I’m okay. I’m where I need to be, I’m doing what I need to be doing. It was the same spirit of involvement and a sense of civil liberty that you as an individual must take on and you’re not going to leave it to anybody else that led me to join this group of women. So for me to feel that come back around, to feel that principle sneak its way…into this character and to hear someone actually say that without knowing anything about the fact that fortitude is like you know a foundational principle it meant everything.”
In light spirit Van asked the cast which HBCU they represent. Of course Hampton grad Darrell Britt-Gibson reps Hampton, while Dominique Fishback chose Lathan’s college Southern University, and both Dominique Thorne and Algee Smith chose Howard University.
Cast Meet And Greet:
As part of a social media giveaway, we offered students the opportunity to take part in a special virtual meet and greet with Algee Smith, Darrell Britt-Gibson, and Dominique Thorne from the cast. 15 lucky winners were selected to take part in the zoom event which included a group Q&A, photo capture, and 1:1 conversations with each of the winners. This content was branded and delivered to winners to post via their personal social media.
Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe has big plans amid his newest run for governor. In the cards is his intention to honor one of Hampton University‘s early graduates, in a time so deep in the past it was the Hampton Institute. He plans to support HBCU students at large, and is already garnering support from many of them back. Get the full story from Rebecca Burnett at WDVM below.
40 young Black students across the Commonwealth of Virginia have endorsed gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe’s record on criminal justice reform and his plans for equitable access to education.
On Thursday, McAuliffe hosted a virtual discussion with representatives from a few of the state’s historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, to collect their ideas and hear their stories. “These young people are the leaders of tomorrow, and I want to make sure they have access to a quality education,” he said.
Terry McAuliffe, courtesy of Bob Brown/Times-Dispatch
To increase enrollment, McAuliffe has proposed a scholarship program named for Lucy Simms, who was born into slavery and got a degree in education from the Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). Students who are willing to teach for five years in one of the Commonwealth’s “high demand areas” will receive free tuition at any HBCU.
“I will pay your tuition, room, and board,” said McAullife. “We’d be the only state in America that would be doing that and that is ensuring that we have diverse teachers that are coming out of the education system — qualified, diverse teachers — to fill that need across.”
The Lucy Simms Educator Program is part of his proposal to invest $2 billion every year.
Lucy F. Simms, courtesy of James Madison University
McAuliffe is also campaigning on inequitable access to technology across the state. According to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia, one in five students in Virginia don’t have access to either high-speed internet or a computer for distance learning. Additionally, “Black and Latinx students are twice as likely than white students to not have a computer.” McAullife says Virginia is also ranked 50th in the country in teacher pay when compared to the average educator’s salary in the U.S.
“That’s a disgrace,” said McAullife.
An estimated 1,000 teaching positions across the state are unfilled — most of them in special education, elementary education, middle school education, mathematics, and career and technical education.
A Clark Atlanta University student has used her innovation in fashion to win herself a scholarship! It’s hard to target just one aspect of fashion that Dacia Redmond has looked to change. She is tackling visibility for larger body types in retail. She wants lesser-known designers to have more access to the industry, and so much more. Read the recent release from CAU below to learn more about why Redmond just won a scholarship for changing the face of fashion.
Courtesy of Dacia Redmond/Twitter
Accessibility and body-positive acceptance are two aspects that are often overlooked in the fashion design and clothing industry. Clark Atlanta University senior Dacia Redmond hopes that her work can be a launching point to bring about change within the industry. Thanks to her insightful work, Redmond, a fashion merchandising major, has been recognized as a 2021 recipient of the Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholarship Award presented by Women’s Wear Daily Magazine.
Redmond’s case study explores ways in which fashion brands can strengthen their marketing toward plus-sized individuals while making their products more accessible. The scholarship fund was created by designer Virgil Abloh to “foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent.”
The motivation behind Redmond’s research was shaped, in part, by her own experiences working in retail at the Nike Store in her hometown of Durham, N.C. “Representation really matters,” said Redmond. “At our store, I did not see any plus-size merchandise on the floor, which is a problem. The fact is everyone is not an athlete, but everyone deserves to be able to find clothes that suit them.”
In her research, Redmond explores the ways in which clothing companies can reach overlooked groups and ultimately improve brands’ marketing strategies while making their outreach more inclusive. “This case study was second nature because it is all consumer-based,” said Redmond. “Fashion merchandising is ultimately about what consumer wants and needs are and how we can best address those needs.”
Redmond cited her academic advisor Dr. Bridgette Tei as a source of inspiration and encouragement during her research. She recalls beginning college unsure of what exactly pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising would entail. Thanks to Dr. Tei’s guidance and support, Redmond quickly learned about the opportunities that were available to her.
Courtesy of Dacia Redmond/Twitter
Redmond’s efforts also focus on creating more opportunities for Black people who are looking to make their own way in the fashion industry. “I hope that my work in the industry makes it easier for people coming after me,” Redmond said. “I want little girls and boys coming after me to look at me and say, ‘mommy, she looks like me.’”
Redmond believes that some of the obstacles for future Black fashion leaders begin within the education system itself. Redmond remembers her own disappointment when she realized how little funding there was for design and art students when she first entered college. She also believes it’s important to push back against the negative stigma on students who pursue degrees in non-traditional fields like fashion design or the arts.
The fashion industry must make greater strides to be more inclusive of independent designers, she believes. As Redmond points out, “the fashion industry should be more open to accepting smaller designers looking to break into the industry. That is how we create more diversity.” She also believes that artists and designers need to be compensated financially for their work and creativity, instead of merely being “paid” in experience.
Redmond credits her mother for the importance she places on making a way for others to follow in her footsteps. She recalls her mother getting her and her brother involved in community service opportunities from an early age. Redmond’s early experience with giving back to others has shaped her desire to elevate the work of those who will come after her.
Although Redmond’s research and work focuses on the fashion industry, her spirit of inclusion and acceptance, along with her desire to pave the way for the next generation, can be applied to almost any field.
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the joy of Blackness. It is so important to see the triumph of others, to help give us hope for better. In our community the road is not always easy, but the following documentaries show us just how relentless we are. Read the full article by Daniel K. Newton from The Famuan for four true stories that will show you grit and bring you joy.
When it comes to Black history documentaries many people think of films about the times of slavery and segregation. However, there are some documentaries that discuss more current topics involving the Black community and other interesting areas of Black history.
Here are four Netflix-original documentaries available for streaming that you may want to check out during Black History Month.
“Strong Island”
Courtesy of Netflix
“Strong Island” is an Oscar-nominated documentary that was released in 2017. The film was made by Yance Ford and it explores a problem that is still an issue for African Americans today: the justice system.
This documentary is personal to Ford. Ford’s brother, William Ford Jr. was killed in 1992 at 24 years old by a white 19-year-old named Mark Reilly. The Fords are Black. The documentary tells the story of how the Ford family was treated after the murder and how the justice system failed them.
“I did not feel that we were received as parents of a victim. No officer spoke to me. No officer would look at me,” Barbara Ford, the mother of the victim, said in the film.
“Becoming”
Courtesy of Netflix
“Becoming” is a film that follows Michelle Obama on her tour for her book with the same title. The film was released in 2020.
Obama is one of the most influential African American voices in modern history, and she has been able to use her platform to accomplish a lot since being First Lady of the United States. In the film, she uses her own story to inspire those younger than her.
“If we can open up a little bit more to each other and share our stories, that’s what breaks down barriers,” Obama said in the documentary.
“The Black Godfather”
Courtesy of Netlix
“The Black Godfather” was released in 2019 and is a documentary that follows the life of Charles Avant. He is a historical figure who was influential behind-the-scenes in both the entertainment industry and politics.
The film discusses how Avant worked to change the world and influenced those around him. The film includes words of praise for Avant from influential figures like Jamie Foxx, Cicely Tyson, Snoop Dogg, Barack Obama and Sean Combs.
“He became that mentor for us all. He became that Godfather,” Combs said in the film.
“Homecoming”
Courtesy of Netflix
“Homecoming” is a 2019 film by Beyoncé. It shows the road leading up to her 2018 Coachella performance.
Beyoncé’s performance was modeled after the band and orchestra performances that many attribute to historically Black colleges and universities. She even had actual students from HBCUs performing with her. The film is a display of HBCU culture and its importance.
“I always dreamed of going to an HBCU. My college was Destiny’s Child. My college was traveling around the world, and life was my teacher. I wanted a Black orchestra. I wanted the steppers, I needed the vocalists,” Beyoncé said in the documentary.
These four documentaries may not discuss the typical Black history figures and topics that first come to mind, but they all discuss issues, people and topics that are relevant to the Black community. They can all be found on Netflix.
Morehouse College student Bryce Thompson is doing more than just telling others about the magic of HBCUs. He’s investing in the educations of several HBCU students like himself, so that they one day can lend a hand to others. Get the full story from Yahoo Finance about the scholarships that will change the lives of 10 HBCU students, including several from Morehouse.
24-year-old entrepreneur, investor, and former Morehouse student Bryce Thompson awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students to kick off Black History Month.
“Investing in my community will always be one of the smartest, most valuable business decisions I’ll ever make.”
Courtesy of Bryce Thompson
Powered by Thompsons’ IAMS Foundation and support from the Scholly app, the scholarship search launched last Fall with the mission of helping ease the financial burden of college tuition amid the negative impacts of a global pandemic, racial violence, and skyrocketing unemployment.
After receiving hundreds of applications, 10 students were selected and awarded their scholarships with a surprise hometown visit by Thompson himself.
The scholarship winners are Jalen Robinson (Morehouse), Tate Toole (Morehouse), Robert Pinkney (Morehouse), Je’Von James Tone (Texas Southern University), Miles Smith (Bethune-Cooke University), Kaleb Perkins (Livingstone College), Daisha Green (Philander Smith College), Taylor Helton (Prairie View A&M University), Ms. Jordan James (Hampton University) and Lindsay Collins (Howard University).
Courtesy of Bryce Thompson
Once a struggling student himself, Thompson vowed to one day give back to students facing financial challenges after his uncle generously paid for his first year of tuition. “I know what it feels like to not know whether you’re going to be able to register for the next semester,” says Thompson, who studied engineering while at Morehouse. “So, to now be in a position to ensure that at least 10 students will be able further their education is an incredible blessing and honor.”
A native of Missouri City, Texas, Thompson began his entrepreneurial journey as a college student when his older brother Branden introduced him to cryptocurrency and investing. He began studying the industry and developed a knack for teaching others how to make profitable investments. Sensing an opportunity to build a following by inspiring others to join the cryptocurrency movement, Thompson, along with his brother Branden and four fellow Morehouse students (Nathan Samuel, Reynaldo Perez, Joshua Stewart, and Ian Jackson) formed the TradeHouse Investment Group. The goal of the company is to teach financial literacy through investment strategies and to provide a platform that offers economic and social advancement to traditionally disenfranchised communities. The partners’ networking savvy and charisma grew the company into a multi-million-dollar business in just 2 years. And it all started at an HBCU.
“I am a testament to how giving back can change the trajectory of one’s life,” he says. “If it were not for my uncle’s generosity, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Morehouse and develop a network of like-minded individuals who would go on to become my business partners. Investing in my community will always be one of the smartest, most valuable business decisions I’ll ever make.”
Several HBCUs have millions of dollars worth of funding heading their way. The drink company Diageo just invested a substantial total into over two dozen colleges and universities like Grambling State University and Harris-Stowe State University to support their top talent. Read read the release from Diageo below for reactions from HBCU leaders and Diageo staff at this monumental decision!
The North America business of Diageo, a global beverage leader, is committing $10 million to support 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and creating permanent endowed funds to provide financial aid grants anticipated to benefit thousands of talented students in need over the years. Funds will be available for HBCU students across different disciplines and majors, and distributed according to each institution’s financial aid process.
“We are proud to partner with these esteemed institutions and to do our part to help shape a more equitable society by providing opportunities for future leaders,” said Debra Crew, President, Diageo North America. “This initiative further deepens Diageo’s commitment to making a long term and sustainable impact on underrepresented communities.”
Courtesy of the Black EOE Journal
The program will provide funding to support students at the following institutions: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bowie State University, Clark Atlanta University, Delaware State University, Dillard University, Fisk University, Fort Valley State University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Harris-Stowe State University, Howard University, Jackson State University, Kentucky State University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Virgin Islands, Winston-Salem State University, and Xavier University.
Higher education leaders representing Winston-Salem State University, Morehouse College and the University of the Virgin Islands recognize the positive impact the endowments will have on the HBCU community and its students, across the country.
“Many of our students come from under-resourced communities and the pandemic aggravates the financial hardship to complete their education or could potentially accumulate a great deal of debt when they graduate,” said Elwood L. Robinson, Chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. “This endowment will help us provide first class education and a life changing opportunity to our students.”
“Morehouse College develops men who are academically excellent and committed to leadership and service. This gift from Diageo will help more deserving students not only be able to graduate with a Morehouse degree, but also be equipped to lead and effect change in the national fight against systemic racism,” said David A. Thomas, President, Morehouse College. “We appreciate this generous donation from Diageo and the opportunities that it will create for our faculty and classes to collaborate with the beverage leader.”
“This partnership is a message that the private sector, as the public sector, must come together to ensure that HBCUs are supported at the appropriate level so we can fulfill our special and unique mission to society,” said David Hall, President, University of the Virgin Islands. “This endowment shows how Diageo is embracing a vision of student support and institutional transformation.”
With a goal of helping to change the complexion of the beverage alcohol industry, Diageo North America has also committed to taking a step to build a pipeline of talented leaders through an internship platform over the coming years. The company will provide opportunities for HBCU students to gain valuable work experience at a fast pace that could help them with their future career aspirations or jump-start their career in the consumer goods industry.
Courtesy of Diageo
As part of this commitment, Diageo North America is also exploring the creation of Innovation Hubs at select institutions to provide students and faculty with an experiential approach and resources that complement traditional learning. The program will include Diageo providing mentorship, lecturers for faculty and students and curriculum development assistance.
This initiative was created by working closely with Diageo North America’s African Heritage Business Resource Group (A.H.E.A.D.) to focus on the priorities and actions, along with the right partnerships, to make the most meaningful impact in the Black community.
“I am proud to work for a company that shares my commitment to equity and inclusion. Diageo’s long history of supporting efforts to contribute to the greater good, are values that we consistently challenge ourselves to embrace,” said Malcolm Ellis, Co-Chair of the A.H.E.A.D. Business Resource Group at Diageo North America and Howard University Alum. “For over a century HBCUs have blazed trails in several disciplines for countless Black professionals and still remain a haven, and a refuge for many. This partnership supports pipelining of talent into business and industry.”
Diageo has long-standing partnerships with the National Urban League, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and 100 Black Men of America. In addition, Diageo and its brands, have a track record of supporting equal representation, social justice and economic advancement initiatives in the Black community.
Diageo North America looks forward to continuing to build its relationship with HBCUs and grow its programs with the institutions. In the coming months, more information will be shared on the Innovation Hubs and internship platforms that will be part of this program.
We’re back for another President’s Corner! This week, HBCU Buzz founder and CEO Luke Lawal Jr. interviewed Larry Robinson, president of Florida A&M University. During the conversation, which you can find on the HBCU Buzz YouTube page, Robinson discussed his hopes for FAMU, some funny stories we’ve never heard before, and why FAMU is the place to be.
“I’ve enjoyed various roles at FAMU,” he said laughing. Going back 25 years, Larry Robinson has been everything from a provost to president. He began as a visiting professor in 1995, when Lockheed Martin had paid for him to teach a class there. After some time, he became provost, and over the years, before sitting in as FAMU’s interim president 3 separate times. Then in 2017 he became President Larry Robinson!
Aside from the work, Robinson keeps his spirits up with family. He has 3 daughters, and he and his wife recently celebrated 36 years of marriage. He spends time working out on the beautiful paths and trails on the FAMU campus. “I’ve been running, and jogging, and walking,” said Robinson.
When Luke asked what was something he’d never forget through his time at FAMU, he had a funny story. “On May 10, 2010 I was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration on the steps of Lee Hall,” he said, setting the scene. “I didn’t go to Washington to do it, they sent the people here. Because if you remember at that time, we were in the midst of perhaps the most significant environmental catastrophes in our nation’s history and that is the BP oil spill. We had done a lot of research in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a newer funding initiative. And I had to give a lot of props to the students and faculty although I was the director of that center…
“I remember we had everything set up right. There was one person from D.C. that called in to do the swearing in. And there was one thing missing. They didn’t have a bible! They asked the small crowd gathered there, they asked did anybody have a bible. And you should have seen all the women reaching in their purses and bringing out their bibles! It was one of those moments that’s something I’ll never forget. Just being part of the first African American president’s administration. And having the swearing-in ceremony at one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities. Doesn’t get much better than that.”
For Robinson, it is easy to share why anyone should want to come to FAMU. For one, the university has a long list of accolades, which has recently included being named the top public institution in Florida by US News. The university also has initiatives like the “FAMU Rising” 5-year strategic plan, which from 2017-2022 has helped FAMU position itself financially for the years to come. Prospective students and their families can rest assured that FAMU has the funding and resources needed for them to succeed.
Courtesy of CEO Magazine
“For any parent thinking about where to send your sons or daughters, you really have to think along and hard about the opportunities that they will likely realize on this campus as well as other HBCUs across the nation, Robinson said. “ It’s at the point Luke where it’s almost irresponsible for an African American parent, really anybody, to not take a closer look at sending one of their loved ones to be educated at one of these very fine institutions.”
Student-athletes are welcomed at FAMU as well. In fact, Robinson welcomes the top athletic talent to not overlook FAMU as a place for them to call home. “I really hope and pray that some of these student athletes have looked across the tracks and other places recognize that you can be just as great here as any other campus,” he said. You have to give this place due consideration.”
In fact, there are a couple greats to think about that hail from FAMU already! “A couple years ago we named our tennis complex after a great Rattler,” said Robinson. “But most people don’t realize, long before Serena and Venus, right, there was Althea Gibson. She was the first African American female to win a so-called major. In 1956, right! It didn’t just start yesterday. She’s a graduate of Florida A&M University. She went on to win 11 majors. When most of us were just crawling around on our hands and knees! So these institutions have done so much for this nation. I’m just glad to see people like you Luke help put a spotlight on it.”
To learn more about FAMU President Larry Robinson, read one of our previous articles on him here. Also, be sure to tune into the President’s Corner every week for more great interviews!
A new Atlanta-based venture firm is set to invest in female and minority start-ups thanks to the addition of an HBCU graduate. Morehouse College alumnus Paul Judge has joined Panoramic Ventures as its new partner, assisting in its rebranding from BIP Capital. As an HBCU alum, Judge will not only bring great investment ideas and management to the firm, but he will instill the value of financially backing diverse budding companies in a city with significant Black talent. Read more about the great news in the article from Jonathan Shieber at Tech Crunch below!
Atlanta-based BIP Capital has a new name for its venture capital operations (Panoramic Ventures); a new partner (Paul Judge); and is launching a $300 million new fund in its bid to plant a flag as the premier venture fund among the rising startup cities across the country.
Miami may have grabbed headlines recently as a new hub for venture capital and technology startups, but like other cities across the Southeast it has lacked venture funds of a significant size since the early days of the dot-com bubble. Panoramic wants to be the fundraising destination for entrepreneurs outside of traditional tech hubs like Boston, Silicon Valley and New York as these new tech hubs emerge.
Atlanta, which already boasts several startup companies that have achieved billion-dollar valuations, including Greenlight Financial and Calendly, has an equally burgeoning startup scene and an opportunity to become the central hub for venture capital investment in a region that encompasses several other rising tech hubs in the Southeast, like Birmingham, Miami, Nashville and New Orleans.
Under the new partnership, which will include famed early-stage Atlanta investor Paul Judge, BIP Capital’s venture activities will operate under the Panoramic Ventures brand.
Should the firm manage to raise the $300 million it has targeted for Panoramic’s inaugural investment vehicle it would become the largest venture fund in the Southeast.
“It’s important to have a fund at that scale,” said Mark Buffington, a co-founder of BIP Capital and Panoramic Ventures. “You see the venture activity that is increasing in the region [and] one thing that’s been missing is a really active venture fund that can scale up as companies grow.”
Panoramic intends to be active at the seed stage while having the capacity to make investments in later-stage venture-backed companies as well, according to the two co-founders. And the firm will also try to focus on a more diverse group of entrepreneurs, thanks to the addition of Paul Judge.
Judge, a Black serial entrepreneur and investor, was the co-founder of the Atlanta-based voice recognition tech developer Pindrop, the Wi-Fi startup Luma Home and security tech developer Purewire. He’s also an investor in several startups across the Southeast through his own venture initiatives, including Techsquare Labs, and Judge sits on the investment committee for the SoftBank Opportunity Fund, focused on Black, Hispanic and Native American founders. His portfolio includes companies like LeaseQuery, Cove.tool, OncoLens and Eventeny.
About $125 million has already been soft-circled for the new Panoramic Ventures fund, which expects to work closely with some of the other investment firms that have cropped up or established a presence in the Southeast. That includes firms like Outlander Labs, founded by the husband and wife investment team of Paige and Leura Craig, and the LA-based firm Mucker Labs, which has an investment partner working out of Nashville.
“There’s been an absence of this type of energy and this type of heft in a venture fund in Atlanta,” said Judge. “That’s the hole that we’ve been aiming to fill.”
Panoramic will invest in seed, Series A and Series B funding rounds, the company said in a statement. Investment areas will focus on business-to-business software-as-a-service companies, healthcare software, financial technologies, digital media, cybersecurity and frontier technologies.
The HBCU experience is very impactful for personal growth, yet it is just as important for the growth of others. Sharing the reasons why your HBCU changed your life, and even why you chose the HBCU you went to not only inspires the next generation, but gives them a glimpse into everything they could be missing at a PWI. Today, Clark Atlanta University student Ashton Edmunds decided to share his experience in a new article in through The Undefeated, where he is a Rhoden Fellow. In the piece, he chronicles how he found out about HBCUs, chose CAU over Florida A&M University, became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and became inspired by the legacy of the Atlanta Student Movement. Read the full story below.
Going to school in the Atlanta University Center (AUC), specifically Clark Atlanta University, was one of the best decisions for my life. Growing up in Pittsburgh before moving to Tallahassee, Florida, in 2014, I did not know much about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and the significance of these institutions.
After moving to Tallahassee, I was introduced to Florida A&M University, which was my first encounter with an HBCU. As I grew up, I learned about the Rattlers’ culture, the legendary homecoming, African American Greek-letter fraternities and sororities, and the Black history that stems from them.
After seeing all this, I knew that I was going to attend one. My only two college choices were Clark Atlanta and FAMU, and I chose CAU after graduating from high school in 2017. Being in the AUC consortium with Spelman College and Morehouse College has taught me even more about my Black history. I didn’t know about Lonnie C. King Jr., a Morehouse College graduate and civil rights leader, and how he started the Atlanta Student Movement to end legal segregation. It’s truly inspirational to me.
Reading how King and Julian Bond, another Morehouse graduate and civil rights icon, and so many others overcame the hardships they faced as students lifts me up. How King’s peers chose him to speak on how the Negro community needed to come together to end segregation in Atlanta made me so much more appreciative, because without those students fighting against racism while going to school, I would not be where I am today.
King’s efforts in the Atlanta Student Movement, inspired by The A&T Four, impacted racial progress not only in Atlanta, but nationally. Black property owners put up bonds to get sit-in demonstrators released from jail, and it helped bring a younger generation of leaders to the forefront to fight segregation. On Nov. 1, 2010, a street that cuts through the campus of Clark Atlanta University was officially named Atlanta Student Movement Boulevard. The ceremony was hosted by then-mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed.
Knowing that I have walked to class on the same ground as some of the biggest pioneers in American history who attended these AUC institutions – James Weldon Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., voting rights activist Stacey Abrams, film director Spike Lee, newly elected U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock and civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy, to only name a few – is a surreal feeling, to say the least.
Every year during the weekend of MLK Day, there is a march from downtown Atlanta to the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr. and his father preached. Last year, I was able to march with students from school and my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and stepped with my chapter. Becoming a member of the fraternity, which was the first intercollegiate African American fraternity, in fall 2018 was a very special moment for me, and pledging at an HBCU made it even more meaningful.
It brought me even closer to my Black history, knowing that I am a fraternity brother with men such as Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court’s first African American associate justice, Maynard Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta, and Eddie Robinson, the third-winningest coach in NCAA football history. Seeing Warnock, my fraternity brother and Morehouse College graduate, become the first African American senator from Georgia shows me that anything is possible. Seeing how Abrams, a Spelman College graduate, boosted voter turnout to help make Georgia a blue state for the first time since 1992, showed me what resiliency looks like.
Most people are surprised by what these AUC graduates did, but I wasn’t at all. Being a student at Clark Atlanta and in the AUC taught me how to “find a way or make one,” which is Clark Atlanta’s motto. I am forever grateful for my AUC experience because I would not be the man I am today or the man I will become without it.
HBCUs have led the way in providing opportunities for Black students in education. Yet it isn’t highlighted enough just how many trailblazing women have gone on to make history from HBCUs. Now Smithsonian is highlighting how HBCUs have led the way in producing Black women talent in several industries. Take women like Marilyn Mosby of Tuskegee University, who became the youngest chief prosecutor ever in the U.S. Read the full story written by Janelle Harris Dixon below.
Inside a national period of tumult, at the crux of post-Civil War reconstruction of black life in America, Sarah Jane Woodson Early became a historymaker. She’d already been among the first black women in the country to earn a bachelor’s degree when she graduated from Oberlin College, one of the few institutions willing to educate non-white, non-male students. And when Wilberforce College in Ohio—the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) founded by African-Americans—hired Early in 1858 to lead English and Latin classes for its 200 students, she became the first black woman college instructor and the first black person to teach at an HBCU.
Each of the 101 HBCUs across 19 states carries its own legacy of brilliant black women who cultivated triumphant careers, sometimes whole movements, as leaders in classrooms, on staffs and in administrations. Early is one of them.
So is Lillian E. Fishburne, a graduate of Lincoln University and the first black woman promoted to rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. And Tuskegee University alum Marilyn Mosby, the youngest chief prosecutor of any major U.S. city. And entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first black woman to run a billion-dollar business, who earned her undergrad degree at North Carolina A&T State University, the largest HBCU. And newly inaugurated Vice President Kamala Harris, an alumna of Howard University, where the bells tolled 49 times in her honor after she took her historic oath this week as the 49th individual—and first African American woman and HBCU graduate—to hold the office.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are both incubators and accelerators of their students’ talent, intelligence and potentiality in a daily immersion in their heritage and investment in their future.
A 1950s cheerleader from Mississippi Vocational School sports on MVC baseball hat and carries a large megaphone. (NMAAHC, gift of Charles Schwartz and Shawn Wilson)
“Being surrounded by people that look like you is empowering in ways that you may not even think about consciously—seeing black women who are scientists, dancers, writers, doctors, lawyers, means that you just assume that you can be that too,” says Kinshasha Holman Conwill, a Howard University alumna and deputy director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., home to a comprehensive collection of materials related to the HBCU experience. (Another archive of images taken by Washington D.C.’s renowned photographer Robert S. Scurlock features many scenes and happenings at Howard University and is housed at the National Museum of American History.)
“There’s nothing quite like being on a campus where you see these people every day when you’re at that very vulnerable college student age. The atmosphere of people who share a common desire to strive, excel and achieve versus being surrounded by people who don’t believe you can reach your potential—it’s almost like a magic and it’s very important,” says Conwill.
Interest in HBCUs has surged and subsided over the course of their long and storied histories—the oldest of them, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, was founded in 1854 as an all-male college and didn’t start admitting women until 1953—but collectively, they have consistently enrolled more black women than men every year since 1976. As of 2018, those women, eager to thrive academically and set their individual courses in leadership, comprise 62 percent of students.
Still, when it’s time to hire and be hired, black women have struggled for parity in pay, title and, in academia, tenure ladders, even and sometimes especially at HBCUs, where the social justice of gender equity is often conflated with social justice around race. Women fortify their leadership, they command leadership, they demonstrate leadership. So how do HBCUs cultivate black women in a way that predominantly white institutions have not?
“I don’t know that they necessarily do,” argues Gaëtane Jean-Marie, dean and professor of educational leadership at Rowan University. She has extensively researched black women in leadership in the education field in general and at HBCUs specifically, and in one study, she says, participants talked about their encounters at the intersection of race and gender, both at predominantly white institutions and at HBCUs.
The Scurlock Photography Studios documented scenes at Howard University in Washington D.C. (above students at work in a lab, undated). The archives are now held by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. (Scurlock Studios Records, Archives Center, NMAH)
“They expressed challenging experiences in both contexts where they had to prove themselves, that they were still judged. In some cases, they were the first to integrate schools during that time when they were young,” says Jean-Marie. “One of my participants was questioned, ‘What are you doing in the classroom? You don’t belong in this college classroom that’s full of men.’”
Holman Conwill says the HBCU experience fortified her professional career and made her more vigilant in the execution of her goals and responsibilities. Knowing what that experience did for her, she believes the election of Vice President Harris will bolster black women’s leadership opportunities and, after the closure of six HBCUs in the past 20 years and near-closure of at least three others, this historic moment and heightened HBCU pride will elevate interest in historically black institutions, particularly for women.
“It reinforces for those of us who know and love those schools, what we’ve known and loved about them all along—that they are wonderful environments where one can be nurtured, protected and loved, and where excellence is the standard,” she says.
Harris has made “black life part of the lexicon of America in a profound way, taking not a thing away from President Obama, one of the finest Americans to walk this country. But because she’s so grounded in a black institution, it makes all the difference in the world that she graduated from Howard and not from Harvard,” Holman Conwill added.
Black people are no monolith, and we do not all look the same. Yet no matter where you go in the world, from America to Latin America, Africa, and beyond, music has been used to unify the Black community. Music is a tool to call out injustices, to demand change, and to celebrate the boldness in each other. In honor of Black History Month, see the list below for the hits from all over the world that celebrate the Black experience.
1. “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé feat. SAINt JHN and Wizkid
“Brown skin girl Your skin just like pearls The best thing in the world Never trade you for anybody else…”
2. “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown
“We’re people, we like the birds and the bees We’d rather die on our feet Thank be living on our knees Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud! Say it loud, I’m Black and I’m proud!”
3. “I Am Not My Hair” by India.Arie feat. Akon
“You can shave it off like a South African beauty Or get in on lock Like Bob Marley; You can rock it straight like Oprah Winfrey – If it’s not what’s on your head It’s what’s underneath…”
4. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
“Picket lines and picket signs Don’t punish me with brutality Come on talk to me So you can see What’s going on (What’s going on)…”
5. “Glory” by Common feat. John Legend
“Enemy is lethal, a king became regal Saw the face of Jim Crow under a bald eagle The biggest weapon is to stay peaceful We sing, our music is the cuts that we bleed through Somewhere in the dream we had an epiphany Now we right the wrongs in history…”
6. “Rooted” by Ciara feat. Ester Dean
“Young Rosa, young Luther keep marchin’ (yeah, yeah) Flood gates coming over don’t stop ’em (hey) I know that life it ain’t easy (oh-oh, oh) Your life it matters, believe me (oh-oh, oh)…”
7. “Shea Butter Baby” by Ari Lennox
“Coconut oil, the scent of your body still lingers on sheets I got a shot at you, you wouldn’t reach Cock back, cock back, trigger release…”
8. “Formation” by Beyoncé
“My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas Bama I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils…”
9. “Melanin” by Ciara feat. Lupita Nyong’o, Ester Dean, City Girls, LaLa
“I’m black girl magic Skin like expensive fabric (fact) He like him ghetto and I’m ratchet I’m a boss-boss, chick’s still askin’ (so?)”
10. “Dear Mama” by Tupac Shakur
“You always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it There’s no way I can pay you back But the plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated…”
11. “Umi Says” by Mos Def
“Black people unite and let’s all get down Gotta have what, Gotta have that love Peace and understanding One God, one light One man, one voice, one mic…”
12. “Summertime” by Will Smith
“And as I think back makes me wonder how The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia All the kids playing out front Little boys messin’ round with the girls playing double-dutch While the DJ’s spinning a tune as the old folks dance at your family reunion…”
13. “BGM” by Wale
“Ok black is beautiful shorty Black is bold Black is black, true, but black is gold If God a color I know she black for sure N****s blasphemy, but God gave me a daughter Black women I love you…”
14. “Freedom” by Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Freedom Where are you? ‘Cause I need freedom, too I break chains all by myself Won’t let my freedom rot in hell…”
15. “Blk Girl Soldier” by Jamila Woods
“See she’s telepathic Call it black girl magic Yeah she scares the gov’ment Deja Vu of Tubman…”
16. “Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar feat. Drake
“Young East African Girl, you too busy f****** with your other man I was trying to put you on game, put you on a plane Take you and your mama to the motherland I could do it, maybe one day When you figure out you’re gonna need someone…”
17. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” by McFadden & Whitehead
“I want ya’ll to listen, listen To every word I say, every word I say! Ain’t no stoppin’ us now! We’re on the move!”
18. “Brown Skin” by Indie.Arie
“Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin I can’t tell where yours begins I can’t tell where mine ends Brown skin, up against my brown skin Need some every now and then, oh hey…”
19. “How Many” by Miguel
“Brothers and sisters it’s time to wake up, wake up, wake up Brothers and sisters it’s time you say something, do something, make ’em How many black lives, how many black lives How many heartbeats turned into flatlines…”
20. “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy
“While the Black bands sweating And the rhythm rhymes rolling Got to give us what we want Gotta give us what we need Our freedom of speech is freedom or death We got to fight the powers that be…”
21. “Don’t Touch My Hair” by Solange feat. Sampha
“Don’t touch my hair When it’s the feelings I wear Don’t touch my soul When it’s the rhythm I know…”
22. “Four Women” by Nina Simone
“My skin is black My arms are long My hair is woolly My back is strong Strong enough to take the pain Inflicted again and again What do they call me? My name is Aunt Sarah…”
23. “Black Girl Magik” by Sampa The Great
“I can’t stand your Black Girl Magik I can feel it in the air It’s so strong it’s like a magnet You would think that God is here…”
24. “Black Woman” by Danielle Brooks
“You want my thighs, you want my stride But not this melanin You want my hair But you don’t care for this complexion…”
25. “La Diaspora” by Nitty Scott feat. Zap Mama
“Whine to remind and she twerk to resist Working it and worship the earth in her dip Stolen from Africa seeking a gift Sixteen on a ship…”
26. “Keep Ya Head Up” by Tupac
“Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots…”
27. “Black Love” by Masego
“Your dress, it brings me to a time of class You’re so elegant, your skin is shining melanin We are king and queen I see the next one thousand years with you The smiles worn by both our families They can see the power in our new found unity…”
28. “Colors” by Black Pumas
“It’s a good day to be A good day for me A good day to see My favorite colors, colors My sisters and my brothers They see ’em like no other All my favorite colors…”
