College isn’t for everybody. Doctur Dot and Olu aka Johnny Venus, who both make up the rap group EARTHGANG recently shared why in an interview on The Breakfast Club morning radio show. The members of the Atlanta-based rap group met at Hampton University, but were never able to walk the stage in a story that is going viral.
DJ Envy of The Breakfast Club was initially excited to hear that both the artists attended college. “Wow y’all both went to Hampton,” asked he asked. He thought he was about to get an uplifting college-educated entertainer story. He was wrong.
EARTHGANG artists Doctur Dot (left) and Olu aka Johnny Venus (right). Credit: Hit Up Ange
“What were your majors in school,” Envy asked.
“I was a psych major but also, I mean, we don’t have to stay on Hampton too long ‘cause they did kick me out,” said Doctur Dot. “They really don’t deserve this,” he said of potential publicity.
As the studio erupted with sudden laughs at the unexpectedness of the story, The Breakfast Club members had to ask for clarity.
“They kicked you out,” asked DJ Envy for clarification.
“We’re here for the long story,” said Charlamagne Tha God.
Even DJ Envy shared that he had a similar story. But Doctur Dot knew we needed a breakdown, so he told his story.
“Long story short me and the homies did some felonious crimes, and they wasn’t rocking with it at the school. It was grand larceny.”
“Literally the week before graduation, you know what I’m saying. The weekend before graduation,” said Venus.
“It was a little longer than that ‘cause I thought I got away with it,” Doctur Dot tagged in. “It was long enough to feel like ‘these n**** ain’t get me Then like a week before was when they came down to Hampton.”
“I feel like there’s a lesson here though,” said Charlamange. “Did you steal something that somehow fulfilled your purpose?”
“For sure bruh, cause that’s stealing that s*** is what like started our whole Spillage Village…” saidM Dot referring to a musical collective of Atlanta artists including rapper J.I.D.
“After we got kicked out of Hampton, we started living together cause our parents put us out we was all disgraced and s*** I guess we gon’ live together and start rapping know what I’m saying, and that s*** worked out.”
Let me get the president on the phone we’re gonna make this better man, laughed Envy.
EARTHGANG has gone on to join Dreamville, the label of Grammy-winner J. Cole.
Charles R. Drew was a pioneer of blood science, but many not know how closely he worked with HBCUs. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, the only HBCU in California, carries his name. Over time he worked at Morgan State University and became the Dean of Surgery at Howard University‘s hospital. Learn more about the man behind the medicine below in a piece from Karen Graham at Digital Science.
Credit: Morgan State University
The number of people who owe their lives to Dr. Charles R. Drew is beyond measure. The African American physician pioneered the preservation of blood and plasma at the start of World War II and is responsible for America’s first major blood banks.
Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was born in Washington, DC, the oldest of five children. Drew was an extraordinary athlete, earning several medals for swimming in his elementary years. Later he branched out – playing football, basketball, and other sports.
After graduating from Dunbar High School in 1922, Drew went to Amherst College on a sports scholarship. There, he distinguished himself on the track and football teams, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1926
Drew wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a physician but didn’t have the money it took to go to school in the U.S. He took a job as a biology instructor and coach at Morgan College, now Morgan State University, in Baltimore, where he worked for two years.
Whole blood is often separated, using a centrifuge, into components for storage and transportation. Credit: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Blood Research: Saving Lives
In 1928, he applied to medical schools and enrolled at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. At McGill, Drew specialized in surgery and developed his surgical career at Howard University when he joined the faculty in 1935. It was during his post-graduate internship and residency that he studied transfusion medicine. From 1938-1940, while studying at Columbia University, he refined key methods of collecting, processing, and storing plasma. He was awarded the Med. D.Sc. from Columbia in 1940; his doctoral thesis was titled “Banked Blood.” Banked BloodIn his research, Dr. Drew discovered that by separating the liquid part of the blood (called plasma) from the whole blood (where the red blood cells exist) and then refrigerating them separately, blood lasted longer and was less likely to become contaminated.
He also discovered that everyone has the same type of plasma; thus, in those instances where a whole blood transfusion is unnecessary, a plasma transfusion could be administered, regardless of blood type. He helped establish a blood bank at Columbia University and became the first African American to receive a Doctor of Medical Science degree from that university.In 1940, while WW II was going on, Dr. Drew was made the head medical supervisor of a project called “Blood for Britain.” Under his leadership, the project helped collect thousands of pints of blood and plasma from New York hospitals and shipped them overseas to treat soldiers in Europe.
It was Dr. Drew who introduced us to “bloodmobiles” — refrigerated trucks that served as blood transport and collection centers. He was so successful that in February 1941, he was made medical director of a pilot project to develop the first blood bank for military personnel under the American Red Cross.
Private Roy W. Humphrey of Toledo, Ohio is being given blood plasma after he was wounded by shrapnel in Sicily on 8-9-43. Credit: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
However, Dr. Drew became frustrated with the military’s insistence that Negro blood and plasma be separated from white people’s blood. The policy sparked protests from the Black press and the NAACP. In 1942, the American Red Cross announced it would start accepting blood from Negros, but would also segregate it. Drew objected to the segregation of blood, stating that there was no scientific evidence of any difference between the blood of different races and that the policy was insulting to African Americans, who were eager to contribute to the war effort. Drew was outraged by this racist policy, and resigned his post after only a few months.
Drew eventually became Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Freedman’s Hospital and Head of Surgery at Howard University, where he was an influential teacher and a role model to students interested in medicine.
“Dr. Chas. Drew, Blood Bank Founder, Killed,” Detroit Tribune (Detroit, MI), April 8, 1950. Credit: Library of Congress
On April 1, 1950, Drew was traveling to the Andrew Memorial Clinic in Tuskegee, Alabama to deliver a lecture. He was accompanied by three of his resident physicians from Howard University. Drew, the driver, fell asleep at the wheel. The car rolled over, throwing him out onto the pavement. Drew was taken to Alamance General Hospital, a facilities-poor “White” hospital. There, doctors fought desperately to save his life, but his injuries were so severe and his loss of blood so great that he died. Drew suffered a nearly severed leg, massive chest injuries, a broken neck, brain damage, and complete blockage of the blood flow to his heart. Only one other person was seriously injured, John Ford, but he eventually recovered.
American Red Cross Bloodmobile at University of California, San Diego. Credit: Travis Rigel Lukas Hornung from Credit: Encinitas, CA, United States
Dr. Charles R. Drew achieved a great many things throughout his short life, but his contribution to the field of medicine and the countless lives that were, and continue to be, saved through blood banking is his true enduring legacy.
Black History Month is celebrated in the United States and Canada during the Month of February, while in Ireland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, it is celebrated in October. Historian, Carter G. Woodson created the precursor to Black History Month in the U.S. in 1926, calling the second week in February “Negro History Week.”
We mention this because he chose the second week in February for a reason – The birthday of Abraham Lincoln is on the 12th, and the birthday of Frederick Douglass is on the 20th. Both of these dates had been celebrated together] by the Black community since the late 19th century.
Fisk University has bestowed a great honor on Dr. Vann Newkirk this week. Previously serving as Fisk’s interim president, Newkirk has very big aspirations for the future of the university. We recently sat down with Newkirk for HBCU Buzz’s President’s Corner series, where we learned more about why he is such a great leader. Read the full release from Fisk University below about how the university came to the decision below!
The Board of Trustees of Fisk University have named Dr. Vann Newkirk Sr. as the 17th President of Fisk University effective immediately. “We have had the pleasure of observing Dr. Newkirk’s outstanding work both as Provost and as interim President, and this was a unanimous decision by the Board”, said Chair Frank. L. Sims. Dr. Newkirk has been an essential part of the amazing momentum that Fisk has built over the past five years. The University is poised for an exceptional future and Dr. Newkirk’s experience and insight around new programming and sponsored research will be instrumental as Fisk continues to cement itself as a top 10 HBCU and pursue its goal of becoming a top 50 small liberal arts university.
These are challenging times for higher education and Dr. Newkirk has a proven track record of innovation. Dr. Newkirk has launched several highly successful new programs at Fisk including bioinformatics, data science and social justice. These programs have not only contributed to the tremendous growth in enrollment but also the increased academic caliber of Fisk’s incoming student body. In the last two years, Fisk has had three Rhodes Scholar finalists and set numerous records for student outcomes.
Dr. Newkirk’s vision includes increasing enrollment, developing elite programs, expanding corporate partnerships, improving student outcomes, and building national awareness around Fisk’s outstanding results. “I am deeply honored to serve as President of Fisk University, and I am confident the best times are still to come for this remarkable Institution,” said Dr. Newkirk. Coupled with his vision, Dr. Newkirk brings a deep appreciation for the importance of financial stability and maintaining a sustainable enterprise. “Fisk has finished consecutive years with an operational surplus and is really bucking the trend on a host of fronts in large part due to the leadership of Dr. Newkirk,” said Frank L. Sims.
Dr. Newkirk received his doctorate in history from Howard University and has been a proven leader in higher education for more than 20 years. Dr. Newkirk served as Provost for three years at Elizabeth City State University before joining the Fisk team as Provost in 2018 and serving as Interim President for the past 6 months. Dr. Newkirk has held numerous senior administrative and academic positions throughout his outstanding career. In addition to his administrative accomplishments, Dr. Newkirk is also a published scholar.
We’re back for another President’s Corner! This week, HBCU Buzz founder and CEO Luke Lawal Jr. interviewed Vann Newkirk, president of Fisk University. During the conversation, which you can find on the HBCU Buzz YouTube page, Newkirk discussed his unique background, the challenges and benefits of Fisk being located in the heart of Nashville, having the Social Justice Institute as his passion project, and more! Learn more about key takeaways and watch the full interview below!
You’ll quickly find out that Vann Newkirk is well-prepared for his role at Fisk in unexpected ways. “I’m a historian and I’m an HBCU graduate. I’ve been to 3 HBCUs… Barber-Scotia College, North Carolina A&T, and Howard University. And four I went to North Carolina Central also. So these are some of the institutions I went to so I’m an advocate and all of my family has been HBCU grads, so we’re tied into those institutions.”
As soon as he said that, Luke asked the burning question I’m sure we all want to know with family dynamics like Newkirk’s: “What is it like having ties into multiple HBCUs? Like what do you rep? What is the dinner table like, and what do you guys talk about?”
“Well what we don’t talk about is Morehouse,” joked Newkirk. I had a son that went to Morehouse. We talk about those institutions that I had some affinity for so we talk about the Howards, the A&Ts and the Barber-Scotia that gave my family their start in 1867.”
Even with his background at other HBCUs, Vann Newkirk seems to be just the perfect fit for Fisk University. In fact, it was just yesterday that he was confirmed to go from being Fisk’s interim president to the 17th president at Fisk. He knows Fisk’s history like the back of his hand, as a former Provost and and now former interim president.
Fisk University has a place in larger discussions about social justice. Yet with this conversation, we learned the true magnitude of Fisk’s cultivation of activists and their respective roles in civil rights movements and beyond.
“Something that was really important to us is when we founded our Social Justice Institute,” Newkirk said. “You might not know this but Fisk has been a pioneer when we’re talking about race relations. All the leaders that came out of the institution: W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells, Hope Franklin, all of those came out of the institution. Nikki Giovanni… What’s going on now is we’re looking at things like prison reform… North Nashville, which has the highest murder rate in the nation, So the Social Justice Instiute is working to get those things addressed.”
Academically, Fisk has been very ambitious in ensuring it has diverse offerings. In fact, the university has the only homeland security program in the state of Tennessee.
“What we’re doing is we have a branch campus in Clarksville, and so we’re targeting veterans and getting those veterans to go into homeland security because we fill it’s important that when we want to guard our borders that we have people who are minorities that have some understanding of empathy. We want to make sure that we train those officers and we’re doing it. We’re training people for TSA for homeland security…”
Watch the full interview for more of Newkirk’s takes on COVID-19, the future of Fisk, and what Newkirk wants his legacy to be at Fisk!
Two groups at Florida A&M University have come together to celebrate Black History Month in a very unique way. With the burial of a time capsule, they plan to pass the story of 2020 and 2021 on to future generations in hopes of inspiring nostalgia and change. Read the full story from Andrew Skerritt at FAMU Forward below.
A time capsule containing a collection of Florida A&M University mementos, artifacts, posters, pictures, and letters was buried to kick off Black History Month. The container is scheduled to be opened on February 29, 2040. The event was done as a collaboration between the Black History Alliance and the FAMU Black Archives and Research Center.
Credit: FAMU Forward
The time capsule project will send an important message to future generations, said Priscilla Hawkins, founder and creator of the Black History Alliance (BHA) and the Black History Month Festival.
“It’s important for us, as Black people, to tell our own stories. I view this Time Capsule as an extension of our ancestors’ oral tradition of sharing the stories that are important to us,” Hawkins said. “Stories that have impacted our lives. And leaving these stories as our legacy to future generations.”
The BHA’s mission is to provide year-round Black History educational, social and civic events, workshops, and other activities to share the stories of black residents in North Florida and South Georgia with people throughout the world,” according to its website.
Some of the letters featured within the capsule came from: FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., Donna Hardy, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority who crafted a memoir in dedication to fellow sorority member Vice President Kamala Harris, and members within the community like teachers and grocery clerks.
One of the items in the buried time capsule features images from the civil rights struggle in Tallahassee.
Nashid Madyun, Ph.D., director of the Black Archives and Research Center, wrote a letter to the person who will be leading the Center in 19 years. The time capsule is the apt vehicle to send a message to warn future generations, he said.
“Humanity generally has the benefit of hindsight, but this project allows us the to control the luxury of foresight and uplift in our society,” said Madyun. “We see the ills, challenges and triumphs of today and we are able to communicate that directly to next generation in 2040. This time capsule is a blessing to the continuous improvement of our culture.”
Also featured within the capsule were letters from four students who won the Eva B. Mannings Student Essay contest who are currently 10 and 11 years of age. In 2040, when it’s time to unearth the time capsule, those same students, who will be 30 and 31 years of age, will be asked to open the container. The letters are meant to provide insight on what life was like in 2020/2021.
“Not only do Black lives matter, Black minds, Black academics, Black intellectualism, and Black culture matter, too.” This powerful line is a part of the recent piece on the future of HBCUs from Raymond Pierce at Forbes. Pierce has formerly served as Dean of Law at North Carolina Central University. Read how the thinks HBCUs are being elevated by new funding, determined students, and a mission to serve their communities below.
Last year, MacKenzie Scott, one of the wealthiest women in the world donated billions of dollars to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the United Negro College Fund, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, along with other minority-serving institutions and organizations. The investment was seen in many quarters as a lifeline to these important institutions of higher learning.
Credit: The Washington Post via Getty Images
Scott may have been influenced in part by donations of $120 million to HBCUs and the United Negro College Fund made by Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings and his wife. These philanthropists were certainly influenced by the events of the summer of 2020, which highlighted the continued injustices Black people face every day and focused a nation’s attention on the systemic racism and inequality that faces Black America.
Scott and Hastings are sending an important message: Not only do Black lives matter, Black minds, Black academics, Black intellectualism, and Black culture matter, too. And philanthropy must expand, deepen, and extend their efforts to embrace the institutions that continue to develop and promote Black leadership. This is a recognition that HBCUS are an indispensable and undeniable component of any strategy to address these systemic inequities.
It’s not by chance that our first Black (and Southeast Asian) female Vice President is the graduate of an HBCU. Nor is it by chance that other national leaders, from those who passed last year – Congressman John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, and the Rev. C. T. Vivian – to newer leaders, like U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams, all graduated from HBCUs.
In addition, new data from LinkedIn News finds great employer demand for HBCU graduates. According to the report’s author, George Anders, “Quietly, HBCUs and their alumni have emerged as stars in the never-ending U.S. hunt for talent. During the past five years, the hiring-rate trend for alumni of the 105 HBCUs has consistently outpaced similar data for overall LinkedIn U.S. membership.” The report finds that the HBCU hiring rate climbed an average of 5.9 percent a year during the strong job markets of 2016 through 2019 – well ahead of the overall U.S. growth rate of 1.3 percent.
And this important trend isn’t relegated to the boom years of 2016 – 2019, Anders also reports that HBCU alumni hiring was less affected by the pandemic than the workforce at large. While U.S. hiring trends turned negative across the board during 2020, HBCU alumni showed above average resilience with a hiring rate decline of just -11.9 percent, compared with -16.2 percent for all U.S. LinkedIn members.
HBCUs give students of color, particularly African Americans, access to higher education that recognizes and honors their culture in a world that has sought to suppress and deny that same culture. That suppression of Black culture was part of enslavement. To this day, vestiges of that period remain embedded in our society and our culture, and they serve as reminders that to many people Black culture does not count.
HBCUs also provide important confirmation of Black intelligentsia and the Black existence. In short, they confirm that Black Lives Matter in a country and world that still wants to deny that. And it is why now, more than ever, we need Black colleges and universities to continue to provide education, research, scholarship, thought power and ideas to this country and the world.
Historically, philanthropy has been one of the twin drivers of Black education, including higher education. The other driver was the passion and the will of emancipated Blacks in the South who sought education for themselves and their children. They worked in concert with northern philanthropists, many of whom were members of the Abolitionist movement, who funded activities to support African American education. They purchased and shipped books to the South, they built schools and trained teachers. In short, they built an entire system to educate Black people and poor whites that never existed before, from elementary school through university. The passion and drive of Black people to get their children educated, combined with the philanthropy of whites in the North, saw the birth of what today are HBCUs.
There is no question that HBCUs are central to African American scholarship and success. They are an effective and critical means for education, elevation, and equity. As we have seen too well this past year, we have not achieved racial equity in our nation. In fact, nowhere close. HBCUs must continue to be included in any formula to advance African Americans.
From its inception, the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) has supported Black higher education. The Slater Fund (which eventually merged with other northern philanthropies supporting Black education during Reconstruction – the Peabody Fund, the Jeanes Fund and the Randolph Fund— to create what today is SEF) birthed or supported most of the Black colleges in the South. Now, we are working with HBCUS to help them take advantage of this transformative time in our nation’s history to further develop leadership, increase the value of their liberal arts programs for students, engage in faculty and program development, and lift up the voices and the value of black scholarship.
That work includes supporting the first ever Center for the Study of HBCUs at Virginia Union University and working with a pilot a group of HBCUs to advance liberal arts education through the use of transformative texts to expand the awareness and knowledge of HBCU graduates so they are better equipped to navigate the intricate diversities of an increasingly globalized world.
HBCUs have been and continue to be central to Black scholarship and to the inclusion of Black voices in the American dialogue. The thoughts and theories of Black scholars, enhanced and sharpened by the freedom they enjoy on historically Black campuses, bring unique and needed perspectives to important national conversations. Perspectives that sometimes make all the difference in how our nation approaches the critical issues of the day.
Sad news for the sports world today. Howard University graduate Terez Paylor has recently passed away. Paylor made a name for himself covering football and was even on the committee to decide NFL Hall Of Fame inductees. Recently, stories have been coming out about how Paylor selflessly saved Terrell Owens from being overlooked again by Hall Of Fame voters. Owens had been pitched several times, but could not garner enough votes due to conflicts with his behavior. Paylor spoke to the voters about how Owens was an inspiration in his community growing up, and that skipping him for the Hall Of Fame him would be disappointing on a level many of the voters hadn’t before considered. Paylor was often a hard worker with a soft spot. Read more about his life below from Charean Wiliams at NBC Sports.
Sports journalism has lost some good people over the past several days: ESPN baseball writer Pedro Gomez died unexpectedly Sunday at the age of 58, and NFL.com writer Chris Wesseling died Friday at the age of 46 after a long battle with cancer.
On Tuesday came more terrible news: Long-time NFL writer Terez Paylor died unexpectedly. He was 37.
Paylor joined Yahoo Sports in 2018 as a senior NFL writer after 12 years at the Kansas City Star.
Paylor was a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and held a vote for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also was an active member of the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists and served as a frequent speaker during the organization’s urban student journalism academy.
Credit: The Kansas City Star
Paylor, a Detroit native, graduated from Howard University with a degree in print journalism.
“While we are shocked and saddened by Terez Paylor’s sudden passing, we also celebrate his extraordinary life that touched so many,” longtime girlfriend and fiancee Ebony Reed wrote in a statement to Yahoo Sports. “Terez was an exceptional journalist whose passion for football made him a respect voice. His legacy will leave an enduring impact on sports journalism, the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans.
“More important, Terez was a devoted son, grandson, brother, an adoring fiancee and a wonderful friend to so many. To know him was to love him. He will be dearly missed.”
There was an outpouring of grief on social media among NFL reporters.
“Terez epitomized what it meant to be a football writer,” the PFWA said in a statement. “He loved the game and the grind. He built and maintained relationships across the NFL, and he was a tremendous friend and mentor to so many of his fellow reporters.”
We send our condolences to the friends and family of Paylor.
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.
