Dating is supposed to be one of those exciting times in aspiring lovers’ lives where they explore potential soulmates and have experiences of a lifetime. What happens when murder enters the picture?
Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star in Netflix’s The Lovebirds in an 86-minute, rated R, soon-to-be classic that is perfect quarantine entertainment. Rae and Kumail, or Leilani and Jibran were having a very regular “night on the town” then an unforeseen accident sends them along a hilariously random, spontaneous series of unfortunate but fun-to-watch events. Netflix shares,
“On the brink of breaking up, the couple gets unintentionally embroiled in a bizarre murder mystery. As they get closer to clearing their names and solving the case, they need to figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.”
This date is either the best, worst or final adventure of the young lovers lives but it is without question the defining moment of their relationship. What main characters Leilani and Jibran experience could happen to anyone!
If you’ve never faced the threat of jail time, join Leilani and Jibran as they do. If you’ve never had to solve a murder mystery, watch so you know what not to do. If all of your dates were boring and regular, live vicariously through this risky date night. If you’ve never watched Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani in action doing what they do best – making people laugh in their unique ways – do yourself a favor and enjoy The Lovebirds.
Co-stars Paul Sparks, Anna Camp, Kyle Bornheimer, Moses Storm, Betsy Borrego and Kelly Murtagh join the fun as Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani take off on a wild race to find the killer and clear their names.
The romantic comedy is directed by Michael Showalter and written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall. The Lovebirds was scheduled to debut at South by Southwest (SXSW) in March and was originally scheduled to enter theaters in April, but the COVID-19 pandemic altered release plans. You’ll have to watch in order to find out what happens, but The Lovebirds is worth the wait.
Tune in, #TheLovebirds debuts on Netflix on May 22
The coronavirus pandemic has hit so many people in the pocket, and historically black colleges and universities say they were hit the hardest. Many of them rely on money generated from students living on campus. Atlanta has the highest concentration of HBCUs in the nation.
When the pandemic made officials close the campuses and students headed home, the schools lost a lot of money
“I knew it would come down to a class issue and I just didn’t think that was fair at all for those poor students,” said student Victoria Glapion-Forgier.
Many students couldn’t continue their education at home because they don’t have their own computers or access to WiFi.
That’s just one of the reasons why many HBCU students and officials believe the pandemic hit their schools the hardest.
“They were trying to use their phones to turn in assignments and they were falling behind, and the school couldn’t give them the resources fast enough and by the end of the semester, it was too late,” Glapion-Forgier said.
Sending students home to quarantine in March also meant that HBCUs didn’t get money for room and board that they expected.
That was a hard blow for schools who depend on that money.
Alabama state university officials already said they’ve lost millions.
Wherever you are in your college journey, 2020 will have played havoc with your plans. Many students are struggling to make ends meet having lost part-time jobs, while others don’t know how to start looking for work after graduation. The tough job market has become even harder to navigate.
The good news is that, in 2020, you do not need to find a job in the traditional way. You can use your knowledge and skills to create your own home business. This is not nearly as difficult as it sounds, with most freelancers today having had little idea of what they were doing at the start.
There is a lot of debate among freelancers over whether or not starting out on a freelance platform is a good idea. However, if you are brand new to working online and need to start earning as soon as possible, have a look at Upwork and Fiverr. Each of these platforms take a different approach to matching freelancers and clients. On Upwork, you “bid” for a project, whereas on Fiverr you set a specific price for your services.
These platforms are necessarily easy to use. The drawback is that most of the clients who use these platforms are either strapped for cash or looking to exploit desperate workers. It is important to know your worth, and to say no to any job that pays less than minimum wage or pays in “exposure.”
If you work smartly and craft a profile that really sells you as a professional, you can earn more than you would at any traditional job.
Create your own website
Ultimately, every freelancer should create a website at some point. Ideally, it will eventually become your main marketing tool. Instead of searching for decent clients on the above platforms, you can market to big companies or startups with significant capital.
To create a great freelancers website, start off by finding the right hosting. Check out these Hostinger reviews to get an idea of what to look for.
Once you have hosting, choose a CMS like WordPress or Wix. These are platforms that make web creation incredibly simple. They will help you set up your site in just a few steps, with attractive themes and functionality. Wix will even help you design a logo appropriate to your field.
Build a portfolio
One of the difficulties new job seekers face is that hiring companies all want applicants with experience. How do you get experience if you can’t get a job without it? Freelancing circumvents this problem to an extent. However, you still need to sell yourself by proving you can do the job.
This is why you will need a portfolio from the get-go. The advantage of working online is that you are assessed based on results more than anything else. If you can prove you can do the job well, it does not matter to clients how long you have been doing it.
Once you have a few clients, you can ask whether you can add the work you did for them to your portfolio. For now, build a portfolio on sample work. Create samples along the lines of something you might do for a client. As long as your work is good, clients will be happy to hire you.
It is tough being a college student in 2020, especially if you are supposed to be heading out into the work world right now. Working online is a more surefire way to make money than what we have always considered traditional jobs.
From Academy Award® Winner Spike Lee comes a New Joint: the story of four African-American Vets — who return to Vietnam. Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure, our heroes, joined by Paul’s concerned son (Jonathan Majors), battle forces of Man and Nature — while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Immorality of The Vietnam War.
(TSU News Service Lucas Johnson) – Over 10,000 Nashville families can put more food on their tables today because of a generous grant donation from the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation. The funds were made available through a partnership between Tennessee State University and Mt. Zion Baptist Church that grew out of Ms. Winfrey’s strong desire to help Nashville.
Ms. Winfrey said TSU President Glenda Glover and Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III of Mt. Zion were recommended to her because of their great work in the community. Particularly in the case of President Glover, Ms. Winfrey said representatives with Apple suggested she connect with Glover and TSU, which has a successful coding partnership with Apple. The tech giant is also in partnership with Ms. Winfrey.
“Everybody was already connected. I felt like I was in good hands,” said Ms. Winfrey, adding that she brainstormed with Glover and Walker on how to get help “directly to the people.”
“I was honored to receive Ms. Winfrey’s call, and even more touched by her concern for underserved communities in her home city of Nashville deeply impacted by COVID-19,” said Glover, who was a classmate of Ms. Winfrey. “A vast majority of the families benefitting are single heads of households experiencing job loss or a substantial cut in hours. The university, along with Mt. Zion, is extremely proud to have assisted with such a monumental humanitarian effort with our alumna, Ms. Winfrey.”
“We are deeply grateful to Ms. Winfrey, who has such a heart for Nashville and asked us to help her develop a method for getting relief to the most vulnerable people as fast as possible,” said Walker. “In response, we convened an extensive network of religious, civic and business leaders who have direct knowledge of individuals and families in this city whose lives have been devastated by the confluence of disasters that have hit Nashville in 2020.”
NashvilleNurtures, the collaboration between TSU and Mt. Zion, brought together a coalition of African-American churches and community organizations to assist in helping the city’s most at need individuals. In addition to the coronavirus, a tornado that struck parts of Nashville near TSU in early March left many families homeless.
One beneficiary is LaWanda Jackson. She said the gift card was “truly a blessing” because her work hours had been reduced and she was still displaced by the tornado. “I honestly did not know what my next meal was going to be,” said Jackson. “The card was right on time. I’m thankful to everyone who played a part in me getting it.”
Single mom Janice Easley was overjoyed to receive the $200 Kroger gift card. The mom of six and housekeeper said her hours had been cut as well, and she worried about having enough food available with her children out of school.
“I was down to my last food and didn’t have anything,” said Easley. “I thank Ms. Oprah Winfrey. She didn’t have to do it but you came through. It’s a blessing.”
Glover said, “The gratitude and appreciation expressed to Ms. Winfrey, TSU and Mt. Zion has been overwhelming…”
Visit the Tennessee State University newsroom for the full article.
The Covid-19 pandemic has redefined the national ‘normal,’ including the way students celebrate their graduation day. On Saturday, May 16, Chase Bank presented a virtual celebration to honor the Class of 2020 graduates from historically Black colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country. The tribute, Show Me Your Walk HBCU Edition, honored more than 27,000 students from 78 HBCUs.
Kevin Hart hosted viewers through the 2-hour ceremony that featured countless celebrities and notable members of the Black community, most of whom are proud HBCU grads themselves. Former President Barack Obama delivered the official commencement address, and the featured celebrities also left words of wisdom for the Class of 2020.
Here’s what happened:
Rapper Rapsody opened the ceremony with a “Roll Call” rap, spitting a few lines including, “From the yard to the homecoming to the probate it’s true… you the truth…You know your value and your worth the culture you came from you’re destined for greatness”
Graduates also enjoyed performances by Anthony Hamilton and Wyclef Jean. Doug E. Fresh tuned in from his studio and did a drumline mash-up where “Daz,” representing Bethune-Cookman University, turned a few of his beat boxes into drum counts.
Nearly 60 presidents from the institutions of higher-education came together to leave their graduates with a heartfelt mashup message, where many of them shouted out the schools’ mascots or initiated their schools’ unique call-and-response phrases.
HBCU graduate (Florida A&M University) and proud HBCU dad (Howard University) Common saluted the valedictorians, reminding them of how proud they should be and Chris Paul introduced 5 noteworthy students being honored from the entire HBCU 2020 class:
Usman Tijani of Delaware State University, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in BS in Management with a concentration in Marketing
Ayanna Kelly of Florida Memorial University (FMU) who received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Kelly shared, “The road has been long and tough but Class of 2020 we did it…I chose FMU because “I was looking for a way to help people that look like me and I am so happy with my decision.
Erica Young who received her Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall Law School of Law (TMSL) shared that she chose her HBCU because of her priorities: integrity, resilience and excellence. “TMSL Class of 2020 started law school with Hurricane Harvey and ended with Covid-19 so I think I know a thing or two about resilience. These years have taught me to never give up.”
Brandon Allen, who graduated from Howard University and served as Mister Howard University 2018-19 received a degree in Strategic Legal and Management Communications Major. The first generation college student shared, “I fell in love with my blackness and I learned how to be unapologetically Black.”
Trezeur Butler, graduating from Paul Quinn College (PQC) closed rounded out the highlighted students and she shared “The biggest thing I learned from PQC was to always wake up with a purpose…really know what you want and set goals everyday to accomplish those things.”
Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO kicked off the words of wisdom sharing, “Work hard, always take care of yourself: your mind, body, soul, spirit, families…it’s great to have a purpose in life, we are proud of you and what you have already accomplished. Stay self, healthy and motivated. Sekou Kaaland – Head of JP Morgan Chase’s Advancing Black Pathways reminded students about the program he leads, sharing how it is designed for their success because it “focuses on what really matters for Black people.” Other business executives also chimed in including Chase Consumer Banking CEO Thasunda Brown Duckett, Ariel Investments Co-CEO and President Mellody Hobson, National Urban League president, Marc Morial.
Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first Black woman to build and own a billion-dollar company, The ActOne Group represented her alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University, and was full of school spirit when she cam onscreen, “Aggie Pride!…Make sure you love your universities and support them in a way that they can continue to grow…Let’s love all of them as Dr. King taught us to do.. Let’s remember to give back to them as we move forward”
Omari Hardwick shared a thought-provoking, original poem:
The list of celebrities who hopped on camera to honor the thousands of Black college graduates seemed never-ending and many sported t-shorts and hoodies representing their alma mater or favorite HBCU. Snippets of their messages to the grads:
Tasha Smith: “It is your time to shine and regardless of what the world is going through right now you have exactly what it takes to make the world a better place.”
Debbie Allen: “The world is desperate to hear from you” Know that today is the beginning of your journey”
Rob Morgan: “Live for yourself. Do stuff that feels good.”
Shaun Robinson: “It was at Spelman that I learned the value of sisterhood and when you invest in a girl, she can change the world”
Keenan Ivory Wayans shouted out his alma mater, Tuskegee Institute and wished the Class of 2020 Congratulations.
Codie Elaine Oliver “15 years later Howard [University] and my love of HBCUs runs deep in my blood…The HBCU experience is unparalleled..show the world your walk, you deserve it”
Terrence J (in his Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. shirt) Shared that what makes HBCUs so amazing to him is the “rich tradition, heritage, incredible sporting events, homecoming, academics, camaraderie and love.” He shouted out his fraternity brothers and told everyone, “Don’t worry we’ll be back on the Yard soon.”
Sarah Jakes Robinson shared what she is praying for, saying “Your next may not look like your friends next or you dad’s next or your moms next…I personally cannot wait to see how my world becomes better because of people like you.”
Wendy Raquel Robinson very energetically shared, “Heyyyyyy! Congrats to the Class of 2020. Y’all did that. Y’all Did it!…The race isn’t given to the swift but to the one that continues all the way to the end…You are legendary, you are black excellence. You are class of 2020, good and plenty”
Will Packer “The world is crazy right now…there have always been times in history that have been defining points..this moment is not too big for you”
Dr. Mareena Snowden Robinson, the first Black woman to earn a PhD in nuclear engineering shared professional composition statistics including:
In 2017 – Rosalind Brewer became the first African American and COO at Starbucks and she was named 43 in Forbes ranking of world’s most powerful women.
In 2019 – Stacey Abrams – Became first Black woman to be nominated by a major party for governor.
Vivica Fox “You have made it through 4 years of college and now you’re about to enter the school of life”
Ashley Blaine Featherson “Enjoy, have fun and know that this is a major accomplishment”
Richelieu Dennis “You have stuck with it, you have preserved and now you are graduating…Being of mind of what your north star is will get you through many challenges…Think about what your north star is. Think about what your life’s purpose is and drive toward your purpose.”
Steve Harvey “Affectionately known as Uncle Steve, I’ll probably be talking to you in that capacity today…you are now graduates from almighty HBCUs…” as he called himself shared “this thing that yall have accomplished is major. Make no mistake about it, you ought to be up on your toes have your chest stuck out, and I salute you for all of that…I’m going to share with you three things:”
1-“Focus on your dreams, vision, and your imagination.”
2-“Having an unrelenting work ethic.”
3-“Have faith.”
“Just in case you didn’t know.. Psi Phiii” (paying tribute to his fellow Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. members)
A few politicians joined in on the celebration as well!
Tim Scott – US Senator, SC and co-chair of the Congressional HBCU Caucus shared “I believe when we invest in our schools, it will reap dividends for everyone”
Congresswoman Alma Adams, NC and founder of the Congressional HBCU Caucus shared “HBCUs have been providing pathways to education and upward mobility for more than a century” and “HBCUs are in the business of education and our 2 greatest assets are our students and our alumni”
Kamala Harris “It was at my HBCU, Howard University that I became prepared for a career in public service..It was my HBCU that gave me lifelong friends and a sisterhood, when I joined a sorority.” (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc.)
Even representatives from the National Basketball Association (NBA) left words of wisdom.
Mark Tatum NBA Deputy Commissioner, shared the story of the first African American to join the NBA and inspired the class of 2020 to inspire their dreams because even “the abuse did not deter Earl, he played 9 seasons, became a head coach and was inducted into the hall of fame.”
Cynt Marshall Dallas Mavericks CEO, offered 3 tips to the graduates: Be grateful, be ready and be nice.
Kyle O’quinn of the Philadelphia 76ers, Dropped in to shout out his alma mater, Norfolk State University and motivate all of the graduates.
Doc Rivers, head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers shared “Hang in there… you are going to make us proud. We need your voice right now.”
Vince Carter of the Atlanta Hawks shared, “Continue to thrive from greatness..learn from your failures.”
Other professional athletes Serena Williams and Stephen Curry also joined in the fun to show the grads how to “walk it out.”
After the graduating seniors enjoyed the performances and the drumline mashup and heard wisdom from business moguls, history-makers, actors, actresses, politicians, athletes and professionals who all look like them, the graduates heard an inspirational commencement address from former president Barack Obama, who also “looks like them.”
President Obama’s message to the class was warm, timely, relatable and action-inspiring. His key messages include:
“Graduating from college is a big achievement under any circumstance”
“Even if half the semester was spent at Zoom University, you’ve earned this moment. You should be very proud. Everybody who has supported you along the way is proud of you. Parents, grandparents, professors, mentors, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, second-cousins, cousins who you aren’t even sure are cousins. Show them some gratitude today.”
“Our society and democracy only works when we think about each other”
“While our HBCUs are mostly known for an education rooted in academic rigor, community, higher purpose…they also know how to turn up. Nobody shines quite like a senior on the Yard in springtime.”
“Let’s be honest, a disease like this only spotlights the underlying inequalities and extra burdens, that Black communities have historically had to deal with in this country. We see it in the disproportionate impact of COVID19 on our communities. Just as we see it when a Black man goes for a job and some folks feel like they can stop and question and shoot him if he doesn’t submit to their questioning. Injustice like this isn’t new. What is new is that so much of your generation has woken up to the fact that the status quo needs fixing. That the old ways of doing things don’t work. And that it doesn’t matter how much money you make if everyone around you is hungry and sick; that our society and democracy only work when we think — not just about ourselves– but about each other.
More than anything, his pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing. A Lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge. If the world is going to get better it is going to be up to you.”
“Nobody can tell you anymore that you should be waiting your turn. Nobody can tell you anymore that this is how it’s always been done.”
“More than ever, this is your moment… your generations world to shape”
“I hope you are bold. I hope you have a vision that isn’t clouded by cynicism or fear. As young African Americans, you’ve been exposed earlier than some to the world as it is. But, as young HBCU grads, your education has also shown you the world as it ought to be.”
“Many of you could’ve attended any school in this country but you chose an HBCU specifically because it would help you sow seeds of change. You chose to follow in the fearless footsteps of people who shook the system to its core.”
“You made a great choice.”
“No generation has been better positioned to be warrior for justice and remake the world”
Three pieces of advice:
1- Make sure you ground yourself in actual communities with real people, working whenever you can at the grassroots level
2-You can’t do it alone. Meaningful change requires allies in common cause
3- “As HBCU graduates you have to remember that you are inheritors of one of America’s proudest traditions, which means you’re all role models …whether you like it or not.”
“You’re the folks we’ve been waiting for, to come along. That’s the power you hold. The power to shine brightly for justice and for equality and for joy.”
“You’ve earned your degree, it is now up to you to use it. So many of us believe in you. I’m so proud of you; and as you set out to change the world, we’ll be the wind at your back. So congratulations Class of 2020. God bless all of you.
This may not have been the traditional graduation ceremony, but it was by far the most celebrity studded, largest graduation many have ever attended. Congratulations again to the Class of 2020 graduates from all HBCUs.
Dr. and Mrs. William R. Harvey are doing their part to assist Hampton University students during these unprecedented times by making a donation of $100,000 to their “Home by the Sea” to provide financial relief to individual students who have needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hampton‘s first couple is no stranger to giving and giving back to the university they have led for 42 years. This latest gift matches the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s gift of $100,000 to the University in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hampton University will use the $200,000 to provide each on-campus student $100 to assist with travel costs to retrieve their belongings or return to school in the fall.
“The financial impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on our Hampton students causes me great concern. Mrs. Harvey and I wanted to personally be of help to the students during this unprecedented situation. It is truly important for us to be supportive during the greatest health and economic crisis in our lifetime,” said Hampton University President, Dr. William R. Harvey.
Hampton has also received $4.2 million from the CARES Act; half of these funds are to support students and the funds will be allocated according to the federal guidelines.
This offering truly displays Dr. and Mrs. Harvey’s heartfelt commitment to giving back to the university community they serve. There is no question that in the four decades of service, the Harvey’s have upheld THE Standard of Excellence that is Hampton University. The Harvey’s are more than President and First Lady of Hampton University, they are truly admired for being the heart and soul of this prestigious institution.
As a visionary, Dr. Harvey has embraced HU founder General Samuel Chapman Armstrong’s mission to have every aspect at Hampton University excel. And excel it has under Dr. Harvey’s leadership. The William R. Harvey years, 42 and counting, will grace the record books as an unparalleled accounting of mega success, not just for the HU students, faculty and staff whose lives give testimony to the results of his labor, but for the global community of stakeholders who will continually reap the benefits of his astute leadership for generations to come.
Dr. Harvey has introduced innovations, which have solidified Hampton University’s stellar position among the nation’s colleges and universities. Ninety-two new academic programs, an endowment that has increased 866%, satellites on active missions in space, the largest free-standing proton therapy cancer treatment center in the world, speaks to his desire to leave the world better than he found it.
The Brewton, Alabama native is a servant leader who faces each day determined to enrich the lives of others. His blessed path led him from a small town to the coveted classrooms of Harvard University. With his Ivy League degree in hand, Dr. Harvey could have taken any one of so many prestigious university offers. However, he, the true educator, chose to lead at an HBCU where he could make a real difference in the academic worlds of young people who yearned for better lives. Dr. Harvey, the businessman, put his acumen to work placing Hampton on the fast track for growth and development as a world-class university.
Dr. and Mrs. Harvey continue to support Hampton University’s institutional vision and mission by ensuring high quality faculty and staff continue to thrive, to build character, and to help prepare promising students for successful futures. Hampton University truly thanks Dr. and Mrs. Harvey for their kindness, their faithful support, and their selfless generosity.
BOWIE – An award-winning Bowie State University theater professor, with extensive playwriting credits, was selected as a writer-in-residence for the 2020 Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, a highly competitive intensive summer program.
Bob Bartlett, associate professor of theater, is one of nine playwrights selected from hundreds of applicants for this year’s conference. From June 8-20, he will attend virtual sessions to further develop his play, “The Regular,” which tells the story of a war veteran, who drives across the country in an RV with her three dogs, while writing about diners and rediscovering herself and America. With the help of a BSU faculty development grant, Bartlett traveled to the mountains of New Hampshire last summer and visited 22 local diners for about a month to research and write the play.
“I really love this play and how it happened. You don’t quite know if what you’ve got is very interesting or compelling,” he said. “So, in that way, it’s a really great recognition of the play, the characters and their lives.”
The Seven Devils conference annually brings together a diverse group of artists and administrators to support artists developing new plays that embrace the landscape of the American experience. Since 1997, the organization has developed more than 250 new plays by Pulitzer Prize-winners, emerging writers and even high school students. More than 60 percent of those plays were produced on Broadway and at renowned venues around the country.
Bartlett’s has received numerous national and regional recognition for his work as a playwright, including six 2019 Helen Hayes Award nominations for “Swimming with Whales” and two Individual Artists Awards in Playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council. He is a founding member of the Washington, DC-based playwright collective, The Welders, which won a Helen Hayes Award in 2016.
“I love stories about people trying to find home again,” said Bartlett. “I think where we are right now in this country and in the world, we need a sense of hope. That’s really important to the kind of play I’m writing right now. This conference came at the right time.” view this article in the Bowie State University newsroom.
When Kamala Harris enters the halls of Capitol Hill, Howard University goes with her. It’s impossible to separate the prominent policymaker from the institution that helped define her career. The place that nurtured her into the woman she is today.
Before she ever ran for the district attorney of San Francisco, the Attorney General of California, a U.S. Senate seat or the president of the United States, a 17-year-old Harris, ran a successful campaign for the title of freshman class representative of Howard’s liberal arts student council. “That was my first run for public office,” Harris tells ESSENCE of her foray into elected leadership. “And when you run for public office at Howard University, you can run for office anywhere.”
Harris quickly learned that the competitive instinct of her college peers was “no joke,” but it was still important for her to hit Howard’s gates running. In addition to serving on the student council, she sparred on the debate team, chaired the economics society and pledged the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
“My aunt Chris, who was the one who really had a big influence on me was an AKA and pledged at Howard,” Harris reveals. “So it was just very natural for me to want to end up pledging in the sorority which I feel really rounded out my experience. It’s a sisterhood that lasts till today.”
Though Howard was on the opposite side of the country from her Bay Area upbringing, the Senator from California contests that it was so similar to the world she had come to know. “I grew up in a community that was, in part, about civil rights, that had a whole piece about the revolution, and collectively it taught me about the nuances of the diaspora.” While still a candidate for president, she’d often say that she spent most of her childhood surrounded by adults who spent their full time “marching and shouting for this thing called justice.” The daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father explains that those years prepared her to learn from students who were from all across The Continent, the Caribbean, and different pockets of the United States. “Some of my closest friends were from Detroit and Jersey, the South Side of Chicago. And it was about us coming together and teaching each other new things.”
While Harris’ upbringing laid the foundation for her to spread her wings at Howard, it was her experience at the HBCU that taught her how to soar. She maintains that the years she spent on the D.C. campus developed her for the role she’d play in life and helped her create the identity she would eventually present to the world. Read the full article.
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard will be buried at Oakwood University, a historically black university in Huntsville, Alabama.
Gerald Kibble, director of Oakwood Memorial Gardens, said the private funeral will be held Wednesday and will not be open to the public.
Little Richard’s close friend Pastor Bill Minson said the singer was an alumnus of the university. Little Richard died May 9 at the age of 87 in Tennessee due to bone cancer.
Oakwood University Memorial Gardens
The cemetery is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist university. Read the original article.
On Friday, May 15, Spelman College will kick-off its graduation celebration and the private, liberal arts school for women has invited the Grammy-nominated duo Chloe x Halle to lead the festivities.
The two-time Grammy-nominated recording artists will join a discussion between Spelman’s Student Government President Nia Page, who is also a member of the graduating class. Tune in to the institution’s Instagram channel, @spelman_college, at 6:30 p.m. EST to watch! Following their discussion, Chloe x Halle will perform a set of new music from their upcoming album, live, as a virtual tribute to more than 480 graduating ladies. tune in at 7:00 p.m. EST to watch the virtual tribute on Chloe x Halle’s Instagram channel, @ChloexHalle.
The Atlanta-native sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey could not be a more perfect pair to honor the graduates of the nation’s only all-female historically Black college. Chloe x Halle are infamous for encouraging their audience to embrace their passions and appreciate their unique beauty. The millennials are also self-proclaimed liberal arts lovers and “jazz-heads.” Spelman’s mission includes seeking to “maintain an environment that nurtures self-confidence, pride, hope, strength of character, and a love of learning,” for Black women!
This sisterhood celebration is an event we don’t want to miss. Nearly 500 ladies will close one chapter as they embark on the next step of their journey.
“We are extremely proud of our graduating seniors, who have been undeterred in their pursuit of a Spelman degree,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., president of Spelman. “They step into a world, changing by the month, by the week by the day, armed with skills, experiences and relationships that will serve them well in the days ahead. Already we see them entering top graduate programs, accepting prestigious fellowships, and filling critical roles in corporate and nonprofit organizations. They bring a spirit of innovation and creativity, finely honed critical thinking skills and a grasp of technological skills, all developed during their years at Spelman. The entire Spelman community applauds our outstanding graduates. Class of 2020 you are truly a class of vision.”
Following their graduation, more than 100 ladies will enter graduate programs to study marriage and family therapy, journalism, veterinary medicine, computer engineering, environmental science, law, linguistics, neuroscience, social work, pastoral counseling, business analytics, creative writing, political science and entrepreneurship and innovation.
The graduates entering the workforce will accept roles at Facebook, Google, Kaiser Permanente, ESPN, Teach for America, Accenture, Deloitte, JP Morgan Chase & Co, the National Women’s Law Center, PBS, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, International Educational Exchange, Inc. and Dell Technologies.
Check out the Top 10 ladies in the Spelman’s Class of 2020:
A press release shared from the college shares, “The virtual celebration will continue on at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, with the Spelman Senior Salute live streamed on Spelman.edu and the College’s official Facebook page. Filled with tributes and surprises, the live stream is an opportunity for the entire Spelman community to commend the graduates via #SpelmanGrad20 and #SpelmanSeniorSalute.”
The coronavirus pandemic has cancelled a lot — including the most influential milestone for Delaware State University’s (DSU) largest graduating class in 129 years — but the celebration is still happening, with a different approach.
“We knew better than to try to copy the traditional ceremony at Alumni Field,” said Dr. Francine Edwards, who is co-chairing the planning committee. “So we set out to create a memorable and surprising experience that the Class of 2020 will treasure forever as their own unique celebration.”
The University leaned on many Alumni in the planning. Nicole Dye-Anderson, class of 2003 and an Executive with Barclays Bank, was particularly helpful in securing a number of the featured guests, “DelState gave so much to me. Whatever I can do to show my appreciation will be done. I am proud to work for a company that knows the value of HBCUs and gives me the freedom to help showcase them around the world.”
A press release from the university shares, “In addition to celebrating nearly 700 graduates of the largest class ever, the university also graduates its first cohort of Dreamers — children of undocumented workers under the DACA program. Recipients of full scholarships awarded by TheDream.US, more Dreamers, choose to attend Delaware State University than any other University in the country. During the ceremony, Mr. Donald Graham, founder of TheDream.US and former publisher of the Washington Post, will have an honorary degree conferred in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.”
DSU was among the first institutions in the country to actually welcome Dreamers to its campus. To continue to honor and celebrate their achievements, DSU invited 25 cultural influencers from around the nation – including actors, musicians and even a former Vice President of the U.S. – to appear in its May 16 virtual Commencement celebration.
Outgoing students can expect appearances and words of encouragement from the likes of VP Joe Biden, Tina Knowles Lawson, Vanessa Williams, Billy Porter, Erykah Badu, Wayne Brady and many others.
Check out what Erykah Badu had to say to the Class of 2020:
Graduating Senior and Student Government President Usman Tijani, whose mother has been diagnosed with COVID-19, agreed, “In an instant, I went from graduating Senior trying to complete everything to get to the finish line, to head of household trying to take care of my son, little brother, and mother. As a Hornet for life, I’m looking forward to this year’s commencement and, more importantly, what happens next.”
We look forward to joining in the graduation festivities. Congratulations to the Delaware State University Class of 2020.
“To my dear genius generation, my mighty Rams,” begins a heartfelt letter from Huston-Tillotson University President Colette Pierce Burnette to the graduates.
President Burnette let her students know that she understands how we are all experiencing unprecedented times and she reminded the seniors that they “continued Huston-Tillotson University’s legacy of 145 years of excellence.” She also shared that she missed them, but the world needs them, and knowing this helps her cope.
The Austin, Texas historically-Black college university (HBCU) is the oldest institution of higher education and the only HBCU in Austin.
“You have a dream that is no longer deferred, I salute you”
Congratulations to the Huston-Tillotson University Class of 2020.
Essence dives into the creation of an HBCU love story at Tuskegee University:
Marilyn Mosby wasn’t always known as the no-nonsense State’s Attorney shaking things up at the top of Baltimore’s criminal justice system. Before she became the youngest chief prosecutor of any American city, she was an ambitious high school student from inner-city Boston with dreams of attending a historically Black college hundreds of miles from home. The bright young woman who took part in one of the country’s longest-running desegregation programs, had no idea then that her insistence to be educated among Black peers would lead her to one of her life’s greatest joys.
“We met in the student union and I actually met him before but didn’t pay any attention to him,” Mosby tells ESSENCE of the day she fell for husband Nick Mosby. “It wasn’t until me and a couple of girlfriends and a couple of his guy friends, linked up in the student union, bored on a Saturday and we just started talking about politics and music. I met this intriguing guy who I didn’t pay attention to before, but for some reason, he was cute that day and it had more to do with his intellect than anything else.”
Marilyn Mosby with her husband, Nick J. Mosby, as a college student. The Baltimore State’s Attorney met her mate of 21 years as a teen.
A star student herself, Mosby, who went by Marilyn James at the time, was attracted to Nick for not only his mind but also the things that seemed to matter to him. “The fact that he loved the city of Baltimore and he wanted to come back and do something for his community,” is what Mosby says sealed the deal. She was 18.
Growing up, the young prosecutor, most readily associated with her role in the Freddie Gray case, was bused an hour away from her Boston home to what she calls “one of the richest towns in Massachusetts.” When she started the program in the second grade she was noticeably the only Black child in the entire school. And early on she determined that she could either be a positive representation for Black people or be bitter about the misconceptions and stereotypical views that some people held about who they thought she was.
From six years old on to high school Mosby says she gladly took on the responsibility that came with choosing the former. “I was in all honors classes, was in SGA, co-editor of the school newspaper, and bringing diversity workshops to the school,” Mosby recalls. But when it came time for college, the high-achiever wanted something entirely different.
“I only applied to three schools, which was Tuskegee, Spelman and Hampton. I knew that I wanted to go down to the South. I knew I wanted to attend an HBCU and I wanted the Black experience.”
Directly following the announcement of new head coach Mo Williams, from the NBA, Alabama State University announces another star will be joining the the Alabama State University Hornet family; Trace Young.
The former Wyoming University player and three-star recruit, announced he will be transferring to ASU on Fox Sports Radio late Tuesday night. Watch Young’s historical announcement:
Earlier this year, Young made an unprecedented decision to only consider historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU), a move few of his athletic talent have made at this point in their career.
After long consideration and a lot of conversations..
I’ve decided to cut my list down to only HBCU’s. 🙏🏽
Young narrowed his selection down to 6 HBCUs in the MEAC and SWAC sports conferences: Prairie View A&M University, Mississippi Valley State University, Howard University, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Norfolk State University.
We are excited to welcome Trace Young to the HBCU family and look forward to Alabama State University’s official announcement.
DJs play an integral role to the African American community, they are the masterminds behind the soundtrack to our lives. With every spin, DJs usher us into a good mood and deliver us from a bad one. A new documentary, “In The Mix,” follows the stories of over 20 years of DJ’s at Howard University and their impact on the industry and world around them.
“Inspired by that group, I show this legacy, how I got in, and how it connects us all. I self directed this entire film from the editing to the soundtrack,” says creator Dionne ‘DJ Magic’ Ledbetter, to HBCU Buzz. Ledbetter just graduated from Howard University and she released the documentary May 9th, her commencement day.
