Are HBCUs Becoming A Serious Option For Elite Basketball Prospects Again?

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The short answer to that question is yes.

From high school basketball phenom Mikey Williams and five-star rising senior Trevor Keels to five-star rising junior Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and top-tier junior college prospect El Ellis, elite basketball prospects are considering HBCUs as their stomping grounds at the next level.

Ellis, who included North Carolina Central University on his final list, ultimately decided to attend Louisville. But it’s the thought that counts.

There’s a new trend of historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, getting into the game for elite-level basketball recruits, ESPN reports. But does it have any staying power?

“All it takes is one person to change history,” Carmelo Anthony said in regards to the young and talented basketball prospects during an Instagram Live session. He was responding to Williams tweet about how choosing “an HBCU wouldn’t be too bad” at all as far as he is concerned.

“I think it’s a better chance of this new generation, this next generation, to go to a HBCU and be accepted and bring something different to a HBCU, as opposed to what was happening in 2002,” Anthony continued. “Do I think that a kid like Mikey Williams should consider a HBCU? I think he should, based off of the power that he has within himself. If he [does] that, it changes college sports because you have a young black kid at the top of his game who decided to go to a black university. That’s totally different.”

So it seems that the longer answer to that question is that we just have to wait to see who’s smart enough to make that big move, no doubt making history and disrupting the system.

“I think it would change the culture forever,” Huntley-Hatfield said, according to ESPN. “It would change the game of basketball altogether, if one of us chose a different pathway to make our dream come true and help our community. It just opens up a whole new bridge of opportunity. I feel like it would be a domino effect.”

From ESPN:

“The conversation between HBCUs and high-major players is different now than it has been over the past couple of years. It’s different than it was even a few weeks ago. The past month has seen a wave of protests and outrage over racial injustice, sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died on May 25 while in the custody of Minneapolis police.”

Here’s what HBCU coaches are saying about top-rated basketball prospects potentially joining black colleges:

  • North Carolina Central coach LeVelle Moton: “When we look back 40 years from now, we’ll realize this was a historical and monumental time. This will be in the history books — this is the day the world changed. The movement feels different. … They’re tired of the status quo and the ‘in vogue’ and what’s happening. They want to reclaim their power. We need to care about us. It shouldn’t be a crime that I want to go support my own. Any change in this country, it starts with young people. This isn’t dying down.”
  • Howard coach Kenny Blakeney: “With LeBron and Kaepernick, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, they’ve seen athletes take stands, which is a lot different from our generation. Our generation didn’t want to be politically active; they didn’t want to be social activists. They didn’t want to ruffle feathers. These young men are seeing this in real time, throughout their life.”
  • Tennessee State coach Brian “Penny” Collins: “Because of what’s going on in the world right now, attention goes directly to the African American community and how we can make it better. Playing for those universities, they make those universities better. There’s a sentiment to do whatever they can to help their community. This is just one of the things on the list.”

Prospect Elijah Fisher ‘Strongly’ Considering Morgan State University

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The 6-5, 185-pound Shooting Guard from Canada, Elijah Fisher could be attending an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges or University). The 15-year-old Toronto native is projected to be among the top basketball recruits in the class of 2023, and he’s being billed as the next big prospect out of Canada.

According to SI, Morgan State University is what he’s really excited about.

“Morgan State offered and that’s a school I’m really excited about,” Fisher said. “With everything that is going on in the world with social injustice and police brutality against people who look like me, I think it’s important to support the schools that have people like me there. I love that Morgan State is an HBCU.”

In the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, multiple elite players have expressed a renewed interest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Typically, players in Fisher’s position opt for schools in Power 5 conferences to maximize resources and exposure, but Fisher said, “It may be time to change things.”

“I feel like someone just needs to make a big move,” Fisher said. “I have a long time until I decide on a college, but I feel like as a young black teenager there should be more honor in getting an offer from a HBCU like Morgan State. Our black schools are elite too. We have to change that way of thinking that only certain schools are big time offers. I was excited that they offered me.”

Fisher’s ties to Morgan State stem from his coach Ro Russell, whose former player Chretien Lukusa is an assistant for the Bears. Lukusa and Fisher have forged a close bond through that relationship.

Read more via SI.com

McDonald’s Launches $500,000 Scholarship Fund To Help HBCU Students

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McDonald’s USA today announced the launch of its $500,000 Black & Positively Golden® Scholarship Fund to help students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue their education this fall, despite impacts of COVID-19. Facilitated by Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), scholarships will be distributed for the 2020-2021 academic year. The announcement comes in conjunction with the launch of the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual Experience, in which McDonald’s officially kicks off its partnership with the ESSENCE Girls United HBCU initiative.

“We know that education is the key to success,” said Marissa Fisher, a second-generation McDonald’s franchisee with four restaurants in southeast Louisiana. “With many college students uncertain of returning to classes in the wake of COVID-19, we understand HBCU students will be most impacted. As a brand with roots that run deep in communities, McDonald’s has been part of these students’ lives while growing up and is the place where many received their first jobs. We want to help ease some of the stress caused by this pandemic as they plan to return to school.”

According to TMCF, supporting HBCUs is increasingly paramount. These institutions face challenges of supporting a large percentage of low-income students (up to 90% at some schools), while managing unexpected costs related to shifting to an online education infrastructure.

McDonald’s launches the $500,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Fund in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to help students attending HBCUs continue their education this fall, despite the impact of COVID-19. Pictured are 2019 McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden scholarship recipients (L-R: Jordyn Allen and Jaiden Boyce) at last year’s Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans.

“This year, donations to HBCUs are even more critical, as students continue dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 and, now, civil unrest and demands for Black equality,” said Harry L. Williams, Thurgood Marshall College Fund President & CEO. “Black students, with allies from across the globe, are calling for companies to do more than issue statements and run ads. That’s why TMCF is excited to further our commitment with McDonald’s to help keep more Black students in college.”

Commemorating a 20-year partnership with the ESSENCE Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual Experience, McDonald’s is also embarking on a collaboration with the ESSENCE Girls United HBCU initiative, powered by Black & Positively Golden. The multi-week program kicks off this fall with inspiring virtual events for student entrepreneurs. Through this program, McDonald’s will also award seed capital and exclusive mentoring opportunities to select participants.

These initiatives are natural extensions of the company’s longstanding commitment to advancing education, as previously demonstrated through its partnership with TMCF and its Archways to Opportunity program for restaurant crew and managers. On a mission to supporting communities nationwide, McDonald’s strives to be a catalyst of change by funding scholarships, leadership training and dream building.

“I often tell my employees that McDonald’s is more than burgers and fries,” said Fisher, who began working as a crew member in her parents’ McDonald’s restaurants prior to becoming a franchisee. “I’m proud to be part of a global brand that is stepping up to help America’s Black future leaders continue their education during such a challenging time.”

Viewers will hear more from Fisher on McDonald’s upcoming program with Girls United during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual Experience. The announcement will take place during a Girls United panel, which will bring together actresses Lexi Underwood and Lovie Simone for a powerful “Checking In On Our Girls” discussion, slated for Saturday, June 27 at 3:50pm EST. The vibrant duo will have a transparent conversation on topics, including how young Black girls are managing their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being in the wake of global unrest; community activism; healthy self-esteem; the impact of social distancing and resources to help them rehabilitate through it all. Visit ESSENCE Studios now to register.

HBCU students can apply for a Black & Positively Golden scholarship now through August 3, by clicking here. For more information on McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement, follow @wearegolden on Instagram.

About Black & Positively Golden
Launched in 2019, McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement is designed to uplift communities and shine a brilliant light on Black excellence through empowerment, education and entrepreneurship. It highlights all things positive and focuses on stories of truth, power and pride. The campaign movement is a natural extension of the brand’s longstanding commitment to the African-American consumer.

About McDonald’s USA
McDonald’s serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Instagram at @WeAreGolden and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. To learn more about the Black & Positively Golden initiative, visit www.mcdonalds.com.

About Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.

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Texas Southern University Student Megan Thee Stallion Wins At BET Awards, Show Recap

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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is adjusting to social distancing and virtual events, which is exactly how BET network decided to celebrate its 20th annual award show this year, saying:

The BET Awards is set to return this Sunday (June 28) to celebrate the show’s 20th anniversary. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s award show will be going virtual. But, we’re still bringing you performances from some of music’s hottest stars and A-listers on Black entertainment’s biggest night. We wouldn’t want you to miss a single moment, so we put together a quick explainer of everything you need to know about this year’s BET Awards.

The celebration of Black excellence broadcast live on BET, BET Her and CBS. Amanda Seales hosted us through the virtual experience and the performances were all recorded.

The entertainment for the 20th annual BET Awards did not disappoint and neither did Texas Southern University student Megan Thee Stallion. Watch her performance of “Girls in the Hood” and “Savage, featuring Beyonce:”

Watch as Megan Thee Stallion accepts BET Award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist. The young superstar was nominated several times and she also took home the award for 2020 Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award, for her single “Hot Girl Summer,” featuring Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign.

The full list of winners includes:

Album of the Year
Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Lizzo
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown
Best Group
Migos
Best Collaboration
Chris Brown [Ft. Drake] – “No Guidance”
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
DaBaby
Video of the Year
DJ Khaled [Ft. Nipsey Hussle, John Legend] – “Higher”
Video Director of the Year
Teyana “Spike Tee” Taylor
Best New Artist
Roddy Ricch
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Kirk Franklin – “Just for Me”
Best International Act
Burna Boy
Best New International Act
Sha Sha
Best Actress
Issa Rae
Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan
Young Stars Award
Marsai Martin
Best Movie
Queen & Slim
Sportswoman of the Year
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
LeBron James
2020 Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
Megan Thee Stallion [Ft. Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign] – “Hot Girl Summer”
BET Her Award
Beyonce [Ft. Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid and Saint Jhn] – “Brown Skin Girl”

Now, more than ever, the country needs all the Black love, celebration and unity that we can get. Congratulations to the winners and for another celebration honoring Black Girl Magic and Black Boy Joy.

NASA To Rename Headquarters For HBCU Grad Mary W. Jackson, Agency’s First Female African American Engineer

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NASA will name its headquarters building Mary W. Jackson, the first female African American engineer at the space agency, who as one of the “Hidden Figures” overcame rampant racial discrimination and gender bias to help propel the agency at the dawn of the Space Age, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Wednesday.

Jackson began her career in the 1950s in a segregated computing unit at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., that recently drew national attention as the setting for the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures,” based on a book by the same name.

Last year, the portion of E St. SW in front of NASA’s D.C. headquarters was renamed “Hidden Figures Way” in recognition of the African American women who worked at NASA in its early days.

The news came the same day some in the space industry began to push NASA to change the name of the Stennis Space Center in southern Mississippi, named for John C. Stennis, the longtime senator from Mississippi, a segregationist who opposed racial equality and the integration of schools. And it comes as communities across the country are taking down Confederate monuments in the wake of the killing of George Floyd while he was in police custody.

The push coincided with a move to change the Navy’s aircraft carrier, also named for the late senator.

In response to the request to rename the space center, a NASA spokesman said that agency “leadership is sensitive to the discussions of racism, discrimination and inequalities going on around the world. We are aware of conversations about renaming facilities and are having ongoing discussions with the NASA workforce on this topic. NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity and we will continue to take steps to do so.”

The agency said it was honored to name its headquarters building after Jackson, who Bridenstine said was “part of a group of very important women who helped NASA in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology.”

Carolyn Lewis, Jackson’s daughter, said her family was “honored” by the recognition. “She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA but throughout this nation.”

An accomplished mathematician and aerospace engineer, Jackson joined NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, starting as a research mathematician and working under fellow “Hidden Figure” Dorothy Vaughn at Langley. In the film, Jackson was portrayed by actress Janelle Monáe.

Head over to The Washington Post to read more.

Morehouse College Cancels Fall 2020 Sports

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As the 2020-2021 school years nears, colleges are making decisions on how to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, parents, faculty and staff are awaiting the individualized campus plans on how these institutions will move forward. The historically-Black, all male institution Morehouse College has released information about the upcoming semester through a letter to campus from president Dr. David A. Thomas.

HBCU Sports

Dear Morehouse Community,

I write to inform you that due to the COVID-19 virus, Morehouse College will not participate in intercollegiate athletic competition sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) this upcoming Fall. This will affect our cross country and football sponsored athletic teams.  I want all of our scholar-athletes, parents, and alumni to know that the College will honor all athletic scholarship awards.

Like all of the decisions we’ve made related to COVID-19, this was a difficult one but was made with the health and well-being of our students and community in mind. It follows my intention to maintain a safe campus in hopes that our students will be able to return in August. Our Maroon Tiger teams travel to other NCAA institutions and cannot compete without breaking from social distancing guidelines still maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sporting events also invite individuals to our campus who will not be subject to the testing and monitoring that we plan to implement for our students, faculty, and staff.

I know this news will be most disappointing to our scholar-athletes, especially our seniors. I can only ask for your understanding and respect for the fact that the College is prioritizing your health and safety ahead of all else.

We are committed to the principle that our athletes are first and foremost students. Each one was admitted to Morehouse with the expectation that he has the intellectual ability and commitment to finish his degree studies here. We will support each scholar-athlete to realize that central goal that brought him to Morehouse. Our dedicated academic support for our athletes and maintenance of NCAA and SIAC compliance standards will also continue.

This decision does not apply to sports played during the upcoming Winter and Spring athletic seasons. Those decisions will be forthcoming later in the year. If you have questions regarding the implementation of this policy, please contact your head coach or Mr. Ruben Perez, associate athletic director for external operations and strategic communications.

In the last several weeks, we have had to make some hard decisions to cope with the exigencies of COVID-19. I have been grateful for the understanding and support our community has provided the College and me personally. I am extremely optimistic about the College’s future. We will rise out of COVID-19 moment stronger and more focused on delivering our mission. So much of what the country has experienced these last few months makes clear that the world needs Morehouse.

Sincerely,

David A. Thomas, Ph.D.
President

Visit the Morehouse Athletics Newsroom.

Shaun King Exposes Facebook Group Plotting To Kill Him

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Shaun King recently raised alarms after receiving death threats from individuals associated with law enforcement. In the private Facebook group, various civil servants conspired to kill him after his recent inflammatory comments.  

King has been criticized for saying last week that the narrative and imagery of a blonde-haired and blue-eyed Jesus Christ is a result of white supremacy.  Some historians have argued that it is more accurate to depict Jesus with darker skin, based on the bible’s descriptions of his hair of wool and skin of bronze. Specifically, King said “If your religion requires Jesus to be a blonde-haired blue-eyed Jesus, then your religion is not Christianity, but white supremacy.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB3WbASJZmV

Some critics have found his comments to be offensive to Christianity, and even anti-American. This has come on the heels of stiff racial tensions that have ignited since the horrifying murder of George Floyd. Black Lives Matter protests have resulted in the dismantling or defacing of several racist statues nationwide. King emphasized that racism has many faces, and to not stop with the removal of problematic monuments. He then called for images of the European version of Jesus to be dismantled, whether they were murals or stained glass windows. 

As a civil rights activist, King has had his fair share of death threats in the past. However, he has admitted he was shocked that the threats have come a long way from anonymous trolls. The group included several professionals using their real names, including a retired officer of the Long Beach Police Department. That person posted a message encouraging retired military, police, and NRA members to mobilize. Other threats mentioned snipers, asked about King’s whereabouts, and had other violent commentary.

The rogue group appears to be an underground group meant to secretly mobilize and exact vigilante justice. In tweets posted about the matter, King questioned who it was safe to turn to in a situation like this. Concern for violence perpetrated by police officers have already been fueling Black Lives Matter protests in every state.

As horrifying as the threats are, King has acknowledged similar threats in other private groups, conservative blogs, and public pages. 

If you do come across other threats, Shaun King and his team would love to hear from you. They ask that you report the details of other credible threats to info@grassrootslaw.org, and assure you will be kept confidential/

Since exposing the threats, the FBI and Long Beach Police Department have opened investigations.

Hampton University Cuts Golf Programs

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COVID-19 has put Hampton University in a tough position. The virus deeply impacted the university’s budget for athletics. As a result, the university’s Department of Athletics has had to cut both their men’s and women’s golf programs. Sadly, the futures of these student athletes have been turned upside down by the fallout of this virus.

We asked that you consider donating to Hampton University’s Athletic Fund by clicking the link here. Read the entire press release below.

HAMPTON, Va.- As a result of the negative financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hampton University Department of Athletics has announced its plans to discontinue the Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs.  COVID-19 has put everyone around the world, and especially those in higher education, in a financial situation that no one could imagine or plan for. Some Division I Athletic programs have had to discontinue sports this spring  (University of Akron, Appalachian State University, Brown University, Central Michigan University, University of Cincinnati, East Carolina University, Florida International University, Furman University, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Old Dominion University, and Wright State University), as well as other institutions around the country at all levels.  

It is our hope that “Hampton Nation” will be able to help us keep both Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs, as well as assist Pirate Athletics in generating enough outside revenue to make our department whole again!

In order to bring back both golf programs back to full strength, we will need $600,000, which would include operational budget, scholarships and salaries.  In order to reinstate the program for the 2020-21 season, we would need approximately $352,000.  To bring the entire Department of Athletics back to normal, we will need $1,400,000, which also includes operational budget, scholarships and salaries.

It was extremely important for Coach Dennis Nelson to speak with each student-athlete personally, to not only inform them of the University’s plans for the golf programs, but to assist them with their future plans and options.  In the meantime, the staff is working diligently to raise funds to keep the program. Even in very difficult times, we want the student-athletes to have a plan and options, just like they will have to develop after graduation.

It is our goal to work extremely hard to retain both golf programs, but we must take the necessary financial steps to ensure that Hampton University will continue to thrive and carry its academic and athletic mission to the highest levels. With the help of “Hampton Nation,” we will strive to achieve that.

“I want to thank all of the members of the Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams, both past and present, along with Coach Nelson and all of the past coaches, for their efforts with these programs,” said Hampton University Director of Athletics, Eugene Marshall, Jr. “They have been outstanding representatives of Hampton University and the Department of Athletics, both in the classroom and on the links.”

The Department of Athletics will continue to provide support to all students-athletes who would like to transfer to another institution, while we continue to raise funds. Per NCAA guidelines, these student-athletes would be immediately eligible if they choose to transfer to another institution under these circumstances.

Goldman Sachs HBCU Possibilities Summit Is Now Virtual

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Goldman Sachs has made a bold step to ensure students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities can have a place in the financial industry. Through their virtual HBCU Possibilities Summit, they are excited to offer new and innovative content designed to provide students with tangible, resume-enhancing skills, networking opportunities. The Summit will begin this summer, lasting from July – September 2020.

Undergraduate HBCU students graduating between December 2020 – June 2022 are highly encouraged to apply. HBCU Alumni and members of our Firmwide Black network are eligible to participate in this year’s Summit as well. The program will offer an expansive variety of interactive workshops and coaching to help students navigate the Goldman Sachs interview process. The value of this program is immense, as Goldman Sachs is a globally leading firm in investment banking, securities, and investment management.

Accepted students will have the opportunity to participate in a first-round interview for either a 2021 Summer or New (Full-Time) Analyst position for the division(s) they are selected for. 

Apply Today

The application process was created to be user-friendly. To start, use this link to register. Please ensure you have uploaded your resume to your candidate profile. Upon registration, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Please complete this immediately as it is a required step of the application.

Following a review, finalists will be notified and asked to submit a formal application for either a 2021 Summer or New (Full-Time) Analyst role within the division(s) they are selected for.

If this opportunity speaks to you, apply immediately! The deadline is July 12th at 11:59 PM ET. Feel free to reach out to Goldman Sachs at DiversityRecruiting@GS.com if you have questions or need accommodations. .

Morehouse School Of Medicine Gets $40M For COVID Relief To Support Minority Communities

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Morehouse School of Medicine(MSM) — MSM was awarded a new $40 million grant to fight COVID-19 in racial and ethnic minority, rural and socially vulnerable communities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH), the institution announced today. MSM was selected to participate in a cooperative agreement with OMH “to lead the initiative to coordinate a strategic network of national, state, territorial, tribal and local organizations to deliver COVID-19-related information to communities hardest hit by the pandemic,” according to the agency.

The initiative – the National Infrastructure for Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities (NIMIC) – is a three-year project designed to work with community-based organizations across the nation to deliver education and information on resources to help fight the pandemic. The information network will strengthen efforts to link communities to COVID-19 testing, healthcare and social services and to best share and implement effective response, recovery and resilience strategies.

“This work will create the opportunity to measure the effectiveness of interventions being deployed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The results of which should lead to a new found knowledge base to better prepare for and respond to future pandemics, especially in vulnerable communities,” MSM President and Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice said. “The adoption and adaptation of these interventions to vulnerable communities creates a new paradigm for the creation of health equity.”

Morehouse School of Medicine has been at the forefront of anticipating and responding to the needs of vulnerable communities who have traditionally suffered the worst health outcomes during pandemics and other disasters.  To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minority, rural, and socially vulnerable populations, MSM will establish the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN).

“This powerful, public-private partnership comes at a critical time as more than one million Americans confront COVID-19. Communities of color have been among the hardest hit,” said Dominic Mack, MD, director of the National Center for Primary Care and professor of Family Medicine at MSM. “By working collaboratively at the community level to advance health equity, we can make a meaningful difference in health outcomes.”

Dr. Mack and Daniel E. Dawes, J.D., director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute will co-lead NCRN.

“We understand that there are specific social determinants and existing health disparities that contribute to the spread of the novel coronavirus,” Dawes continued. “This new partnership between the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Office of Minority Health will bring vital public health information on COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and other services to the Americans who need it most.”

These social determinants of health include working conditions, unemployment and underemployment, access to clean water, affordable housing, transportation, and quality healthcare. Those inequities require both community- and systems-level responses. The Office of Minority Health (OMH) is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities.

For the original press release in the morehouse newsroom, click here. For more information about Morehouse School of Medicine and NCRN, please visit: www.msm.edu

Morehouse College Grad Shaun King Says ‘White Jesus’ Statues Should Come Down

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Morehouse College graduate Shaun King isn’t playing when he said on Monday that it’s time for anything resembling “white Jesus” to be expunged from the public square.

He’s just saying.

From The Washington Times:

The staunch Black Lives Matter activist made the comments as online activists continued to debate which statues and monuments were culturally unacceptable in 2020.

The May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, under the weight of Minneapolis police served as the impetus for activists to tear down statues of historical figures like Christopher Columbus and George Washington.

“Yes,” Mr. King said regarding his support for tearing down images of Christ. “All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down. They are a gross form [of] white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down.”

The black college grad didn’t back down from his remarks on the matter either, he went all the way to prove a point instead.

“Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down,” he said, taking to Twitter to expand on his support of the action. “They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been.”

He continued, “In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark. Tear them down.”

https://twitter.com/shaunking/status/1275113067555303424?s=21

Earlier this month, King, who is a stalwart liberal, made headlines by pointing out the fact that Democrats have been running the cities with the most racial unrest in regards to police brutality for decades now, saying “Democrats, from top to bottom, are running the cities with the worst police brutality in America right now.”

He added, “STOP generically telling us to VOTE in response to all of the police brutality we have right now. Yes, we should vote. But we have to be VERY specific. Democrats, from top to bottom, are running the cities with the worst police brutality in America right now. We voted for them.”

New Dean Appointed To Lead Morgan State University’s Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School Of Engineering

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Morgan State University (MSU) President David K. Wilson has announced the appointment of Oscar Barton, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., as the University’s new dean of the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., School of Engineering. The announcement comes following a nearly five-month long national search led by a University selection committee in collaboration with an executive search firm.

In his new capacity as dean, Barton will implement a vision for innovative strategic growth; provide leadership through a shared governance process of dynamic faculty, staff and students; manage multiple research centers and facilities; administer the School’s budget; develop curricula and advance academic and research programs that prepare students for careers in the industries of the future. 

Dr. Barton will report to Morgan’s provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, Ph.D. He replaces Craig Scott, Ph.D., who served as the School of Engineering’s interim dean. His appointment is effective August 17, 2020.

“After conducting a thorough nationwide search, Provost Crumpton-Young, and I, are pleased to announce that Dr. Oscar Barton Jr., has accepted our offer to join the Morgan Family,” said President Wilson. “To lead the University’s highly touted School of Engineering into the future, we wanted an innovative administrator, an accomplished researcher/scholar and a dedicated educator who understands the challenges of and opportunities for a public urban research university, and with Dr. Barton, we’ve checked all of the boxes. His wealth of knowledge and experience will be a welcomed addition to our campus.”

Willie E. May, Ph.D., vice president for Morgan’s Division of Research and Economic Development (D-RED) headed the University’s search committee. A total of 32 applications were received for the position, with 11 identified for initial interviews and the top four ultimately selected to participate in a series of interviews conducted virtually with members of the campus community. At the conclusion of the process, Dr. Barton stood out among the finalists, having received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the campus surveys and ranking the highest in the key categories of Leadership and Vision, Management and Resource Development.

“Morgan State University is a national treasure, and it humbles me that I have been entrusted to lead a faculty of immense expertise, a staff committed to purpose and a student-body of unbridled potential,” said Dr. Barton. “Morgan’s leadership under President Wilson and Provost Crumpton-Young stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation, essential elements critical to a school’s success and that I will champion as dean of the School of Engineering. I am excited to join the Morgan State family and its community of leaders and change agents.”

Dr. Barton currently serves as professor and founding chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering. He joined the faculty at Mason in fall 2014, after completing a 22-year career at the U.S. Naval Academy. His research focuses on the development of approximate closed form solutions for linear self-adjoint systems, those that govern the responses of composite structures, and the analysis of dynamic systems. More recently, he investigated the dynamic response of flexible composite structures subject to periodic and random excitation. He has mentored numerous midshipmen through independent research projects and has directed two Trident Scholars, the Naval Academy’s flagship research program. He has published more than 60 journal and conference articles on these topics. Barton is also a fellow of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and is actively involved in academic innovations and program assessment.

A native of Washington, D.C., he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tuskegee (Institute) University and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from Howard University.

Morgan’s School of Engineering is home to a world-class faculty with expertise across various disciplines including, civil engineering; electrical and computer engineering; industrial and systems engineering; and transportation and urban infrastructure studies. Located on the north-side of University’s 152-acre campus, the School of Engineering operates in a three-building complex, which includes the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Building, the William Donald Schaefer Building, and a significant portion of the Center for the Built Environment and Infrastructure Studies (CBEIS). The School has accredited undergraduate programs in Transportation and Civil, Electrical, and Industrial Engineering, and graduate programs that offer the Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Engineering in four disciplines.

In 2016, the School’s inaugural dean Eugene M. Deloatch, Ph.D. retired after 32 years of impactful leadership and decorated service to the University. Dr. Deloatch, dean emeritus, also served as an advisor during the search process.

About Morgan

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

How 21st Century Tech Has Reinvented Our Leisure Time

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As a student, you get a decent amount of spare time between lectures, seminars, study, sports, and social occasions. While you probably won’t want to use this precious ‘me’ time to pile into study books – unless deadlines are encroaching, you do want to use it productively for the sake of your future prospects and your current state of mind.

Now, 21st Century technology dictates how we spend our leisure time, with it offering so many benefits alongside the more shallow perks of bursts of enjoyment. While fun is integral, if there’s a way to draw some level of entertainment or satisfaction from a leisurely but productive activity, you may as well do so.

Expand your presence where it counts

Social media has been a revelation around the world. Primarily used as a platform of communication and sharing between friends and family, the platforms have also given people a stage to inform and engage with audiences. Being free and easy to use, the right social media platforms are cost-effective yet potent methods of expanding one’s presence if used in the right way.

Instead of just scrolling through social media to look at friends’ pictures, or to keep up with the funneled news, take control of your profile and use it to bolster your presence with your professional interests in mind. The likes of LinkedIn and Facebook can be key in this regard as you can use them to network, build valuable relationships, and make empowered connections.

Over time, Facebook and Instagram have become better ways to connect to an audience in terms of furthering your professional agenda and advertise yourself. LinkedIn is the go-to platform for finding professionals and establishing yourself among them. In the United States, there are over 160 million LinkedIn users, with 92 percent of Fortune 500 executives, and 77 percent of recruiters also utilizing the platform.

Reaping the benefits of having fun

Like communications and connectivity, modern technology has also transformed how we consume entertainment. While some see enjoying modern entertainment as being counterproductive, Psychology Today explains that there is a need for ‘play-time’. This supposedly helps to activate the brain’s creativity centers to release helpful endorphins, as opposed to the anxiety centers and their adverse effects always being switched on.

Gaming has become a titanic segment of the entertainment industry, so much so that even Carolina Central University will be commencing a gaming degree next year. Not only is it a big business but, if you have the tech already, the most popular games are free. Microsoft tracks Fortnite as the most popular game in the US right now, followed by fellow free-to-play game Call of Duty: Warzone, and further down, Apex Legends.

Without a gaming computer or a current-generation console, though, there are other entertainment options aside from video games that engage the mind in different ways. Across a selection of online casino games, titles like live blackjack, live baccarat, and live ultimate Texas hold’em all incite critical thinking and mathematics in their play, allowing players to engage different parts of their brain, while simultaneously enjoying the entertainment aspects.

Of course, the most popular way to unwind is to watch streamed content. Netflix is seen as the powerhouse of content streaming, but it’s actually YouTube by a very large margin, which has the most US users. YouTube offers a vast range of free videos to enjoy. Regardless of your platform, however, to maximize your viewing time, seek out the informative content, like documentaries and debates, for easy and relaxing consumption that also expands your way of thinking.

So, when you find yourself with some time on your hands, and you undoubtedly turn to some modern tech, be sure to make the most of the time you have by combining leisure time and enjoyment with some degree of productivity.

Reports Indicate Bethune-Cookman University Is Considering Leaving MEAC For SWAC

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Bethune-Cookman is reportedly considering leaving the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, potentially reuniting with in-state rival Florida A&M. The school’s board of trustees held an emergency meeting last week to discuss the possibility, according to a report. The Wildcats’ potential landing spots include the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

FAMU’s board of trustees previously voted unanimously to leave the MEAC, which it had been a member for all but two seasons since 1979, and join the SWAC. The Rattlers will join the SWAC at the start of the 2021-22 academic year. FAMU expands the SWAC’s membership to 11.

“We firmly believe in this move,” FAMU athletics director Kortne Gosha told the Tallahassee Democrat after the vote earlier this month. “Taking FAMU athletics to new heights is personal to me. I made a commitment on Nov. 25, 2019, that we would do that. In the short six months, we’ve been here, we’ve done that.”

FAMU cited a reduction in travel expenses and increased brand awareness among the reasons for switching conferences. The SWAC’s headquarters are based in Alabama and most of its schools are within driving distance of Tallahassee. The MEAC, which is headquartered in Virginia, has schools located in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions, with FAMU and B-CU the only schools in the state of Florida.

Another possible destination for B-CU, which has been a member of the MEAC since 1979, is the Atlantic Sun Conference, according to the report. The Atlantic Sun currently doesn’t support football, but there have been talks about starting a football league. North Carolina A&T and Hampton also are set to leave the MEAC in 2021, while Savannah State moved back to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2019. Read the original posting of the Orlando Sentinel article.

Bethune–Cookman University is a private historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida. The primary administration building, White Hall, and the Mary McLeod Bethune Home are in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wealthiest Black Person In US To Launch Initiative To Ease Debt Of Students At HBCUs

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“I think it’s important that we do these things at scale and en masse because that’s how you lift up entire communities. Of course, we all like the great one story, but I want thousands of these stories. And I want thousands of Robert Smith’s out there who are actually looking to do some things in fields that are exciting to them and are giving back.” 

If you haven’t caught on by now, these are the words of Robert Smith in regards to a program he’s set to start that aims to ease the debt of students at historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. 

He’s also the wealthiest Black person in the U.S., according to Forbes and he’s definitely making better happen. 

These institutions are the last cultural jewels that Black people have left in this country, so it’s good to see that he is continuing to uplift while he climbs, especially given his serious effort to help and support HBCU students. More on this later. 

The program is dubbed “The Student Freedom Initiative” and some major movers and shakers are teaming up with Smith to make better happen. 

From Diverse Education: 

“The Student Freedom Initiative aims to address the disproportionate loan burden on Black students. The program’s partners include Michael Lomax, CEO of the United Negro College Fund; Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research at Harvard; the Jain Family Institute; and the Education Finance Institute.

…

The initiative will launch in the fall of 2021 with an initial $50 million grant at up to 11 HBCUs that are yet to be named. The program will offer junior and senior STEM majors a flexible, lower-risk alternative to high-interest private student loans. Smith aims to support 5,000 new students each year and has set a goal of raising at least $500 million by October to make the program “self-sustaining” via investments and graduates’ income-based repayments.”

During a TIME 100 Talks session on Tuesday, Smith, who is chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, said “You think about these students graduating and then plowing so much of their wealth opportunity into supporting this student debt, that’s a travesty in and of itself.” 

In case you missed it, he made good on his promise last year to settle the debt of the graduating Class of 2019 at historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta, paying off the loans that these individuals accumulated at the tune of $34 million. He even widened his debt gift to parents.

FAMU Partners With Cengage To Increase Textbook Affordability

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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) recently entered into an agreement with Cengage to offer subscription-based access to course materials through Cengage Unlimited. The partnership will allow FAMU students to obtain thousands of eBooks, study guides and other materials for less than $125 each calendar year.

Beginning this fall, FAMU students will be able to purchase a subscription from FAMU’s bookstore for $123.36—less than the cost of most hardcover textbooks. The subscription will include course materials for many of the programs offered at FAMU.

“The partnership with Cengage allows FAMU to help students significantly reduce costs associated with obtaining the required textbooks for their courses,” said Sundra Kincey, Ph.D., assistant vice president of program quality for FAMU. 

With the average student spending more than $400 annually—and some spending significantly more—the cost of course materials is a top financial concern for students, according to a recent Morning Consult survey. This partnership helps alleviate some of the financial stress by offering unlimited access to course materials across 70 disciplines and 675 courses.

“The cost of course materials is a barrier for many students and our partnership aims to address affordability issues while providing access to quality learning—whether in person or online,” said Fernando Bleichmar, executive vice president and general manager, higher education and skills at Cengage.

Last year, the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) approved a system-wide action plan to provide students with access to quality and affordable textbooks and instructional materials. The partnership with Cengage is one of FAMU’s key strategic initiatives to address the goals and expectations of the BOG and FAMU Board of Trustees. 

“FAMU has a strong commitment to ensuring that our students have access to a high-quality, affordable education,” said Maurice Edington, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This resource will help reduce some of the financial barriers that our students encounter, providing access to modern educational technology offerings and enable our students to become more successful during their educational tenure.”

To participate, FAMU students must purchase the subscription through FAMU’s official bookstore. It will be available beginning Fall 2020 and may be accessed via a link on the University bookstore’s webpage.

Cengage is the largest U.S.-based education and technology company serving the higher education market. It provides course materials to almost half of the 20 million students pursing higher education.

For more information about Cengage Unlimited for Institutions, please visit: https://www.cengage.com/institutional/.