Jason K. Panda, the owner of b condoms, saw a need to help people in his community improve their sexual health. So, after nine years of practicing law, the Morehouse College graduate decided to create b condoms, the only Black-owned condom company in the United States.
Panda, who is originally Brockton, Massachusetts, recently shared his thoughts about going into the business of safe sex.
Why did you decide to get into the condom business?
Sometimes you find yourself at a point in your career where you’re just not happy. Growing up, my mother used to run a detox and transitional care facility for drug addicts. I always wanted to be independent and create some type of company that also works within our community. So, while I was practicing law, one of the things that I would hear about a lot of times is the impact of HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy. Then I thought, as a Black people, why don’t we actually own our own condoms company? Why don’t we have our own seat at the table? Why are we not writing our own stories and having our own voice in dictating our own future?’
We own music, we own liquor and we may own the club. People are having sex, but we don’t own any condom brands. So, it hit me: why not create a condom brand? If you look at all of the top condom brands, they don’t hire Black people. That was another element that had to change. Read the entire article shared by Rolling Out.
Gaming providing unprecedented career opportunities for today’s youngsters
Those of us who grew up in the latter years of the 20th century probably remember cutting remarks from parents that sitting around playing video games would never earn us a living. Fast forward to 2020, and that’s no longer necessarily the case. One thing the past month or so has taught us is that gaming in general, and eSport in particular has enormous appeal.
The industry has seen a significant spike over recent weeks, especially since pro sports stars have started to go online and take part in virtual soccer, motor racing and even boxing matches. It’s a trend that was already evident before the current circumstances, and gaming will continue to thrive when the world returns to normal. In the leisure sector, popularity leads to profitability, and there are more career options in the world of gaming than you might think.
Consigning the tennis club mentality to history
When you look back at the history of other sports, social and racial divides are plain for all to see. Sports like tennis and golf were more elitist than the likes of basketball or boxing. Even today, you’ll see more kids from lower income African families throwing some hoops than practicing their backhand.
Thank goodness we live in more progressive times and there are no such divides in eSport. Or are there? Last year, Ryan Johnson founded Cxmmunity, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youngsters from minority groups to access eSport. Johnson explained that exactly that “tennis club” phenomenon was becoming plain to see in eSport. While the discipline was blossoming and presenting a world of opportunities, youths from minorities were “absent from the discussion.”
He said that the organization is about more than just playing games. He explained that there are “multidisciplinary career paths” within eSport. Arguably, there are even more than in conventional sport due to the many technological processes and areas of expertise that are involved in bringing an eSport game to market.
There’s more to gaming than eSport
Once you think of it that way, you can rapidly find yourself disappearing down the rabbit hole. Those multidisciplinary paths split and multiply even further when you consider that eSport is only a small subset of the overall gaming industry.
To look at just one other example, let’s consider igaming. It’s another genre within the broader gaming landscape that has seen a dramatic increase in interest and participation over recent weeks since most physical casinos have been temporarily closed. The industry is dominated by a handful of software providers making table and slot games, while the platforms themselves must provide cutting edge user experience to attract customers in a massively competitive environment.
A world of opportunity
The net result is a world of opportunity for talented developers, designers, programmers and those with a flair for digital marketing and SEO. That competitive environment means there’s a willingness to push the envelope in search of an edge, so there’s also significant interest in areas like artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
Both developers and casino brands themselves are beginning to offer internships to attract young, enthusiastic talent straight from college. It’s a great way into the industry, and once you have your foot in the door, there’s no telling where those “multidisciplinary career paths” could take you.
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Maryland’s private and public colleges and universities will get $170 million in federal funding to help in their responses to the coronavirus, the state’s congressional delegation said Monday.
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) (Julio Cortez/AP)
Around half of the money each school gets will go toward providing direct assistance to students facing emergency expenses due to the pandemic, while the rest will be useable under the discretion of the Department of Education.
The list of allocations for Maryland’s historically Black colleges and universities are as follows:
College Name
Total Allocation
Amount Dedicated
Bowie State University
$6,596,246
$3,298,123
Coppin State University
$2,727,906
$1,363,953
University of MD, Eastern Shore
$3,542,365
$1,771,183
Morgan State University
$9,263,562
$4,631,796
Towson University will receive $17.3 million, while the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Morgan State University will each get around $9.3 million.
The money is part of the massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package known as the CARES Act that also includes nearly $350 billion for small businesses. This article was originally shared by WJZ.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) — The CDC reports that African-American communities are being “disproportionately affected” by the coronavirus.
A professor at Florida A&M University’s Institute of Public Health are monitoring the trend closely.
As African-Americans are seeing a higher rate of hospitalizations and deaths, the factors such as geography, socioeconomics, and personal health are making the disease very dangerous for people of color.
“From New York to Philadelphia to Chicago to Milwaukee, Louisiana and certainly here in Florida, particularly in South Florida, we are seeing similar trends,” said FAMU professor of Public Health, Dr. C. Perry Brown.
Dr. Brown is shedding light on why the coronavirus is disproportionately affecting African-American communities.
“Diabetes or perhaps hypertension and both diabetes and hypertension are more prevalent in the African American community,” said Brown.
He adds that differences in diets and other personal habits like smoking could put African-Americans more at risk. Read the full article.
There was certainly some buzz with Winston-Salem State’s men’s basketball team in terms of the recruits its landed for this coming season.
But that same kind of buzz has transferred over to the WSSU women’s basketball program and Coach L’Tona Lamonte.
Three high-school players – Tyliah Burns, Kennedi Simmons and Taniah Wilkins – signed with the Rams back in November.
What bodes well for Lamonte and the Rams is that Burns and Simmons were each named player of the years for their local newspapers. Burns was recently named the South Carolina Player of the Year by the Augusta Chronicle and Simmons was earlier named the player of the year by the Greensboro News & Record.
“The interesting thing is that Tania was named the Spartanburg (S.C.) newspaper’s player of the year last season as a junior,” Lamonte said about her three high-school signees.
Burns, a 5-foot-7 guard from North Augusta High School in North Augusta, South Carolina, averaged 15.8 points and five rebounds per game and was an All-State selection. Read the entire article.
Tom Lang, an alumnus of the aquaculture/fisheries master’s program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), discovered his career path when he was in high school thanks to a serendipitous moment on the job at a barbeque restaurant in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Trusting his instincts and planning his education accordingly would lead him to his current role as outreach director of the Inland Fisheries Division for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and director of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC).
“Like many fisheries scientists, I fell in love with fishing early in life, but didn’t know that our field existed,” he said. “Then it clicked as I was stocking the freezer with boxes of U.S. farm-raised catfish. After several trips to the freezer, during which I read the labels on each box, the lightbulb went on – I realized there must be something in this world called a ‘catfish farm.’”
When his shift ended, Lang headed home with visions of catfish ponds as far as the eye could see. The next day, he asked his high school guidance counselor about how to become a catfish farmer. That discussion led him to Purdue University, where he earned a degree in fisheries and aquatic sciences.
In his current role, Lang is responsible for all operations and management of the TFFC and oversees the public outreach and education initiatives of the Inland Fisheries Division. The center’s work is focused on expanding the awareness, understanding and support of fisheries conservation, he said.
“We boost support for fish and fishing through numerous educational exhibits at the facility, including 300,000 gallons of aquaria where folks can see awesome Texas fish firsthand,” he said. “Other exhibits teach visitors about the fisheries management and aquaculture techniques our scientists utilize to make for better fishing in Texas. At TFFC, we also have an aquatic plant nursery for restoring habitat in public waters, as well as a wetland trail and recreational fishing ponds open to the public.”
Lang said a big part of the center’s mission is to take more people fishing.
“We provide the right atmosphere and opportunities for people to learn how to fish,” he said. “Since TFFC’s opening in 1996, on average, someone catches their first fish every business day. That’s just amazing to me.”
The center’s outreach efforts are furthered through a number of statewide programs. The Sharelunker Program, for instance, engages the state’s largemouth bass anglers in the process of making bigger, better bass by encouraging them to weigh, measure and submit photos of their 8-plus-pound bass and loan their 13-plus-pound bass to TPWD for spawning and restocking purposes. Similarly, the annual Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest highlights Texas’ bass fisheries while encouraging angler recruitment and retention. And the Neighborhood Fishin’ Program provides anglers in major metropolitan areas with fishing opportunities close to home by stocking “keeper-size” channel catfish or rainbow trout regularly throughout the year.
“We are home to the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Texas Game Warden Museum, both of which demonstrate how many diverse areas of expertise can and have made an impact on fisheries conservation,” Lang said. “And the Hart-Morris Conservation Center offers a meeting space for community and conservation organizations and national, state and local fisheries scientists.”
Lang said he appreciates the chance to work with outstanding people that are dedicated to serving the mission and field of fisheries science, conservation and management.
“Such a level of passion and dedication means that we don’t shy away from a challenge here – if it’s the right thing to do, we address the problem and do all we can to figure it out,” he said. “That drives innovation and helps set new standards for others in our field.”
Lang said the aquaculture/fisheries program at UAPB prepared him for his career through top-notch instruction, as well as networking opportunities in the industry.
“However, I think one of the ways UAPB prepared me the most personally was to make me a more conscientious person,” he said. “The university helped me better recognize and be more thoughtful of others in situations where they may feel like they do not fit in.”
Lang said his career field has traditionally been dominated primarily by white males.
“As a UAPB alumnus, I feel that I am in a much better position to help those who are not of the traditional sex or race of my field to feel more welcomed and thus perform more to their abilities professionally,” he said. “UAPB has enhanced my career by helping me become a better person who, in turn, tries to help others be their best.”
Lang credits Dr. Steve Lochmann, professor of aquaculture of fisheries, and Dr. Wes Neal, former professor, as being influential in his development as a fisheries professional. This article was originally shared to the UAPB newsroom.
After 41 years of service serving in the medical field in Selma, Dr. Charles Lett will celebrate his final day as surgeon on April 30.
“It’s a tough decision but I’m trying to go on through with it I guess,” said Lett. “After 41 years here in Selma I guess it’s time to hang it up.”
Lett first knew he wanted to enter the medical field while attending Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.
After four years at Stillman, Lett then headed to Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee and then began five years of surgical training in the Cornell University Affiliated Hospitals of New York City, Nassau County and Long Island, all in New York.
After four years at Stillman, another four at Meharry and five years of surgical training, Lett had spent 13 years training to become a surgeon.
“It a tremendous workload,” said Lett. “I was working up and down, days, nights weekend… pretty much tethered to the hospital.”
Lett said the rigorous training required to be a surgeon drove many of his peers to pursuing other avenues.
“But God saw me through,” said Let. “I had faith. You have to have faith and, of course, a certain amount of talent to make it through the tremendous volume of work required.”
In 1979, Lett returned to his hometown of Selma to open his Surgical Medical Practice.
Growing up in Selma, Lett was well aware of the city’s socioeconomic status and he felt a calling to return home and take care of the people of his home town.
“My roots are here,” said Lett of the Queen City.
Lett has served Selma’s medical community as Chief of Staff for 2 tenures of 4 years each and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Selma Medical Center (now Vaughan Regional Medical Center) and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the now non-extant Good Samaritan Hospital.
When Lett returned to Selma in 1979, it wasn’t without hiccups.
Lett said he faced discrimination from many of the local white doctors when he began practicing in his hometown, even after proving himself a talented medical professional. Read the entire article at the Selma Times Journal.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated postponement of the traditional graduation ceremonies set for May 9, Mississippi Valley State University is pleased to announce plans to recognize its Spring 2020 graduates during a Virtual Commencement Exercise.
The online commencement is set to stream on the University’s Facebook and YouTube pages at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 9. Links to both sites will be posted on the homepage of the University’s webpage (www.mvsu.edu) later this month.
“Bidding our seniors farewell one final time before they venture off into the world is one of my greatest joys as a University President,” said MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs, Sr.
“After making the difficult decision to postpone graduation, I challenged our commencement committee to come up with an alternative that would allow us to celebrate our graduates. Together, we decided that hosting a virtual ceremony would be the safest way to honor our students on their special day.”
During the virtual event, Briggs will address the graduates before joining MVSU Provost, Dr. Kathie Stromile Golden, in conferring degrees to both graduate and undergraduate students.
The Spring 2020 Golden Graduates, members of MVSU’s Class of 1970, will also be recognized in honor of their 50thanniversary as MVSU alumni.
In addition to the virtual graduation ceremony, MVSU graduates will also have the opportunity to participate in a traditional commencement exercise later this year. More information regarding that ceremony is forthcoming. This article was originally shared on the Mississippi Valley State University newsroom.
South Carolina State University will hold a virtual commencement ceremony to confer degrees upon graduates of the institution’s class of 2020.
The decision follows the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in strict national and statewide policies aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
“These are unprecedented times,” university President James E. Clark said in a release.
“This pandemic has forced us to live in a different way. That includes changing the ways we do everything, including our university events. Given that we don’t know when the virus threat will be over in our area and given the series of executive orders set forth by our governor, we have decided to conduct our commencement ceremony virtually,” he said.
University leaders have not yet set a date for the virtual graduation, which is expected to honor bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree recipients.
“Because we do not know if the country will conquer COVID-19 by July, August or even later, it is not wise for us to give students a date for when the next physical graduation will be held,” university Provost and Academic Officer Dr. Learie Luke said. “As it stands today, we are still under the governor’s executive order of no assembly larger than three people.” read the full article at Times and Democrat,
One year ago today, the only all-male historically Black college and university (HBCU), Morehouse College, announced its gender identity policy. The same campus that cultivated men like Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Herman Cain, Samuel L. Jackson, Maynard Jackson, Michael Sterling Sr. and is now illuminating the path for students in the transgender community.
The policy will take effect in the Fall 2020 semester, meaning the policy applies to all students who are accepted to Morehouse’s class of 2024 and all classes that follow.
Once admitted, the student is expected to continue to self-identify as a man throughout his matriculation at Morehouse.
—Morehouse College Gender Identity Admissions and Matriculation Policy
Since its founding in 1867, Morehouse College’s mission has been to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service. Every aspect of this unique college is, and always will be, designed to prepare our graduates to flourish and make a positive impact in their communities and the world.
This mission is powerful, transcendent, and remains the driving force in the decisions we make as an institution.
In furtherance of our mission, tradition, and values as a men’s college, and in recognition of our changing world and evolving understanding of gender identity, Morehouse will now consider for admission applicants who live and self-identify as men, regardless of the sex assigned to them at birth. Women will not be eligible for admission at Morehouse.
We will also continue to use gendered language that reflects our identity as a men’s college.
This admissions policy affects students who transition while enrolled at Morehouse. Once admitted, every student will receive the individualized support that is an essential part of the Morehouse experience. However, all students are expected to continue to self-identify as men throughout their matriculation at Morehouse. If, during a student’s time at Morehouse, a student transitions from a man to a woman, that student will no longer be eligible to matriculate at Morehouse.
Exemptions from this rule may be granted by a three-person committee appointed by the President after a written appeal is submitted by the student. If the student disagrees with the committee’s decision, the student may make a final appeal to the President of Morehouse.
The appeal must address why the student desires continuation at Morehouse, a school explicitly designed for men, and any hardship to be incurred by forced withdrawal.
If a student decides that, as a men’s college, Morehouse no longer offers the appropriate educational environment for the student, or if an enrolled student begins to self-identify as a woman, we will offer guidance and resources to assist in making choices that are best for that student.
This policy applies to all students who enroll in Morehouse after the Fall 2020 semester. Students enrolled before the Fall 2020 semester are not subject to this policy.
View the full listing of details for Morehouse College’s new policy.
Alumni, LGBTQ advocates, current and prospective students and weighed in on the conversation.
Who is eligible for admission to Morehouse College?
Morehouse College accepts applications from individuals who live and self-identify as men and who seek an outstanding liberal arts education in a unique environment designed and implemented to serve them.
What does it mean to self-identify as a man?
The applicant must identify himself as a man and his application materials must support this self-identification. If the applicant has any questions or concerns, he can speak with an admissions counselor.
Are trans men eligible for admission?
Yes. Under this new policy, Morehouse will accept applications from those who live and self-identify as men – which includes trans men.
Are trans women eligible for admission?
No. Morehouse accepts applications from those who live and self-identify as men. Applicants assigned male at birth who now identify as women are not eligible for admission.
What about a Morehouse student who transitions to a woman before she completes her degree?
A student who transitions to a woman or begins to self-identify as a woman during her tenure at Morehouse will no longer be eligible to matriculate at Morehouse College.
Exemptions from this rule may be granted by a three-person committee appointed by the President after a written appeal is submitted by the student. In the event that the impacted student disagrees with the decision of the committee, the student can make final appeal to the President of Morehouse.
The appeal must address why the student desires continuation at Morehouse, a school explicitly designed for men, and any hardship to be incurred by forced withdrawal.
Are individuals who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming eligible for admission?
Morehouse College recognizes that not all gender non-conforming students use the term transgender to describe their identity. As such, we also welcome students who identify as gender non-conforming or gender non-binary to apply and matriculate.
The policy says the school will ‘continue to use masculine pronouns’ and the ‘language of brotherhood’; however, you say you welcome non-binary or non-gender conforming students. How is that possible?
That section of the policy defines how we will speak and write at the institutional level. For example, during large assemblies or presentations, as well as in our mass marketing and communications, we will continue to reference the brotherhood. The student body will be referred to as the “men of Morehouse” and our alumni base as “Morehouse Men.” But on an individual basis, if a student or community member would rather not be addressed as “he”, “him” or “his” we will, of course, honor that and address that individual as they wish.
Is this policy another way to create a dress code?
No. Morehouse does not have a college-wide dress code. Certain events require formal attire, but there is no dress code. This policy addresses gender identity, not attire.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are a beautiful experience that were designed to include, advance, accept and support Black students and Black culture. Salute to Morehouse for continuing that founding mission.
The NFL released heartbreaking news: Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson died in a car crash on Sunday night. He was 36.
Jackson died in a crash in Alabama, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, according to a spokesperson for Tennessee State University.
The former NFL signal-caller was TSU’s QB coach.
Jackson was a former second-round pick out of Alabama State by the Vikings in 2006. He spent five seasons in Minnesota, starting 20 games. The signal-caller generated his most prolific season as a 14-game starter for the Seattle Seahawks in 2011, throwing for 3,091 yards and 14 TDs.
Jackson then spent one year with the Buffalo Bills but did not play in a regular-season game.
The veteran returned to Seattle as a backup to Russell Wilson from 2013-2015, where he earned a Super Bowl ring.
Jackson transitioned into coaching in 2018, joining Alabama State as a quality control coach and QB coach. He moved to TSU in 2019. This news was originally shared by the NFL.
Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to Jackson’s family, friends, loved ones and teammates.
RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University Director of Athletics, Dr. Alfonza L. Carter has named Bobby Collins as the head men’s basketball coach Tuesday morning. Collins becomes the 16th head coach in Shaw men’s basketball history
“We are delighted to have Bobby Collins as our Head Men’s Basketball Coach,” said Carter. “He brings with him a wealth of coaching experience. He is a proven winner and can get the job done on the court and off the court. I look forward to his commitment to both academic and athletic success which makes him the right fit to lead our men’s basketball program.
Collins comes to Shaw after serving a two-year stint as an assistant coach at South Carolina State University
“I am very excited about joining the Shaw University family,” added Collins. “Shaw U has a pedigree of winning and I look forward to leading the program back to its winning ways.
Prior to South Carolina State, Collins was the head coach Maryland-Eastern Shore from 2014-2018, where he led the Hawks to their best record at 18-15 in 41 years of the men’s basketball program. The winning mark was the first above -.500 record for an Eastern Shore team since the 1993-94 season, while the third-place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference was the best since that same year. The incredible turnaround year also saw widespread recognition of the accomplishments in Princess Anne with Collins winning MEAC Coach of the Year, as well as freshman Ryan Andino earning MEAC Rookie of the Year honors. Michael Myers also earned numerous awards, including Riley Wallace Player of the Year, while Collins was named 2015 Ben Jobe Coach of the Year.
No stranger to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference, Collins spent eight seasons as the head coach at Winston-Salem State University
The Southern Pines, N.C., native was at the helm when WSSU made the transition into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) before the 2007 season. He guided the Rams to 32 wins during that time, including a pair of 12-win seasons. In his first season, he was saddled with the duty of coaching the Rams as a Division I independent school and led the team to a 4-20 record.
It was the 2010-14 seasons that distinguished Collins as a premier head coach, where he went 79-35 after Winston-Salem State moved back to Division II. Those seasons saw him win at least 10 games in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAA) each year and his teams made three appearances in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament during the span, including a CIAA Southern Division Championship in 2010-12 and Tournament title in 2011-12.
His best season with the Rams was during the 2012-13 season as the team went 21-7 overall, with a 13-3 record in the CIAA. That year, WSSU was ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation and earned a second seed in the NCAA Division Tournament.
Previous to his job with Winston-Salem State, Collins had coaching stints at Hampton University for 11 seasons, where he helped lead the Pirates to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships.
A 1991 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Collins was a four-year starter on the men’s basketball team where he was named to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) All-Freshman Team and reaped Honorable Mention All-OVC as a senior. Following his graduation from EKU, Collins played professional basketball in Finland, where he earned MVP honors overseas in the Helsinki Classic Tournament in 1991.
For the most up-to-date information on Shaw athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, please visit www.shawbears.com. This article was shared to the Shaw University Athletics newsroom.
Fayetteville, NC – The Fayetteville State University Department of Athletics has reviewed its overall effectiveness as an NCAA Division II program and in alignment with the University’s strategic plan has made the decision to eliminate the Broncos tennis program.
“It is a tough decision to drop a program, particularly a women’s sport,” said Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett. “But with the addition of our women’s indoor track and women’s outdoor track teams, we believe that we will continue to meet the interest and ability of our female students. We are especially proud of the success of our women’s programs like basketball, cross country, indoor track and field, and volleyball who all won CIAA Championships this year.”
Six student-athletes, which include two rising seniors, four juniors, and a part-time coach will be affected by the loss of the program.
“Those student-athletes affected are our first concern,” Bennett added. “The department of athletics is working closely with the University and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to ensure that they remain one of our top priorities.”
Fayetteville State University will continue to sponsor 11 collegiate athletic programs moving forward. The men’s sports are basketball, cross country, football, and golf. The women’s sports are basketball, bowling, cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, softball, and volleyball. This article was shared by the Fayetteville State University Ath
Pioneer Earl Gilbert Graves Sr., founder of Black Enterprise and the ultimate champion of black business, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2020.
Graves was 85 years old and was a loving father and grandfather, devoted husband of 50 years, trailblazing businessman, man of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and proud HBCU graduate, hailing from the Morgan State University Class of 1957, where he studied economics.
It is without question that Graves was a force of a business man. We are forever in his debt for the numerous trails he blazed. Outside of his many business deals and millions made, we also celebrate his legacy of being an honorable man and a role model for the Black college community.
We cherish tender memories like the infamous story of him embracing the homecoming spirit at his alma mater, in a very “Graves-like” fashion: During Morgan State’s Homecoming Week, he reached out to the local florists in an effort to provide flowers for the week’s festivities. After securing the role as florist representative and a campus discount, Graves covered MSU, selling flowers and spreading Bears cheer.
Here are some of our favorite quotes from the legend himself:
1.
I have no patience with people who want to tell me what’s wrong. I only want to hear from the person who first tells me the solution and then fills me in on the problem. I don’t want to hear that your basement is flooded. I want to hear that you’ve found the number to the cleanup company. Then tell me why you’re calling them.
2.
If you look back in history… in terms of leadership… Martin Luther King did not have a bunch of money, but he had friends who had money to support what it is he was doing… who believed in him and therefore, could go out and make the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as strong as it was
3.
I had visited the campus. I knew I was coming to an African-American, all Black environment. I felt quite comfortable with that and I felt even more comfortable because, if you will, we were in an oasis. It was an oasis…
4.
We keep going back, stronger, not weaker, because we will not allow rejection to beat us down. It will only strengthen our resolve. To be successful there is no other way.
5.
It seems to me that I always wanted to sell something. If you ask me today what am I best at, I would tell you I’m just a salesman.
6.
No library of American business achievement is complete without the story of Arthur G. Gaston. . . . Black Titan is a long overdue contribution to the recording of not just black history, but American history.
7.
Education is the primary tool of emancipation and liberation in our fight for true equality in this country.
8.
You can forget who you are as an African American. I mean, unfortunately we have people who have succeeded and done well in business and they don’t identify with any of the issues or problems we have at all, as a people. I think that is unfortunate and its their problem to our demise as a people if we have people who are successful not realizing who they are.
9.
“Politically I always thought that it was the right thing to support my school ,but I have to have the money and the wherewithal to do it.
10.
You can have great ideas and great thoughts but they have to be backed up by something.
11.
If they [people at a business school he was speaking at] intend to really be successful, they’re going to have to take leadership roles in things which may be unpopular also.
12.
When he [his father] worked 3 jobs, I didn’t realize that everybody didn’t work 3 jobs.
13.
What makes networking work is that it sets up win-win situations in which all parties involved get to take something home. Networking is a sharing process. Until you understand that, you won’t have much of a network.
14.
There was no one more militant about talking about who we were. [referring to his mother] I got to meet Mary McCleod Bethune, I remember saying that at her funeral, and I remember I met her…at the time I was such a youngster and my mother said ‘now what do you remember most about Mary McCleod Bethune’ and I said she was ugly, and I think I got smacked in the right had side of my face, I don’t remember coming back with a left hand smack, but I remember getting a smack that I had to had to know more about ‘us.’ I had to write a composition about who she was and I didn’t do that again.
Earl G. Graves Sr. in 1997 with his six grandchildren, clockwise, from left : Earl Graves III, 5, Kristin Graves, 6, Carter Graves, newborn, Veronica Graves, 3, Theodore Graves, 2, and Erika Graves, 6, the twin sister of Kristin Graves. (Credit: Eileen Blass, USA Today)
15.
There was a sense of bonding… the professors at Morgan at that time and I think still do, gave you a sense of the fact that there was something you could achieve.
16.
Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it.
17.
Sell to their needs-not from yours.
18.
I felt quite comfortable being on an all-Black campus and I think what has been the saving grace for the African American Schools in addition to really just giving us an excellent education is the sense of comrade a sense of togetherness a sense of somebody who cares about you
19.
Where I get most animated and involved at the company today goes back to watching my father convincing some lady that that yellow coat that she had on was just the thing that worked for her even if it blended in totally against her skin, but he wasn’t a charlatan, he was just smooth about the way he sold.
20.
To have a successful career, you have to approach it as an entrepreneur, even if you are working for someone else. Your career is your own private business. You have to market yourself and your abilities and knowledge just as you would a product or service.
We express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Graves, our partners at Black Enterprise and the Morgan State and Black college community.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL –The families of Billye and Hank Aaron along with Thomas and Joyce Moorehead have donated more than $604,000 to Bethune-Cookman University as part of the university’s Advancing the Legacy effort to protect B-CU’s future.
Thomas and Joyce Moorehead (L) Billye and Hank Aaron (R)
Known for their respective philanthropic activities, the families’ combined donations total $604,000 with the Aarons contributing $250,000 personally and an additional $104,000 through their Chasing the Dream Foundation and the Mooreheads donating $250,000 to B-CU. Both families share in longtime commitments to Historical Black Colleges and Universities, including Howard and Grambling State universities in addition to B-CU.
Legendary baseball star Hank Aaron and his wife, Billye, are longtime advocates for higher education having raised millions of dollars for scholarship funding for UNCF, HBCUs, and their own Chasing the Dream Foundation which has sponsored hundreds of students to attend HBCUs. The Aarons have been longtime supporters of B-CU, creating a $200,000 endowment in honor of Joyce Moorehead during her time as a member of the B-CU Board of Trustees. Since its inception, the endowment has funded thousands of student scholarships.
Billye Aaron has served on trustee boards for both Texas and Morehouse colleges and numerous buildings have been named in their honor to recognize them for the millions they have contributed, including at Atlanta Technical College and at Morehouse College’s Student Pavilion.
“We are pleased to provide support for the achievements of young people with limited opportunities and enable them to develop their talents and pursue their dreams,” the Aarons said together.
B-CU holds personal significance for Joyce Hanks Moorehead, a graduate and an attorney whose parents were educators and friends with B-CU founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Moorehead and her husband, The Moorehead Residential Life Center on the B-CU campus was named in their honor in 2016.
“As a proud graduate of B-CU, I owe much of my personal and professional success to the training and nurturing I received as a student at Bethune-Cookman,” Joyce Moorehead said. “We hope that this gift will likewise inspire other alumni and philanthropists to support all HBCUs but particularly Bethune-Cookman.”
Thomas Moorehead is recognized as one of the nation’s top luxury car dealership owners, which include the only African American owned Rolls Royce dealership along with the largest African American owned BMW dealership in the country. Moorehead has been recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as Automobile Dealer of the Year and the couple were recognized as the “Car Czars” by the Washington Business Journal.
“The generous support from the Aarons and Mooreheads affirm their belief in and commitment to B-CU at this crucial time,” said B-CU President E. La Brent Chrite. “My hope is that others will be similarly inspired and influenced to help support this extraordinary institution Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune envisioned and established”
B-CU recently launched its Advancing the Legacy campaign to preserve Dr. Bethune’s accomplishments for the future. The campaign was announced in Washington D.C. in collaboration with the National Council of Negro Women Inc., which was founded by Dr. Bethune. The effort has raised over $5 million to help close a financial gap in scholarship funding. Those who want to contribute can donate at the effort’s website at www.advancingthelegacy.com.
Belvin Perry, Chair, B-CU’s Board of Trustees expressed gratitude for the commitments from both families. “We have come a very long way to building a new future for this great University. We are profoundly grateful for this remarkable level of support.” This article was originall yshare to the Bethune Cookman University newsroom.
2020 football schedule announced – Kentucky State University Athletics
The Kentucky State University football program has announced its schedule for the 2020 football season.
“This is likely the most difficult football schedule in Kentucky State University history,” said Kentucky State University head football coach Charlie Jackson. “We will start the season with four consecutive road games which amount to over 4,600 miles of bus travel. Southwest Baptist will be a tremendous challenge. Valdosta State will likely be ranked #1 in the country. Lincoln is on the rise, and Tuskegee is as dominant as ever. The conference schedule is extremely difficult. Our resolve will be tested every week of the season, but we are looking forward to the competition.”
The schedule features four home games, including the Homecoming Game meeting with Lane on October 17.
Kentucky State University kicks off the season with a road contest at Southwest Baptist on September 5. The Bearcats are coming off a 3-8 season, but posted a 38-3 victory over SIAC-rival Central State in 2019. The game in Bolivar, Mo. kicks off four straight road games to begin the season.
KSU travels to nationally-ranked and defending Gulf South Conference champion Valdosta State on September 12. It will be the season opener for the Blazers, who are coming off a 10-1 season. The Blazers’ lone loss came in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs to eventual national champion West Florida.
A trip to Lincoln University is next on the Thorobreds’ agenda to take on a Lions team coached by former KSU head coach Josh Dean. After finishing 0-10 last season, the Lions enter the 2020 campaign on a 13-game losing streak.
The Thorobreds begin Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action with a road game at Tuskegee on September 26. The Maroon Tigers have won three straight meetings, including a 13-7 win in 2019. Kentucky State ends the season with six SIAC games over the final seven contests.
After a month on the road, Kentucky State christens its new turf playing surface October 3 against Morehouse, which has won eight straight in the series. The Thorobreds return to the road October 10 to face Clark Atlanta. Kentucky State defeated the Panthers, 35-24, on Homecoming 2019.
Lane comes to Alumni Stadium October 17 as part of the school’s Homecoming celebration. The teams have split the last 10 games, including a 40-20 KSU victory last season.
Kentucky State steps away from SIAC action for a visit to Edward Waters on October 24. The Thorobreds beat the Tigers last season, 12-0.
Back-to-back SIAC champion Miles visits Frankfort on October 31. Kentucky State has lost nine of the last 10 meetings to the Golden Bears, including a 17-0 setback in 2019.
The final regular season game of the year brings rival-Central State to Alumni Stadium. The Thorobreds have dominated the recent series winning 11 of the last 12 meetings. Kentucky State opened the game with 21 straight points en route to a 34-28 win. KYSU Athletics newsroom.
