Last Tuesday, October 8th, students at Howard University who were interested in the entertainment industry got the chance of a lifetime.
To the students who attended, MACRO x HU Summitwas a day full of valuable information, entertainment, and networking with the right people. From 11am-8pm, there were panels, giveaways, and even an exclusive movie screening.
The entertainment industry in Hollywood is notoriously difficult to get into. Panels at the summit were aimed at helping students lead a sustainable career in Hollywood after graduation. There was a panel that discussed how Hollywood differs from white-collar industries and how to stay afloat.
The @stayMACRO Village brought Hollywood to Howard!
There was a panel that on personal branding and how to land that key role or job. MACRO Founder Charles D. King even held a masterclass discussing what it takes to stay centered and persevere in the industry. MACRO, a well-known multimedia company that specializes in telling POC stories in film and other platforms. They truly brought out power players to start the conversation on how more HBCU students can have a seat at the table in Hollywood.
The final event was a screening of Queen & Slim, which doesn’t even hit theaters until the end of November. Even better, director Melina Matsoukas was there for a Q&A after the screening.
Monterey, CA; and Houston TX; October 15, 2019; The Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce a new partnership with Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas, one of the largest and most comprehensive historically black colleges and universities in the nation. The partnership with TSU will broaden the reach of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s education programs to many more young people, while leveraging TSU’s commitment and legacy of jazz excellence.
The partnership includes activities both in Houston and Monterey and was launched at the 62nd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 27-29, 2019. Jazz and music business students from TSU traveled to Monterey to participate as production and marketing interns during the Festival, providing them with real- world experience and opportunities to work alongside top professionals in the music industry at a world-class event.
The integration of high-quality education and outreach programs and year-round events to expand the legacy and popularity of jazz to a larger, more diverse audience is a critical component of MJF’s new Strategic Plan and Mission, Vision, and Values statements. By working in conjunction with TSU, MJF is achieving this critical goal of reaching younger audiences and helping to create new generations of jazz performers and fans.
“Monterey Jazz Festival is excited to build on the spirit of inclusiveness inherent in jazz as it begins this new partnership with Texas Southern University,” said Colleen Bailey, MJF Executive Director. “TSU has a deep history of producing jazz artists, some of whom have played on the stages of our festival, an incredible jazz program, and they have the #1 student-run jazz radio station. They are the perfect partner for this new initiative that we envision will be a model that we will test and perhaps expand more broadly in the future.”
“Texas Southern University has a long history of educating, training, and employing legendary jazz artists,” said TSU President Dr. Austin Lane. “Our award-winning public radio station, KTSU, has been a launching pad for some incredible jazz talent. By partnering with the Monterey Jazz Festival, we are joining with a national brand—one that adds to our already rich legacy, and one that can help propel more young artists into this dynamic music genre.”
“TSU has, in many ways, been the cradle of jazz music for not only the city of Houston, but for the entire region,” said Ernest Walker, general manager of Texas Southern University’s KTSU radio station. “Likewise, the Monterey Jazz Festival is a recognized leader in the promotion and advancement of jazz music at a national and international level. We are proud to serve as a partner for this exciting mission.”
The partnership continues October 24-26, 2019 with a three-day intensive music symposium, Monterey Jazz @ TSU, and is offered by TSU’s Music Department for all greater Houston-based middle and high school music programs, and the community.
Led by TSU faculty from the music, communications and music industry degree programs and featuring the 2019 MJF Artist-in-Residence, Derrick Hodge, the symposium will include master classes, panel discussions, recording sessions, workshops and more. The symposium will provide students the opportunity to network with professionals and peers, learn insider secrets in the music industry, spark lifelong collaborations, build foundations for a career in the music industry, and prepare students to audition for the Monterey Jazz Festival’s national bands and combos, which tour nationally and internationally.
In addition, students from Houston-based high schools will have the opportunity to audition for the inauguralMJF@Houston All-Star Ensemble. The conglomerate group will then have the opportunity to perform at MJF’s 50th Next Generation Jazz Festival, which takes place April 3-5, 2020 in Monterey, and at the 63rd Monterey Jazz Festival, September 25-27, 2020.
OnOctober 27 at 6pm, the free event Jazz On The Hill will be presented by the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Herman Park in Houston. Featured will be the Monterey Jazz @ TSU High School All-Stars with special guests and GRAMMY® winning artists, including Derrick Hodge; salsa and GRAMMY® winning artists, including Derrick Hodge; salsa legend and conguero Poncho Sanchez; and saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
For more information about the Monterey Jazz @ TSU program in October, click here.
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
Texas Southern University (TSU) honors our designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is a comprehensive university providing higher education access to the nation’s underserved communities. TSU’s academic and research programs address critical urban issues, and prepares its diverse student population to become a force for positive change in a global society. TSU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations – bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees – organized into 10 colleges and schools on a 150-acre campus nestled in the heart of Houston’s historic Third Ward. The University’s enrollment has a population of more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate-school academic candidates. Texas Southern has been a distinguished educational pioneer since 1927, and the University has become one of the most diverse and respected institutions in Texas. TSU has positioned itself as a proactive leader in educating underserved students and many who are the first in their family to attend college.
ABOUT MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL
The mission of Monterey Jazz Festival (MJF) is to inspire the discovery and celebration of jazz, anchored by an iconic festival. Founded in 1958, MJF envisions a sustainable organization that sets the standard of excellence for jazz, connects a diverse community, and helps people appreciate and learn about jazz as fans and performers.
This may seem like a no brainer, but it is still important that you go to class every day for obvious reasons. 1. Why did you decide to enroll in college — to earn your degree, right? Then go to class. It is as simple as that. 2. Attendance, which counts for at least 10 percent of your grade, is an easy way to make sure you have good grades during your matriculation in college. Make it easier on yourself by going to class on time, if not earlier.
2. Do not listen to everyone else’s experiences.
Create your own. For example, I remember when I decided to attend Central State University — my friend’s mother warned me that CSU was not a “good” school and told me that I should go elsewhere. However, going to Central State is one of the best decisions that I ever made and I am so glad I went to CSU. The same can be said about pledging a “Divine 9” organization and rumors of a conspiracy. That is to say, create your own experiences at college, not listen to the bad things you may have heard about college life or your HBCU.
3. Keep being the best you, which is truer than true.
You are individual and unique. And do not you forget it. No matter what people say, your are the number 1. like Lil Kim raps in No Matter What They Say. Just try to be you doing what you have to do, not trying to be something you are not. Be a self-starter and always forward, never backward.
4. Have fun.
Make sure that you enjoy your time spent in college because they say that the four years you spend in college are the best four years of your life. Be active on the yard, which goes to my 5th advice below.
5. Be more involved on and off the yard.
Get involved! There are plenty of organizations on the yard that you can lend your services to. Being more involved in campus organizations help mold you into the man or woman that you want to be life. Here are two reasons why you should join an organization on the yard:
It looks good on your resume. Employers want to know what makes you stand out from others, and being president of a “Divine 9” organization looks good on paper.
Networking with like-minded individuals. This is a game-changer. By joining an organization on the yard you get hands-on experience while bonding with other students who can help you with your success in life.
Pastor of Lanham United Methodist Church in Lanham, Maryland
The Governor’s offer of $200 million to address the decades of inadequate funding of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) should be an insult to our intelligence. He has made the mistake that so many of our White brothers and sisters do on a fairly regular basis. They assume that Blacks will take anything, and just maybe that is not so unwarranted considering our previous behaviors.
But this issue of adequate funding for our HBCU’s has been a constant in our policy and legislative debates since the stirrings of Delegate Rudy Cane and Senator Joan Carter Conway some 15 years ago. Then they argued that evidenced and egregious duplication of programs at the Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) was extremely instrumental in the decline in many of the state’s HBCU’s. Almost every year our African-American legislators have had to deal with this same issue of fairness and equity only to be met with stalled negotiations and outright disrespect. The Governor, like so many before him, relish in the portrayal of our communities as beggars, but that is not the case at all. We are merely demanding that the wrongs of our states past be made right for this generation and those to come.
The demand to fairly and equitably fund these institutions is not without a history. As far back as in 1937 a Maryland Report of the Commission on Higher Education of Negroes pointed out that there was “enormous differential in favor of the white race.” In 1950, the Maryland Weglin Commission Report described the “uphill struggle on the part of the Negro colleges to secure facilities on par with white institutions.” This was reinforced by the 1954 Brown v Board of Education ruling where, the Supreme Court declared “separate but equal” was illegal under the constitution.
As I previously mentioned the impact of duplication in the following years was the driving nail that would ensure the inadequate standing of HBCU’s and the steps to correct it is what leads us to this place today. The inadequacies were so obvious that the Maryland Chancellor William Kirwan, admitted in 2006, that the state had “not done right over time by Historically Black Institutions and they deserve special scrutiny and attention in terms of adequacy of funding.”
Now is the time for all of our local and national organizations to pony up and put their advocacy resources to work confronting this administration’s most recent offer. The Maryland Black Caucus and the state delegations that are predominantly of color must not shoulder this work alone. The leaders of our Divine Nine, NAACP, Urban League, National Action Network, Links, Faith Communities and Masonic Lodges should all descend on Annapolis in a major demonstration demanding that the Governor and his Lt. Governor, who happens to be African American and a graduate of an HBCU, do the right thing and put this matter of justice to rest. We must demonstrate to those in the ivory towers that we can do more than host an amazing party and dance the night away. We can do more than raise money, host wonderful affairs, and serve as guest in your private sporting event boxes. Now is the time to show the powers that be that we can also organize and recognize when we are being insulted.
But not only should our leaders take to the streets, so should our white elected officials. Those officials who conveniently silence their rhetoric on this issue. Meanwhile in the coming months they will be aggressively pursuing African-American support. Senators and congressmen alike have much larger platforms, yet they too remain silent. For too long we’ve put the matter of addressing white injustice to those in the Black community. I would strongly suggest that the time has come that our White brothers and sisters do some of the lifting to address those in their communities. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, “there comes a time when silence is betrayal.”
Also, on this issue, the Black community should seek and request some reciprocity from those other interests whom we’ve partnered with and supported in their time of struggle. When it comes to issues of justice and fairness the mark bends toward justice when we are all doing our part to point it in that direction. Unfortunately, historically, it has been one sided when it comes to issues pertaining to the Black community in this state. When it was rights for those in the LGBTQA+ community it was the state’s African-American community standing on the front lines with them. When the issue involved in-state tuition for this state’s immigrant population it was the African-American community in the state house and throughout the community in support of our brothers and sisters, a majority from the Hispanic community. But when it comes to our issues where in the hell are they?
Lastly, where is the leadership of the Maryland Democratic Party whose base is sustained and secure because of Black support? Where do they stand on this matter and what has been their vocal and political interest in helping to address an issue that affects so many of their base support. This, in my opinion, is a major problem. But, if this is a problem for any of them today, then I think it ought to be a problem for Black voters on Election Day.
DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina Central University amassed nearly 150 yards more than Bethune-Cookman University, but a pair of touchdowns by wide receiver and return specialist Jimmie Robinson sparked the Wildcats to a 27-13 conference victory during a live ESPNU broadcast on Thursday night inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
NCCU accumulated 391 yards of total offense, topped by freshman quarterback Davius Richard with 250 passing yards and junior running back Isaiah Totten with 78 yards on the ground. The Eagles’ defense, led by senior defensive end Darius Roster with 11 tackles, including 2.5 stops for a loss with 1.5 sacks, held the visiting Wildcats to just 243 total yards.
B-CU playmaker Robinson proved to be the difference. He opened the scoring midway through the second quarter by catching a screen pass and racing through traffic for a 54-yard touchdown.
Near the start of the fourth quarter, when NCCU rookie kicker Adrian Olivo connected on his second field goal of the evening to make it a one-possession contest at 14-6, Robinson extended the lead on the ensuing kickoff with a 79-yard return to the end zone.
B-CU quarterback Akevious Williams passed for 95 yards and a touchdown ran for 52 yards and a touchdown and caught a 3-yard touchdown toss to seal the victory.
NCCU junior receiver E.J. Hicks collected a touchdown reception from Richards, while junior receiver Ryan McDaniel tallied a game-high seven catches for 58 yards.
NCCU junior safety Stephen Stokes registered seven takedowns, including 2.5 hits for a loss, while senior defensive lineman Cyrus Stanback was in on seven stops with an assisted sack.
After an off-week, NCCU hosts Delaware State on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. inside O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.
Businesswoman at whiteboard leading meeting in office
An increasing number of recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are experiencing upward mobility, a new report by the Rutgers University’s Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI) has found.
About 70 percent of graduates from HBCUs end up earning middle-class incomes, which is a greater percentage than that for Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Overall, the upward mobility is nearly 50 percent higher at HBCUs than PWIs.
The findings were mentioned in the report titled “Moving Upward and Onward: Income Mobility at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” HBCUs were found enrolling more low-income students than PWIs, and two-thirds of them ended up in at least the middle class.
“This report’s focus on the student success rate distinguishes it from other research on HBCU economic mobility,” Robert Nathenson, the report’s lead author said.
“By examining students’ mobility after accounting for their origins, this report provides a more holistic understanding of economic mobility and more accurately describes the mobility trajectory of students at an HBCU.”
Researchers mostly credited HBCUs like Xavier University of Louisiana, Dillard University, and Tuskegee University for having a consistent record of ensuring the upward mobility of its students.
HBCUs like Howard University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College push nearly 35 percent of their low-income students into the top fifth of income earners.
“This report builds upon many researchers’ earlier work about HBCUs and their economic impact,” saidMarybeth Gasman, one of the report’s authors.
“HBCUs are doing a tremendous job fostering pathways to upward mobility, particularly for low-income students, and they are doing this with often limited resources.”
Earlier reports have praised HBCUs for their enrollment, degree and economic impacts on African American populations within their respective states. HBCUs across 21 southern states and territories enroll 24 percent of black undergraduates and award 26 percent of all bachelor’s degrees to black students.
Though an imminent recession for America is not written in stone, there are red flags an economic downturn may come in the near future. That forecast could be daunting for entrepreneurs already battling to boost sales and trying to build sufficient capital to cover unforeseen contingencies.
In another report, some 69% of the economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics in September projected a U.S. recession will start by mid-2021, up from 60% in the June survey. A panel of 54 professional forecasters made projections.
The lingering trade war between America and China is a major reason why many investors are worried about a potential economic decline. Doubt about the aftermath of the U.S.-China trade war sparked volatile conditions to the stock market in recent weeks.
Further, how global monetary policy will pan out is raising some apprehension. The Federal Reserve Bank slashed interest rates for the first time in over 10 years in July amid worries about contraction in global growth and surging trade tensions. And other central banks worldwide have moved similarly by cutting rates.
For small business owners, the best time to prepare for potentially harder economic climates is when times are good. Here are nine actions entrepreneurs should consider to help offset any potential storms.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS IN A RECESSION
1. OBTAIN WORKING CAPITAL.
Observers say financial service providers such as lenders are more apt to provide funding before a recession arrives. They maintain the best time to pursue a loan or arrange for a line of credit is when your business and the economy are healthy. For instance, an apparel store and shoe store.
2. BOOST YOUR FINANCIAL POSITION.
Increase cash flow or financial reserves by adding more products and services that complement what you already sell. But analyze carefully how much it will cost to expand and make sure it doesn’t tarnish your firm’s notoriety or brand.
3. INCREASE YOUR NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS AND UPSELL.
Instead of just focusing on gaining sales from your biggest clients, see if you can add some smaller clients as well. Ask yourself, “can my business survive if I lose my biggest client or clients during an economic slump?” By diversifying your firm to serve a larger variety of clients or even new industries, your reliance on generating sales just from larger clients will be less. Also, consider upselling products from your business to existing customers who are not currently using them. Perhaps offer a discount on unused goods or services they use since they are already buying from you.
4. CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS.
This option can offer many benefits, including expanding your footprint, sharing or cutting expenses, and generating new growth ideas. You can also share resources, contacts, customer lists, and marketing efforts.
5. IDENTIFY WHERE YOU CAN CUT COSTS.
Perhaps you can trim what you spend on office supplies, dining out, or travel. See if you can possibly lease space you’re not using to help offset the cost of bills you have to pay. See if you should cut gym memberships, subscriptions, or other discretionary items you’re no longer using.
6. KEEP MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS.
This is an expense that many businesses chop during harder times. But be mindful that if consumers are not aware of your business, they might not conduct business with you or may look elsewhere for what they need. Tell clients what niche products you can offer to set your firm apart from rivals. Also, examine if social media or other Internet marketing options are less costly than other advertising channels. This approach might also bring you a broader mix of customers.
7. ERASE CREDIT CARD DEBT FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
It’s vital to pay down or get rid of business credit cards as quickly as possible. That’s especially true before a recession hits when it’s harder to make money. Consider merging credit cards into one credit card with a lower annual percentage rate, something that can also cut monthly expenses.
8. CREATE AN EMERGENCY FUND.
Fortify your business by establishing anemergency fund that could allow you to endure for a year or longer. That could be particularly important if your business suffers lower revenue generation during a downturn. Make sure the fund can cover key operating costs, including employee payroll.
9. USE ONLINE RESOURCES.
Check out online sites that offer tips to help you survive a recession. For instance, the Small Business Administration provides such information.
This post was written by Jeffrey McKinney, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Talladega College has released a statement apologizing for rapper David Banner’s controversial remarks on race during its convocation last week.
Al.com reported that during his speech Banner approached a white high school student and made sarcastic comments. According to WBRC, Banner went on to discuss how historically black colleges and universities sent students off to work for their oppressors and compared that to Jews working for Nazis.
In the apology from Talladega president Billy Hawkins, which was sent to the university community, Hawkins said the college will be reviewing its process of finding speakers to bring to campus. The letter also clarified that Banner’s comments did not represent the beliefs of the college and that the institution valued diverse opinions that were not disrespectful to community members.
Banner told reporters in an interview before the speech that he would speak on the lack of opportunities and healthy outlets for young people, reported WBRC. Banner told media that he was going to speak on the importance of self and anger some older people. Prior to the event, a student-led group spoke with Banner about what his speech would contain, said Al.com.
Banner, whose real name is Lavell William Crump, is a rapper, producer, actor and activist originally from Mississippi.
ATLANTA (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says she’s giving $13 million to increase a scholarship endowment at a historically black college.
Winfrey announced her plan Monday at Morehouse College in Atlanta, adding to the $12 million she gave to the all-male college in 1989. She was meeting with 47 students who benefit from the existing endowment.
“I was really surprised to learn that it’s been 30 years since I made that $12 million donation to Morehouse, so today, I’d like to add $13 million to that,” Winfrey said as cheers erupted, in a video released by Morehouse.Advertisement – Story continues below
Morehouse President David Thomas said Winfrey’s endowment has paid to educate nearly 600 students over the past three decades.
The college described the gift as a surprise. Last month, Winfrey also sprung a surprise college donation on an audience, saying she’d give more than $1 million to the United Negro College Fund at a North Carolina fundraiser.
Winfrey’s announcement came weeks after 2,200-student Morehouse announced it would impose an unpaid monthly furlough day for 415 professional employees and stop retirement contributions of 3% of employee salaries. Some jobs will also be eliminated, with the overall cost-cutting effort meant to redirect $3 million to student aid.
Billionaire Robert Smith won wide attention earlier this year when he promised to repay all student and family loans accumulated by Morehouse’s class of 2019. That one-time gift will be worth $34 million, the college said last month.
Thomas said in a statement that he is “feeling hopeful for Morehouse and what it has garnered in terms of philanthropic support with gifts like Oprah’s and Robert Smith’s. I am hopeful that this will also get others to step up with their support of Morehouse, but even more broadly, historically black colleges and universities.”
Many historically black colleges and universities struggle to raise money from private donors, and African American students often accumulate large amounts of debt because their families are not as wealthy as their white peers.
Two stars from the South Carolina State Bulldogs could be in line to become the next generation of great defensive players in the NFL.
Javon Hargrave has become a force in the middle of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line since entering the NFL in 2016. The defensive tackle was a standout player at the Bulldogs in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, producing enough impressive performances to earn the attention of Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert to be selected in the third round of the 2016 Draft.
Darius Leonard made a huge impression in his first season in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts after being taken in the second round of the 2018 Draft. The 24-year-old was named defensive rookie of the year after starring in the middle of the Colts’ defense, notching 163 tackles and seven sacks in his 15 matches. He was also named a First-Team All-Pro for his exploits, quickly establishing a reputation as one of the best linebackers in the game.
Both players are entering similar situations in the 2019 season, where more will be expected of them due to quarterback problems for their respective teams. Andrew Luck stunned the Colts by retiring on the eve of the new campaign, while the Steelers have been rocked by a season-ending injury to Ben Roethlisberger.
As a result, the former titans of the AFC Conference are in a battle to remain in the playoff picture, although Indianapolis and Leonard have made a stronger start than the Steelers, who have lost their opening three games. The Colts are worth monitoring as an outsider in the odds for the AFC Championship, but they will face a tough road ahead of them, needing the best out of Leonard and his teammates on defense.
Leonard has been the heartbeat of Indianapolis’ defensive effort under head coach Frank Reich and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. His displays will be more important than ever in easing the pressure on Jacoby Brissett as he attempts to replace Luck. Leonard matched the production of the great linebackers of the game, including Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner, in his rookie season. Operating at that standard is extremely hard to match year-after-year, while the 24-year-old has already suffered a worrying concussion this term.
Injuries can halt even the brightest of prospects, but Leonard should be in line for another season of playing at least 12 games. He is the type of player that teams have to build their defenses around as the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks have done with Kuechly and Wagner. It would not be a surprise to see Leonard receive a huge contract in the region of $16m per season in the coming years, ensuring that he remains the focal point of the defense in Indianapolis.
Hargrave is in a different situation. He has proven his talent in the middle of the line with three impressive seasons. At the age of 26, the defensive tackle will be eyeing a payday to earn the big contract of his career as his tenure with the Steelers is scheduled to stop at the end of the 2019 campaign. Pittsburgh are a team that likes to keep their homegrown players in the fold and his performances have continued to improve since he has featured on the line. Casey Hampton was a stalwart of Pittsburgh’s defense in the same position. Colbert and Tomlin could have a similar idea for Hargrave, although he will not come cheap and could earn in the range $8m per year.
Two players that emerged from humble backgrounds could be on the way to superstardom and the riches that it provides in the NFL.
October 8, 2019 (Baltimore, MD): Premier lifestyle retailer DTLR, Inc. in collaboration with adidas Originals and label partners presents the 6th annual HBCU tour. DTLR and adidas Originals will power the 2019 HBCU tour with a fun boomerang photo booth experience and exclusive tour merchandise for attendees. The 2019 HBCU Tour will also host an exclusive listening session for students featuring unreleased music from label partners’ strong roster of next-generation and current superstars. Students will have the opportunity to rate new unreleased music on a three-stripe rating scale.
“The DTLR HBCU Tour is becoming one of the largest events of its kind. The tour represents our continuous efforts to engage and provide meaningful experiences to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and our target consumer,” Shawn Caesar, Executive Vice President of Marketing at DTLR, Inc.
The 2019 HBCU Tour kicked off Saturday, October 5 in Tallahassee, FL at the world-famed Florida A&M University. The tour will also make stops at Morgan State University, Howard University, Virginia State University, Morehouse College, and North Carolina Central University. The 2019 HBCU Tour is FREE to students. Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP for the opportunity to receive giveaways, gift cards, and an unforgettable listening experience. Social media interaction is encouraged using the hashtag #DTLRHBCUTOUR. Stay connected with DTLR by following @dtlrvilla on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For event details or to RSVP please visit www.dtlr.com/hbcutour.
DTLR, Inc. is one of the country’s most successful lifestyle retailers with over 250 stores in 19 states in the U.S. In 2017, DTLR Inc. joined forces with Sneaker Villa Inc. forming one of the nation’s largest fashion and lifestyle chains. DTLR retail locations offer a high energy shopping experience due to merchandise assortment, brand selections, music-inspired atmosphere, and local community connections. www.dtlrvilla.com
About adidas
About adidas Originals: Inspired by the rich sporting heritage of adidas – one of the world’s leading sports brands and a global designer and developer of athletic footwear and apparel – adidas Originals is a lifestyle brand founded in 2001. With the adidas archive at its foundation, adidas Originals continues to evolve the brand’s legacy through its commitment to product innovation and its ability to filter the creativity and courage found on courts and sporting arenas through the lens of contemporary youth culture. Marked by the iconic Trefoil logo that was first used in 1972 and championed by those that continue to shape and define creative culture, adidas Originals continues to lead the way as the pioneering sportswear brand for the street.
Historically black colleges and universities looking to raise money for major projects face higher fees than their non-HBCU counterparts, even when agencies that rate credit risk give HBCU-issued bonds their highest scores, according to research recently published in the Journal of Financial Economics.
There’s one big reason for the additional cost, according to the authors: racial discrimination.
Colleges and universities typically issue bonds to pay for big-ticket items, like a new dorm or athletic facility. Bonds are loans, paid back over time with interest. Multimillion dollar bonds are usually split across different investors, but schools don’t track down those investors. Instead, they pay underwriters. An underwriter buys an entire bond and then finds investors to buy chunks of it.
Out of the pool of bonds the authors studied, non-HBCUs pay on average 81 cents of every $100 raised to underwriters. For a $10 million non-HBCU bond, that’s $81,000 in fees going to an underwriter.
But HBCUs pay on average 92 cents per $100 raised to underwriters — about 14% more, the paper finds.
That’s $92,000 in underwriting fees on a $10 million HBCU bond. HBCUs are higher education institutions founded before 1964 primarily to educate black students, many of whom were barred from predominantly white institutions.
“The underlying notion is it’s harder for an [HBCU] underwriter to find a buyer and they pass the cost on to the schools,” says Bill Mayew, professor of accounting at Duke University and one of the paper’s authors. “That’s where the difference comes from.”
The financial premium is even higher for HBCUs in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, where racial animus runs higher than in other states, according to data the authors analyze. In those three states, the cost to HBCUs for bond underwriting is 106 cents per $100 raised. That’s $106,000 going to an underwriter on a $10 million HBCU bond.
Understanding two types of discrimination
Economists point to two things that typically underlie actions a reasonable person could perceive as racist: statistical discrimination and taste-based discrimination.
Statistical discrimination happens when people take actual or perceived aggregate information and apply it to a specific situation. This happens sometimes in labor markets. A hiring manager considering two candidates from two different demographic groups might believe people from one group are less productive on average than people from the other. The hiring manager might argue they are not being racist in relying on stereotypes. They might say they are simply considering the company’s bottom line productivity.
Taste-based discrimination is discrimination based on personal taste. Someone, “simply has a preference for working with one type over the other,” as economists William Neilson and Shanshan Ying wrote in 2016 in a paper on the relationship between these types of discrimination. The hiring manager’s decision is based purely on distaste or preference for a candidate’s skin color.
“When you think of the notion of race discrimination, that’s a taste-based preference,” Mayew says.
Differentiating between statistical and taste-based discrimination is difficult to do, but important toward understanding why people make decisions that might appear discriminatory.
Credit ratings and insurance: disentangling HBCU discrimination
The authors look at a sample of 4,145 tax-exempt bonds issued from 1988 to 2010 from 965 four-year colleges totaling $150 billion. HBCUs, both public and private, issued 102 of those bonds.
Creditworthiness scores make it possible to parse the two types of discrimination. Ratings agencies like Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rate higher education institutions’ credit risk. They provide a score that tells investors how likely the school is to default on its bond payments. A triple-A rating, the highest possible, means the college or university is practically assured to make their payments on time.
“You might say it’s not that buyers of bonds are racist, it’s they think those bonds are more likely to default,” Mayew says. “It’s really hard in most settings to disentangle those indications. But in the bond market, we can measure that really well with the credit rating so we can dig into and isolate race effects.”
Insurance is another way the authors rule out statistical discrimination. Universities can get bond insurance, so if they default the bond financer still gets paid back. Credit ratings and bond insurance give financers a sense of an institution’s likelihood of defaulting.
Still, the authors find that “identical [fee] differences are observed between HBCU and non-HBCUs with AAA ratings or when insured by the same company, even before the 2007–2009 financial crisis.”
HBCU bonds also take longer and cost more to offload in secondary markets. Those are markets where investors trade bonds that have already been financed. The authors find that HBCU bonds are 20% pricier than non-HBCU bonds to trade in secondary markets. Larger bonds — those over $50,000 — face a 60% premium. HBCU bonds overall linger 25% longer on secondary markets.
“If you’re going to say you’re talking about race discrimination you’ve got to provide a lot of evidence to make that case,” Mayew says. “That’s a tough piece of evidence to refute.”
Premiums are much higher in parts of the Deep South
If racism were the main driving factor behind higher HBCU bond fees, then HBCUs in states that are more racist should face even higher fees, according to the authors. Broadly capturing racism is not necessarily straightforward. The authors try to do it using a variety of data to rank racial animosity in the 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
They use survey responses capturing resentment and opposition to affirmative action from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, a large yearly survey of American adults by county. They also turn to state-level data on racist Google searches, and the percentage of white voters in each state who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 compared with the share of white voters who chose John Kerry in 2004. And they consider geocoded racist tweets just after Obama was reelected in 2012.
Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi scored highest for racial animosity. Georgia was next, but with a sharp drop-off. Those top-three states for racial animosity account for 4.7% of all bond issuances in the sample studied — but 26% of HBCU issuances. In those states, HBCUs pay about three times as much in bond underwriting fees as non-HBCUs, the authors find.
Tax exemptions limit the size of the market
The U.S. municipal bond market is worth almost $4 trillion. Though higher education bonds are a fraction of the total, that submarket is still big enough that taste-based discrimination shouldn’t matter. Anyone can finance a university bond issuance. If a racist investor doesn’t want to finance an HBCU project, there should be plenty of other investors to pony up capital.
But tax exemptions tend to limit university bond markets to the state a school is in. Interest payments are tax exempt if the bond is issued by an entity in the state where the financer is based. Someone living in Louisiana would receive tax-free interest payments by financing a Xavier University of Louisiana bond but not an Alabama State University bond.
The authors argue that a triple tax exemption — with interest payments on university bonds exempt from federal, state and local taxes — could take racism out of the equation. Triple tax exemption would allow HBCUs to, “tap into a larger market where racial preferences are different,” Mayew says.
Barriers to bonds
There’s no good way to quantify how much higher education institutions pay insurers and credit rating agencies, Mayew says, but those entities need to be paid in addition to underwriters. So there are costs to entering bond markets — and when it comes to underwriting, those costs are higher for HBCUs. That may mean some HBCUs pass up raising money through bonds, potentially forgoing major campus improvements.
“Bond markets should be one of the cheapest forms of capital,” Mayew says. “It’s many individual investors, and schools should be able to raise lots of money. And maybe 25 years ago, an HBCU passed up renovating a dorm. These are the opportunity costs schools face.”
Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) will return to Atlanta on Saturday, January 25, 2020 for dynamic performances by the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) marching bands and dance teams. Voting is now open for the public to choose their favorite marching bands to perform at the highly-anticipated return of the premier marching band event for HBCUs.
From now until midnight EDT on Saturday, October 12, fans can cast their votes daily to help determine which eight HBCU marching bands will wow the crowd with their musical arrangements, choreography and formations. To vote, visit HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
“HBOB was created to support the unique academic experience at HBCUs and honor the excellence of their marching bands. The program continues to help bring more visibility to these important academic institutions,” said Steve Morikawa, vice president of Corporate Relations and Social Responsibility for American Honda. “We can’t wait to get back to Atlantato see what these bands have in store for the fans.”
The 2020 Honda Battle of the Bands will be the 17thinvitational showcase. This year’s theme, Live the Dream, aims to inspire HBCU student musicians to create the life they envision for themselves. For many, this dream centers on music. Honda sees HBOB as a platform to help these students live their dreams.
Tickets for the HBOB invitational showcase will be available for purchase on October 5 at HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
To join the social media conversation, use #HBOB and visit the following social media handles for official updates:
Honda is committed to supporting HBCUs by investing in their music education and academic programming while also providing platforms to showcase their exceptional students. Through Honda Battle of the Bands and the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, Honda has provided over $13 million in grants to HBCUs and touched the lives of more than 200,000 students over the past three decades.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda’s involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.
JACKSON, Miss. – The Grambling State University football team stepped into the win column on Saturday evening as they defeated Jackson State, 44-21, at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I can’t say enough, how much our character really reveals itself, in this tough time that we have been going through. I’m so happy for them, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Grambling State head coach Broderick Fobbs.
The first half of the game started off slow, as both Grambling and Jackson State remained scoreless in the first quarter. With Jackson State still having possession of the ball leading into the second, the opportunity for them to score first was seized as running back Jordan Johnson rushed for two yards into the end zone. After the PAT by Josh Littles, Jackson State led, 7-0.
On Grambling State’s second drive, Geremy Hickbottom threw 2-for-6 for 28 yards and even rushed for 11 yards, but it didn’t result in a touchdown. It was Miguel Mendez’s 27-yard field goal that gave GSU their first three points on the board.
With less than a minute remaining in the quarter, Hickbottom (while on the quarterback keeper) fumbled the ball, and although it was recovered by Rashad Jenkins, Grambling State who would take the lead of the game as De’Andre Hogues blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt. Devanir Martin, who was at the right place at the right time, picked up the ball and secured a 70-yard scoop and score into the end zone for GSU. Following Mendez’s PAT, Grambling State was up 10-7 at halftime.
Lyndon Rash led GSU in rushing with 39 yards, while Jalon Jones paced his team with 75. Hickbottom was 9-of-13 for 73 yards, while Jones threw 11 passes for 28 yards. Donald Johnson led Grambling State in receiving yards with 17, while Warren Newman led Jackson State with 10. Joseph McWilliams led GSU with five tackles, and Keonte Hampton tallied six.
Grambling State went through two drives before they were able to score again; on the third Hickbottom’s pass connected to Lyndon Rash for six yards for the touchdown. Following the PAT, GSU led, 17-7, with a 10-point deficit toward JSU.
Grambling State decided to stretch their lead, this time by 17, as Lyndon Rash rushed 59 yards into the end zone in a two play, 63 yards, 0:29 possession of the ball scoring drive. Following Mendez’s PAT, GSU now led, 24/7.
Not looking to see a blowout on their own field, Jackson State answered with a four-play, 65-yards, 1:43 possession scoring drive after Derrick Ponder’s pass to Ra’Mei Wallace was complete for 52 yards. Following Adrian Salazar’s field goal, the score was now 24-14, with GSU still leading.
Turning Point The fourth quarter belonged to GSU as Grambling State decided to widen the gap in points deficit between them and Jackson State some more, with three more scoring touchdowns. Hickbottom connected with Lyndon Rash for 10 yards into the end zone, and Joseph “Baby Joe” Williams intercepted a pass and returned the ball for 44 yards. With 8:16 remaining in the quarter, Dominique rushed for 31 yards into the end zone. Only two of three Mendez’s PAT kicks were good, but the lead had now expanded to 30 points (44-14).
Jackson State was able to score one last time as Ponder’s pass to Newman for 10 yards was complete. Salazar’s PAT was good, and the updated score was now 44-21.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Dozens of students from the Bahamas were welcomed at Richmond International Airport on Monday night. They will continue their studies at Hampton University after Hurricane Dorian slammed the country weeks ago.
When they arrived, the students told 8News they were grateful of the opportunity and thankful to be alive and continue their education after the devastating hurricane. The students were in for a big surprise during their welcome to Virginia.
Students, faculty and staff at Hampton University, one of Virginia’s historically black colleges, greeted Bahamian students in true HBCU fashion.
“We wasn’t expecting the whole crowd to be out and the drums,” said Jullian Dean, one of the 46 students who came from the University of Bahamas. “It was really heartwarming and a good welcome.”
The Bahamas and its citizens are trying to recover after Hurricane Dorian gutted the country, leaving more than 50 people dead. Dean said their beloved university was badly damaged.
“Our campus in grand Bahama was basically ruined, it’s underwater,” he told 8News. “So, to have a college open up their facilities to us for a semester and basically take care of everything, just grateful, very grateful!”
Thanks to Hampton University and generous donors, the students will get free tuition, room and board for the semester.
“They’ve already been through so much devastation and loss that we felt if we brought a sense of normalcy back to their studies at least that could help,” said Hampton University’s Dr. Pamela Moolenaar-Wirsiy.
The Bahamian students are in the U.S. on expedited student visas and are not wasting any time hitting the books. The students have already got their classes picked out and schedules in line.
Historically Black College (HBCU) Spelman College is now the benefactor of a major grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.
The women’s college has received a $2-million grant from the Department of Defense to support its continued growth in STEM education. According to the school, the grant money will be used to establish The Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM, which will serve as the hub for all STEM undergraduate research and training activities at the college.
“The Center aligns with the College’s strategic priorities and ensures that our students are empowered and equipped to enter competitive STEM fields,” said Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell. “We are honored to be awarded this grant, and to have the support of the Department of Defense in assisting Spelman in fulfilling its mission to diversify STEM.”
Spelman has been focusing on STEM and is one of six “model institutions for excellence” designated by the National Science Foundation for its impressive track record of recruiting, retaining, and graduating minority women in the sciences.” Spellman has increased the number of students pursuing STEM majors has grown over the last three years.
“In 2017, 26 percent of Spelman students received degrees in STEM compared to 16 percent at other HBCUs and 17 percent at other liberal arts colleges,” Business Journals reported.
“Spelman has a strong record of educating women in STEM disciplines; however, there is still a lack of representation among women of color in STEM-related careers,” said Dr. Tasha Inniss, Ph.D., associate provost for research.
The new center will address minority under-representation, particularly in computer science, mathematics, and physics.
Spelman also announced the launch an annual Women in STEM Speaker Series as a way to promote learning about data science and artificial intelligence.
