Former Obama-Era AG Loretta Lynch To Keynote Tuskegee University Spring Graduation

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Loretta Lynch, the nation’s first female African-American U.S. attorney general, will serve as Tuskegee University’s commencement speaker during its 134th Spring Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 11.

A leading progressive voice during her 30-plus-year highly distinguished career, Lynch was appointed at the 83rd U.S. attorney general by President Barack Obama in April 2015 and served in this capacity until January 2017.  She also served as head of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York twice, under both President Bill Clinton and Obama.

Described by Obama as “the only lawyer in America who battles mobsters, drug lords and terrorists, and still has the reputation for being a charming ‘people person,’” she has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the nation on a number of tough issues. Those issues have included improving the relationship between local law enforcement and the communities they serve, as well as her bold stances on criminal justice reform. 

Lynch has spent years in the trenches rising through the ranks as a prosecutor, aggressively fighting terrorism, financial fraud and cybercrime — all while vigorously defending civil and human rights. While leading the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, she became known for the high-profile civil rights conviction of two Brooklyn police officers who brutally assaulted Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.

While in private practice, Lynch served as a volunteer legal advisor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, established to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations in the 1994 genocide in that nation.

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, the daughter of a school librarian and fourth-generation Baptist minister was also inspired by stories about her grandfather, a sharecropper in the 1930s who helped members of his community who had no recourse under the Jim Crow system. 

The university’s May 11 commencement ceremony will be held in the campus’ Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Arena. The commencement processional will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the official ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. As a courtesy, guests should be seated by the processional or delay their entry until the processional concludes.

Due to limited seating for graduates and their families, spring commencement is a ticketed event. Visit www.tuskegee.edu/commencement for information about overflow seating on campus and live-stream opportunities.

Other events leading up to commencement will include:

Saturday, May 4

  • 10 a.m., College of Veterinary Medicine Spring Commencement Ceremony, University Chapel

Thursday, May 9

  • 7 p.m., School of Education Induction Ceremony, Kellogg Conference Center

Friday, May 10

  • 10 a.m., Baccalaureate Service, University Chapel
  • 12 p.m., Graduates and Parents Reception, Grey Columns (ticketed event)
  • 1 p.m., ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Chapel
  • 3 p.m., Order of the Engineer Ceremony, Logan Hall
  • 3 p.m., School of Nursing and Allied Health Nursing Capping and Pinning Ceremony, University Chapel
  • 6 p.m., Social Work Pinning Ceremony, University Chapel

Current and future updates regarding spring commencement are online at www.tuskegee.edu/commencement.

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Harris-Stowe State University Mourns Former President

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The Harris-Stowe community expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Albert L. Walker (August 10, 1945-March 27, 2019) who passed earlier this week at the age of 73.

Dr. Albert L. Walker was appointed Harris-Stowe president in August 2011, succeeding Dr. Henry Givens, Jr. Walker served as president of the university until his retirement in 2013. 

Before coming to Harris-Stowe State University, Dr. Walker served as president of Bluefield College in Bluefield, West Virginia. He also held various positions in higher education, including vice chancellor for academic affairs at Elizabeth City State University; vice president for academic affairs at Kentucky State University; vice president for academic affairs at Harris-Stowe State University and dean of the School of Education at North Carolina A&T State University.

During his successful career in education, Dr. Walker published numerous articles, taught many courses and received several awards. He served as chair of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), was on the board of American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and served as the Assistant Commissioner of Education in the Division of Urban and Teacher Education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Jefferson City, MO.

Dr. Walker led Harris-Stowe through a rigorous and successful accreditation process and was known as a democratic and policy-driven leader.

Dr. Dwayne Smith, Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Harris-Stowe State University remembers, “Dr. Walker was an excellent leader and visionary whom I respected very much.”

Dr. Walker was a graduate of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. He later earned three Master of Arts degrees from Bradley University in the areas of educational administration, elementary and secondary education, and community college education. He received his Ed.D. in educational administration from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

He also served as a teacher, principal and central office administrator in the Peoria, IL public school system, and served 14 years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of captain.

Walker is survived by his three children, Brian, Lee and Kimberly, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services for Dr. Albert Walker were held on Monday, April 1 in Bluefield, WV.

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Angela Rye Chosen For Texas Southern University’s 2019 Commencement Address

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Powerhouse Angela Rye is set to bring in Texas Southern University’s 2019 Spring Commencement Address.  Rye is known for her unique perspective as a political strategist in the nation’s capital. On May 18, 2019, she will address matriculating students at both the 8:00 am and 12:30 pm ceremonies.  It will all take place in the Health and Physical Education Arena on the TSU campus in Houston.

Rye is principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm in Washington D.C. The Seattle native has been published in several media outlets, from Ebony to the Washington Post.  She is a regular on-air personality for BET, CNN, MSBC, C-SPAN and TV One. Rye engages in challenging conversations and has become a critical voice on many of the pressing issues of our time. She has an unwavering commitment to ensuring positive change in the political process.

Rye develops tailor-made solutions for high profile clients and is highly sought after for her approach to political strategy, issue advocacy, and public engagement. Rye has over a decade of experience in government contracting, homeland security, civil rights, higher education political fundraising, strategic communications, and issue advocacy. She began her career in legislative advocacy and has a deep passion and commitment to shoring up efforts to increase knowledge of the political process for her colleagues, peers, and others nationwide.

Hailing from the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law, Rye serves on the boards of the following groups: Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Seattle University School of Law Alumni Board, Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network and Government Technology & Services Coalition.  She is also a member of The Links, Incorporated, the Washington Government Relations Group, the National Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

AKA Ring Leader Charged With 6 Counts of Prostitution and More in FVSU Pimping Scandal

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Seven people are facing jail time due to a scandal that rocked Fort Valley State University. According to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Alecia Jeanetta Johnson, 49, allegedly served as a ring leader in the prostitution ring.

Johnson, who served as an executive assistant to the president of Fort Valley State University and was a graduate adviser to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, allegedly performed sex acts in exchange for money and helped to provide prostitutes to prominent men in the college community located south of Atlanta.

She has since been charged with six counts of prostitution, three counts of pimping and two counts of solicitation of sodomy. Six men were also indicted on one count each of solicitation of sodomy. Johnson faces a maximum of up to 12 months in prison and up to a $1,000 fine per count.

The six men who were indicted include Ernest Harvey, 47, Kenneth Howard, 56, Ryan Jenkins, 35, Charles Jones, 57, Arthur James Nance Jr., 46 and Devontae Little, 26. Following the indictment, AKA leaders withdrew the chapter’s privileges, “pending the outcome of the investigation.”

On Monday, April 15, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. released a statement:

“Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated — now in our 111th year — is an organization committed to cultivating unity, health, education and human rights among women and confronting issues that concern our more than 300,000 members in 1,021 chapters around the globe,” Howell said in the statement. “We hope that the indictments recently issued in the Fort Valley State University case will end the speculation and inaccurate information about Alpha Kappa Alpha that has circulated in the media since April 2018.

“Any media coverage that identifies one of the individuals formally charged as the graduate advisor for Fort Valley State’s undergraduate chapter, Alpha Beta, is incorrect. The individual has had no direct supervisory responsibility for the chapter since 2014. It is unfortunate that the alleged misdeeds of an individual acting independently of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority have resulted in misconceptions and diverted attention from the honorable work our organization delivers to millions of people through a myriad of programs. 

“Alpha Beta’s status within Alpha Kappa Alpha was restored in 2018 following our own internal investigation. Based on the results of an in-depth review of the facts, we found no wrongdoing, and Alpha Beta was fully exonerated. The issuance of the indictments supports our conclusion. Furthermore, the chapter continues to remain in good standing with Fort Valley State University.

“Now that the indictments have been issued, we hope the unsubstantiated innuendos and misinformation related to Alpha Beta will end. We commend the chapter members, who were subjected to degradation and humiliation as a result of the false claims, for their ongoing decorum over the past year. The young women of Alpha Beta chapter have demonstrated grace under pressure, poise and maturity as they proudly continue to support our focus on ‘Exemplifying Excellence Through Sustainable Service.’”

Everette Taylor Tapped as Shaw University’s 2019 Commencement Speaker

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Shaw University is excited to welcome Everette Taylor as the 2019 Spring Commencement keynote speaker.  Taylor has gained success as a serial entrepreneur, marketing executive, and public speaker.  The speech will take place on May 11th at the Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina at 9:00 am.

Taylor’s entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 19 when he started an event marketing technology company EZ Events which he successfully sold 2 years later. Since then, Taylor has become a leader in the world of entrepreneurship and marketing, building several multi-million dollar brands all before the age of 30. As CEO of ET Enterprises, Taylor oversees a diverse portfolio of companies that include PopSocial, MilliSense, ArtX, Southside Fund, Hayver, and GrowthHackers. He helped lead successful acquisitions of both Qualaroo (acquired by Xenon Ventures) and Skurt (acquired by Fair), oversaw growth for new mobile apps for Microsoft China, and led e-commerce company Sticker Mule to unprecedented growth as their youngest executive ever.

“We are looking forward to Mr. Taylor’s address, as his example of resilience, vision, and seizing opportunities will inspire everyone, regardless of age or circumstance. He is truly an American success story,” said Shaw University President Dr. Paulette R. Dillard.

Taylor has been called a “marketing genius” by Forbes, a “marketing star” by Fortune Magazine, and “an innovator who’s changing the consumer marketing game” by Black Enterprise. Most recently he was named one of the “100 Most Influential African-Americans” by The Root and Forbes 30 Under 30.

Big Sean Empowers HBCU Students To Become Entrepreneurs

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Detroit emcee Big Sean returned home with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Ally Financial, Inc., to host an entrepreneurship competition called “Moguls in the Making” among students of Historically Black College and Universities.The goal of the competition is to foster the want to be future corporate and small business leaders and took place at the Microsoft regional headquarters.

The program lasted for three days and over the course of the weekend allowed for students to entrepreneurial development, mentoring and pitch competition, in addition to presenting their business plan to the “Blessings” rapper and a panel of judges.  Along with Sean, judges included Ally CEO, Jeff Brown; Andrea Brimmer, Ally Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer; Anand Talwar, Deposit and Consumer Strategy Executive; Tommey Walker, Principal, Detroit vs. Everybody; and George Spencer, TMCF Executive Vice President of Business Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

According to The Detroit Free Press, in addition to the interaction with the HBCU students, Big Sean and Mayor Mike Duggan spoke about the importance of the 2020 census with local leaders and youth members.

The weekend program was in development for three years and sprouted from Sean who spoke to Brimmer after a local performance.“These kids don’t get the same opportunity that a lot of other colleges and universities get, and so many of these kids are first-generation of having gone to college, and it’s really, all around, economic mobility and providing this better path forward,” Brimmer said.

Read more here.

From the Mud: Meek Mill and HBCU Culture

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As an artist who has always stood tall in the face of adversity, Meek Mill has become a staple in HBCU (historically Black Colleges & Universities) culture.  A Philadelphia native, Meek endured a father lost to violence, being poor, and being thrust into the juvenile system for various offenses. He began his career battle-rapping, and kept releasing songs until being signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music.  The way he narrates overcoming personal and professional hurdles is what draws students to his music. After all, HBCUs exist today because ambitious black people never stopped seeking success in the face of doubt, racism, and violence.

“Dreams and Nightmares” from his album of the same name has got to be one of Meek Mills biggest hits.  It’s an HBCU band favorite.  HBCU bands are known to go all out too.  They have performed at the Super Bowl, awards shows, parades and for U.S. Presidents.  They are known for featuring the latest hip hop and R&B hits in their performances, with band members spanning from 200 to over 1,000.  Just let that beat drop: “Hold up, wait a minute, y’all thought I was finished?! ”  Meek’s song about getting up after being knocked down electrifies crowds every time.  Meek even performed at Morgan State’s 2017 Homecoming.  

Now that his fourth studio album “CHAMPIONSHIPS” is out, HBCU students already have it in heavy rotation.  Head band director Dr. Timmey T. Zachery made sure his Marching Storm band Prairie View A&M went all out for a Meek Mill rendition.  

Meek has truly grown since releasing his last album. “Going Bad” is a significant track because Meek and featured artist Drake put aside a long standing beef to collaborate.  The two exchanged more than a few words about which artist wrote their own raps and it was a big deal. The hip hop and meme community weighed in heavily and the two even released diss tracks. The success of the highly anticipated track shows it’s never too late to forgive and forge a bond stronger than ever.  Aside from “Going Bad,” the refreshing Spanish and hip hop mix of “Uptown Vibes” featuring Fabolous and Anuel AA is perfect for pregaming. We can’t forget hot artists like Jay-Z, Cardi B, Future, Rick Ross and 21 Savage make appearances as well.   It’s no surprise “CHAMPIONSHIPS” immediately became the No. 1 album in the country.

HBCU student Kayla White knows something about championships.  As a senior at North Carolina A&T she brought her university their first Track & Field NCAA Championship.  Like Meek’s music preaches, it is never too late to prove disbelievers wrong.  Some would say Kayla began track late — in the 11th grade. She struggled to earn college scholarships and not get discouraged.  This year she surprised everyone by winning the 200 Meters at National. But while she’s the first to accomplish this win, she knows her HBCU campus isn’t the only place she’ll impact. “I wouldn’t classify myself as just an HBCU sprinter though,” says White.  I’m one of the best sprinters in the nation.”

Meek Mill continues to advocate for the underdog even beyond recording music.  In late February Meek sat on a panel with Reading with a Rapper and My Brother’s Keeper in Houston’s City hall Lead by PVAMU Alumni, Jarren Smalls.  The rapper was there to offer advice on life and beating the odds to an audience in need.  In attendance were 20 boys in the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. Their charges ranged from assault to kidnapping and beyond.  The boys were able to listen and read lyrics from his album namesake, song “Championships.” The song itself is about the traps Meek saw and mistakes he made in his hometown of Philly.  

When asked to find a simile, one boy underlined the lyrics “victim to the system like a raindrop in the ocean.” The song ends with Meek explaining, “See comin’ from where I come from/We had to beat the streets/Beat the system, beat racism, beat poverty/And now we made it through all that we at the championship.”  Meek created the hit song shortly after being released from a controversial stint in prison for violating a 2007 charge. As an advocate for justice reform, Meek is very familiar with the lasting pitfalls that come with landing in the judicial system.  He was released early– 5 months into a 2-4 year sentence in 2018 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed his judge had a conflict of interest and had to grant him bail. Plenty of artists, athletes, and activists came out in support of his release, but few of these juveniles have such a support system. Meek came out to surprise these young men, hoping his story would help them beat their own incarceration.

On one side, Meek Mill’s music is the base of a good HBCU party or band performance.  Yet on the other hand, his music and appearances highlight the struggles that black Americans face, and how music can be an empowering tool.  As an activist and public speaker he continues support the HBCU mission of empowering black communities. With every new endeavor, Meek proves he’s not going anywhere.

Explore Microsoft 70-480 Exam in 6 Steps!

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Explore Microsoft 70-480 Exam in 6 Steps!

There has been a rapid increase in the use of the Internet over the past few years.That is why companies have started to focus more and more on developing the user-friendly, cutting edge websites. HTML and CSS are the two most favorite languages of the web developers who use them to come up with better, more interesting content. The HTML’s latest iteration is HTML5 and after having gained the approval of the experts of the web development world, it is now being used increasingly in developing new websites. These days, programming is being done in HTML5 and CSS3 and the skills related to these two languages are being tested in the Microsoft 70-480 exam. In this article, we will try to give you some useful tips that can prove to be very helpful in passing the Microsoft 70-480 Exam Dumpscertification test.

Learn the exam structure

The 70-480 examis divided into four fixed portions mentioned below and it will be extremely useful for any test taker to learn this structure.

  • Manipulate and implement document structures and objects (24%)
  • Using CSS3 in applications (25%)
  • Implement program flow (25%)
  • Access and secure data (26%)

The percentages written in the brackets next to each topic show the portion of the exam dedicated to it. When you are studying, or even making your study schedule, make sure that you allocate the right amount of time to each section. Having this basic breakdown of the exam topics in your mind will help you focus on each and every part of the test and ensure that you do not miss anything out.

Know the exam topics

There are certain topics from which the exam questions are designed. The candidates should practice well and learn these topics when preparing for the test. They include:

  • Animations, transitions and transforms
  • Ajax and XMLHttpRequest
  • CSS Regions, Flex box, Basic CSS Layout, Grid
  • jQuery
  • HTML 5 web APIs

These are the major topic areas that are tested in the exam. Once you are aware of them, study in such a manner that you polish your weaker areas. However, do not lose your competence in areas in which you are good at.

Watch videos

The Microsoft 70-480 exam is usually considered to be a difficult test.Therefore, it requires a lot of studying. We have mentioned some of the major topic areas above, so you know most of what you need to study. However, in today’s busy life, we realize that you may not always have access to your books. You may be out or stuck in a train, or a waiting room andetc. You can utilize all this spare time by watching useful tutorial videos available on the Internet related to the 70-480 exam. You can learn and revise your topics anywhere. However, be sure that the videos you watch are made by genuine experts on the topic so that you get useful information on the subject and don’t get confused with any incorrect knowledge.

Use the optional tutorial

Most of the exam questions are of a multiple-choice type, but it also has some other formats. The test has a time limit, which is not very long. Hence, it is better that you familiarize yourself with the features of the exam beforehand so that you do not end up wasting precious time while taking the test. There is an optional tutorial given before the start of Microsoft 70-480 and we recommend that you make use of this tutorial by learning how to deal with the test’s features.

Practice, practice, practice

It is essential to learn the topics before the exam, but in order to pass and score well, you also need to practice the test beforehand. There are many online websites that help you get familiar with Microsoft 70-480. A lot of these websites even have monthly subscriptions that allow you to take a number of practice tests per month. It is essential that you know how to attempt the exam and if you do it in timed conditions, you will be even better prepared for the test as you will know how to work within time constraints.

Know what to do

It is natural to panic when you see a question that looks a little unfamiliar. It is extremely normal to get a bit frazzled in the exam, but you have to calm your nerves and attempt and answer those questions that you know. If you do not know an answer, do not waste time on it, move on, do the questions that you are sure of and then come back to those difficultones in the end when you have the time. One of the good things about the 70-480 exam is that there is no negative marking in it, so if you don’t know an answer and guess it, marks will not be deducted for the wrong try. 

If you guess it is right, you may end up gaining a mark. This does not mean that we are encouraging you not to prepare and just guess answers, we just want to ensure you that if, despite your preparation, there is a question that you think you don’t know, don’t leave it, as you may end up getting a correct answer by guessing as well.

Conclusion

In this article, we have tried to give you some useful tips regarding how you can pass the Microsoft 70-480 exam and end up scoring well in it. We recommend that any study material you use is reliable and approved by Microsoft, so you do not end up wasting time and learn incorrect information. Besides, learn the actual details about the test on the Microsoft website. With the correct study materials, hard work and our useful tips, the Microsoft 70-480 exam do not seem that difficult!

Wiley College Prez Herman Felton Testifies Before Congress

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Tuesday, April 9, Herman Felton, Ph.D., president and CEO of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, provided testimony before the House panel that decides the funding levels for all federal education programs.  The House Appropriations Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee received public witness testimony from only 24 individuals to inform their crafting of the upcoming bill to fund the government for fiscal year 2020.  The remarks provided by Dr. Felton focused on the funding and national benefits of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

A Marine Corps veteran and lifelong educator, Dr. Felton’s testimony was the first of the afternoon to receive bi-partisan support from both Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member Tom J. Cole (R-OK).  The funding leaders commended Wiley College (a UNCF-member institution) and similar HBCUs, for their work with first-generation college students, specifically for being an integral part of the American higher education fabric for decades. Chairwoman DeLauro added, concerning the $39 billion National Institutes of Health (NIH), “We will be sure that the center of our discussion and debate will be that we strengthen HBCUs.”  Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) who introduced Dr. Felton to the Subcommittee prior to his testimony, noted that funding recommendations in Dr. Felton’s testimony “just make sense.”

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) worked with Congress to garner the opportunity for HBCUs to be represented in today’s proceedings. Dr. Felton echoed the priorities laid out by UNCF’s president and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax during the organization’s inaugural “State of the HBCUs Address” on March 5, including

  • Increase funding for the discretionary “Strengthening HBCUs” Program to $375 million ($93 million increase over FY 2019);
  • Reauthorize the mandatory “Strengthening HBCUs” Program this year;
  • Fund the HBCU Capital Finance Program, including support for the deferment authority;
  • Double the Pell Grant award and support Second Chance Pell; and
  • Support funding to produce more African American health professionals and researchers, including at NIH.

“What we witnessed today was history,” commented Lodriguez V. Murray, UNCF’s vice president for public policy and government affairs.

Read more here.

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Morehouse College Reaffirms Dedication, Will Admit Transgender Male Students In 2020

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Historically black, Morehouse College, all-men’s school in Atlanta, will begin admitting transgender students who identify as men in 2020, The new policy, known as the Gender Identity Admissions and Matriculation Policy, applies to all students who enroll in the private college by the fall 2020 semester. 

The announcement comes after Spelman College, a private historically black all-women’s school in Atlanta, adopted a similar policy in 2017. 

“In a rapidly changing world that includes a better understanding of gender identity, we’re proud to expand our admissions policy to consider trans men who want to be part of an institution that has produced some of the greatest leaders in social justice, politics, business, and the arts for more than 150 years,” said Terrance Dixon, Morehouse vice president for enrollment management.

“The ratification of this policy affirms the College’s commitment to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service.” 

Here’s some highlights to the policy. O

  • Once admitted to the College, all students are expected to self-identify as men throughout their education at Morehouse.
  • If 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. In the event that the impacted student disagrees with the decision of the committee, the student may make a final appeal to the President of Morehouse.
  • Trans women, or individuals who identify as women regardless of the sex assigned to them at birth, will not be considered for admission.
  • For more information please review the overview and frequently asked questions related to the policy.  To read the policy in its entirety click here. 

Morehouse College Grad Samuel L. Jackson Will Play A Leading Role In The Most Diverse Star Wars Cast Ever

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The Episode IX trailer for the latest Star Warsmovie was just released. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be the space series’ most diverse casting since the first movie premiered in 1977. People of color including leading man John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, and the return of Billy Dee Williams in the iconic role of Lando Calrissian, are front and center in the latest episode.

And while there was controversy over the casting of John Boyega, a black British actor as a Stormtrooper in the Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, there have been iconic black actors and characters throughout the Star Wars universe. Here are seven of the best known.

BLACK CHARACTERS STAR WARS CHARACTERS 

Mace Windu

Played by: Samuel L. Jackson

Film: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999

black star wars characters

(Image: Facebook)

2. Lando Calrissian

Played by: Billy Dee Williams

Films: The Empire Strikes Back; Return of the Jedi

black star wars characters

(Image: Facebook)

3. Maz Kanata

Played by: Lupita Nyong’o 

Film: The Force Awakens

black star wars characters

(Image: Facebook)

4. Voice of Darth Vader

Played by: James Earl Jones

Films: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back; Return of the Jedi

black star wars characters

(Image: iStock/tihomir_todorov)

5. Jabba the Hutt’s Twi’lek slave dancer Oola

Played by:  Femi Taylor

Film: Return of the Jedi

black star wars characters

(Image: Facebook)

6. Finn 

Played by: John Boyega

Film: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi 

black star wars characters

(Image: Wikimedia)

7. Rachel

Played by:  Crystal Clarke

Film: The Force Awakens

black star wars characters

(Image: Instagram)

This post was written by the Editors at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

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Alcorn Students Gain Valuable Professional Reporting Exposure During NABJ Conference In Alabama

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The National Association of Black Journalist held its annual conference over the weekend of April 5 – April 7. Representing Alcorn State University were Mass Communication Students Ren’essa Maulseed, Jazmin Green, Majesty Ferguson, and RaShunda Veals.

The conference is dedicated to helping minority groups that educate its patrons about the world of journalism.

“The conference consisted of two days,” said Majesty Ferguson a junior mass communication student. “Both had different sessions focused on different aspects within media and journalism.”

With media and journalism being a constant within the field, one could assume that the students were in for an interesting weekend. That assumption would be correct. “I learned different ways to perfect my craft and content,” said Ferguson. “The different sessions offered at the conference showed us how to utilize tools, apps, and much more of our writing and content.”

One of the more important lessons taught there was the business aspect of media. The event also had a segment dedicated to reading and understanding contracts.

“It’s important to know what you’re signing before you end up in a contract that makes you unhappy,” said Ferguson.

Over the course of two days, students and even faculty alike were given a crash course in the philosophy of journalism. With the lessons taught during the short weekend, the participants will be looking to take those teachings and translate them at Alcorn and elsewhere.

Courtesy: Alcorn State University

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What You Need To Know Before Launching A Home-Based Business

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According to Small Biz Trends, 69% of entrepreneurs launch their businesses from home. Starting a home-based business can be exciting and lucrative. However, study all aspects of your company carefully before committing your time, money, and reputation. Also, take an honest appraisal of your talent, availability of resources, and the demand for the product or services.

FOUR CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE STARTING A HOME-BASED BUSINESS

Is the business a match for you?

Consider your experience, talents, and education. Beyond your qualifications, are you passionate about the business? There are also practical matters. Are you prepared to work and live in the same environment? Do you truly have the financial resources to launch and operate your desired business?

Is there a market for your product or service?

Marketing any product or service is a big endeavor. Perhaps the biggest mistake business owners make is over-estimating the demand for a product or service. It’s important to conduct the proper market research to understand the demand, select the correct products or services, and market his or herself correctly.

Lack of understanding in this area can cost you thousands of dollars. This is the point in the process in which is it imperative to create a business plan. The Small Business Administration is a useful resource in business planning.

Is the business proposition a scam?

The world is full of scam artists ready to take your money. Watch out for inflated claims of return on investment. Research vendors or franchise companies before you sign a contract. Beware of multi-level marketing companies with an emphasis on recruiting new business owners and less attention to the actual product.

Also, pay attention to costly required training seminars. Some companies make most of their money through ongoing training of business owners/franchisees. The Better Business Bureau is an excellent resource to determine the legitimacy of a company.

Have you reviewed all legal and accounting matters?

It is wise to work with an experienced attorney and accountant before starting your business. Beyond help with tax issues, registration, and contract review, professionals can interpret your local government’s zoning ordinances. Also, there may be homeowners’ association rules associated with having a business at home. Overlooking an accounting or legal matter can have devastating financial consequences.

This post was written by Jeff Shuford, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.

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Texas Southern University Exceeds State HUB Goals

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HOUSTON (April 11, 2019) –Texas Southern University’s Office of Procurement is exceeding state goals while working with Historically Underutilized Businesses. As a state agency, TSU is required to have a HUB program that facilitates the continued growth and usage of HUBs.

“The TSU HUB Program has made great strides with our outreach efforts,” said Kisten Rhodes, senior buyer, and HUB coordinator. “As the HUB coordinator, it has been my goal to become more visible in the community, begin the dialogue and establish community alliances.” 

TSU has consistently ranked among the top state agencies who spend the most money with HUBs for the last several years. Tasked by the Statewide Procurement Division (SPD), the HUB Program must report the expenditures made by state agencies and institutions of higher education. By using the HUB Report, agencies can track their expenditures and utilize it as a benchmarking tool to meet or exceed their HUB utilization in each of the following categories: heavy construction, building construction, special trade construction, professional services, other services, and commodity purchasing.

Over five years, TSU has surpassed HUB spending goals in the following areas:

•    Fiscal 2018 – Specialty Trades and Commodities

•    Fiscal 2017 – Building-Construction and Commodities 

•    Fiscal 2016 – Heavy-Construction, Building-Construction, Specialty-Trades and Commodities

•    Fiscal 2015 – Commodities 

•    Fiscal 2014 – Building-Construction and Commodities 

TSU’s HUB Program is the recipient of many accolades including the 2019 Supplier Diversity Champion Award, 2018 Excellence in HUB Dedication Award and the Community Outreach Award for Career Exploration. In October of 2018, the office had its first editorial feature in Subcontractor’s USA Trade Journal, which assisted in exposure and getting the word out about how the university serves underutilized businesses.

“It is important for TSU to work with HUB vendors, not only because we are an HBCU; however, we need to continue the legacy of entrepreneurship and investment in our community,” said Rhodes, “We need to show our support to those that support us.” 

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 9,700 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.

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HBCU Grad Oprah Winfrey Breaks Silence On Backlash She Received For ‘Leaving Neverland’ Special

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While doing promotion for her latest book, The Path Made Clear, Oprah Winfrey stopped by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah to discuss the backlash she received for her interview with Michael Jackson’s accusers.

For those unfamiliar, Winfrey held a special titled Oprah Winfrey Presents: After Neverland. The special, which aired on March 4 on HBO and OWN, featured a conversation with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, the men who alleged child sex abuse at the hands of Jackson in the documentary Finding Neverland.

Of the interview, Winfrey referenced a quote from the Mary J. Blige song “Family Affair” in regards to the response. “I haven’t had that much hateration since I did the puppy episode with Ellen,” she said, referring to her appearance on the 1997 episode of Ellen in which Ellen DeGeneres came out as gay.

However, Winfrey expressed that she was willing to incur backlash if it meant shedding light on the issue of molestation.

“But when I saw that documentary, I realized that a lot of people are going to be triggered by watching it, and a lot of people will not understand what the pattern is,” she said, adding that she’d done “217 shows trying to get people to understand that it’s not about one person, that it is about the pattern.”

Head over to Blavity to read more.

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Reverend Alfred C. Sharpton Jr. To Deliver Fisk Commencement

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Nashville, Tenn., April 12, 2019–Civil rights activist Reverend Alfred C. Sharpton Jr., will deliver the 2019 keynote address during the 145thcommencement exercise for Fisk University. Graduation ceremonies will be held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Old Hickory Blvd), on Monday, May 6, 2019 beginning at 10:00am. 

“It is an honor and privilege for the Fisk community to have Rev. Al Sharpton delivering remarks to our 2019 graduating class,” said President Kevin D. Rome, Sr., Ph.D. “He has lived an extraordinary life full of accomplishments and made a significant impact on our community. I know that his words will inspire our graduates to create positive change in their communities after graduating Fisk.”

Rev. Sharpton is one of America’s most-renowned civil rights leaders, having served as a community leader, politician, minister and advocate for over 40 years. As founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), Sharpton fights for progressive people-based social policies by providing voter education and registration campaigns, economic support for small community businesses and confronting corporate racism. Sharpton became interested in politics at age 12 and founded the National Youth Movement (NYM) in 1971. Under his 17-year leadership, the NYM registered thousands of young people to vote, won hundreds of job opportunities and led the fight to put the first African American on the New York State Metropolitan Transit Authority Board. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election.

For more information on the 145thcommencement exercises, please visit www.fisk.edu.

About Fisk University

Founded in 1866, Fisk University is a private, liberal arts university located in Nashville, Tennessee. Consistently recognized for its brand of academic excellence, Fisk is ranked No. 6 on the Top 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report. Fisk ranked No. 1 in the nation for social mobility and No. 3 in the nation in research among top liberal arts colleges in research expenditures in the 2018 rankings of National Liberal Arts Institutions by The Washington Monthly.  The school’s faculty was rated No. 4 position among Tennessee Universities by the Department of Education. To learn more about Fisk University, please visit www.fisk.edu                                                                           ###