Elizabeth City State University has tapped a member of a Super Bowl-winning team to be the Vikings’ next head football coach.
Anthony Jones, a member of the 1987 championship Washington Redskins, will join the Viking football program this spring.
Jones replaces Earnest Wilson, who was fired about two weeks ago. Wilson posted a 9-11 overall record and a 6-8 mark in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games over two seasons at ECSU.
In addition to his duties as ECSU’s new head football coach, Jones will also serve as an academic adviser within the Academic Affairs department.
ECSU officials did not immediately have terms of his contract, including his compensation, available Monday afternoon.
Jones has not coached since 2016. According to an ECSU spokesman, Jones has been enrolled in graduate school at the University of West Alabama, where he is expected to complete a master’s of education degree in student affairs this spring.
According to ECSU’s press release, the Baltimore native was assistant football coach for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff from 2014 to 2016 and before that garnered a .592 winning percentage in 11 seasons as head coach at Alabama A&M University. Read Full from Daily Advance
The U.S. Education Department is granting full forgiveness of $322 million in loans made to four historically black colleges and universities that suffered damage after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast in 2005.
“This additional disaster relief will lift a huge burden and enable the four HBCUs to continue their focus on serving their students and communities,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in a statement. “This relief provides one more step toward full recovery.”
In the aftermath of the storms, Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans, Tougaloo College and Xavier University of Louisiana collectively borrowed more than $360 million through the HBCU Capital Financing Program in 2007. The money was used to renovate, refinance existing debt and build new facilities. The schools struggled to repay the debt amid depressed enrollment, and in 2013 received a five-year reprieveon payments that was set to expire this spring.
A provision in the two-year budget deal signed into law this year gave DeVos leeway to forgive the outstanding balance owed by the four schools.
“We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan legislative efforts and to the Trump administration for relief of the Katrina loans to Xavier University of Louisiana,” said C. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier of Louisiana. “Forgiveness of the loans removes a great impediment to innovation and the delivery of superlative education to talented women and men who build and sustain our communities, cities and nations.”
At Dillard, President Walter M. Kimbrough expressed his gratitude and talked about the level of devastation the university faced after the storms. “Dillard had six feet of standing water inside of its buildings, and was the most physically devastated institution of higher education,” he said.
Established in 1992, the HBCU Capital Financing Program provides low-cost capital to help historically black institutions upgrade their campuses and refinance debt. The program is meant to provide a lifeline to schools, many with small endowments, that face challenges in accessing traditional financing at reasonable rates.
Students at Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., are entering the fourth day of their sit-in as they negotiate their demands with the university involving the handling of financial aid.
The protest was started by the student group HU Resist after Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick said that an internal probe found that financial aid was misused by the university from 2007 to 2016. According to the probe, some employees got grants from Howard and tuition remission that exceeded the total cost of attendance.
Alexis McKenney, a student organizer with HU Resist, told reporters that after meeting with administration officials on Saturday and Sunday morning the students have secured their first demand. That demand was to extend the housing deadline for the fall of 2018 to May 1 and for the school to provide adequate housing for those under 21.
McKenney said the action is a good first step toward a “liberated [historically black university].”
“In the meantime, we will continue to occupy the building and we are prepared to continue to negotiate with the administration and the board of trustees on the terms of our demands,” McKenney added.
The students have demanded a list of assurances from Howard University, including ending “unsubstantiated tuition hikes,” providing adequate housing for students under the age of 21, addressing sexual assault on campus and the resignation of the university president and the executive committee of the board of trustees.
Ideas shared as a Professor of technology, WordCamp speaker, WordCamp organizer/volunteer and business owner.
A. Write as if the world is going to read your content. When people read your content they should experience your passion through your words and pictures. Your voice should resonate with pride and dignity. B. Take the time to read, re-read and edit your content before posting.
“African’s must accept and embrace they are valuable content creators and have a voice that should be heard on a global digital scale.” – William Jackson, M.Ed. 2018
Remember that you’re not just writing for you, your writing and representing your culture and continent.
C. Remain humble to the power of your content. Not everyone will agree with your content, they should see you as truthful, honest and authentic.
D. Embrace the diversity of the continent and your country.
Your writings are global content that will travel across the World Wide Web so be sure it travel well.
E. Be authentic with what you want to share, it is ok to use quotes and comments from others that share similar experiences, but there is only one you. You’re the expert
of you…
F. Don’t allow bias or racism to taint or spoil your views of your cultural diversity. Telling a story means telling
both sides through your eyes and experiences.
G. Chinua Achebe – On the power of storytelling “I write because I enjoy it.”
H. The natural human resources of Africa are abundant. African people of color and culture should not be quick
to run to others for support and resources because the very things needed might be right in their backyard.
I. Accept the diversity of your country and your culture,
unify and recognize the African Diaspora.
J.Who writes your life story? | Hill Krishnan | TEDxCalPoly https://youtu.be/OscDpHfrtog
K. Travel and visit books stores that may contain literary treasures and share them online. Map your travels to intellectual development.
L. Use paper and pencil sometimes because they inspire a
new level of thinking and build thought leadership inside you.
M. Look with different eyes your environment, use places, people, smells, sites and experiences to influence your writing.
N. Use YouTube as a resource to research and learn from great writers like Achebe, Aboulela, Rugero and others. “The storyteller has a different agenda than the emporer.” Chinua Achebe 2008
O. 25 African Writers You Should Read
http://lithub.com/25-new-books-by-african-writers-you-should-read/
P. Don’t look at just one aspect of a culture or society, you should research other diverse areas to get a clear picture
of things.
Q. The Danger of A Single Story –
R.Write to educate, empower, engage and excite others.
S. Set yourself up as a life-long learner. Maintain your library card both digital and hard copy. Never compromise the value of learning.
T. Taylor your thinking to a “growth mind set.”
U. Remember your voice has power, it can inspire, it can heal, it can motivate, but it can destroy, bring chaos and even death.
V. Think of the legacy you want to create and leave, your words will last forever on a digital platform. What do you want generations to know about you? W. Teach each generation to love literature by being a role model and inspiration. Teach others their words do matter and their mind is valuable.
X. Girls and women should have equal opportunities to expand their mental abilities. They have the ability to become thought leaders and spark life-long learning in other girls and women.
Y. Never forget the sacrifices that the elders made so that you can continue to rise. Remember if you start to forget you potentially fall back into past ignorance’s
of educational and economic neglect and mental slavery.
Z. Praise God for your gifts, talents, abilities and opportunities. You are so unique that God created only one of you and your voice is unique, authentic and can influence generations.
“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers not thunder.” Rumi
William Jackson is a past Professor at Edward Waters College, where he designed a curriculum that embraced Educational
Technology, Social Media and STEAM. He is a WordCamp organizer, blogger, volunteer, speaker and digital community activist for TEDxFSCJ and the Social Media Manager for Jacksonville Sister Cities Association. He blogs about his life experiences as he travels speaking to youth, teens and young adults and is a member of the body of Christ with Northside Church of Christ. William has 28 years as a public school educator in Physical Education and Technology Instruction.
When you hear about this news in regards to the United States Congress managing to somehow give a fresh breath of air to the 107 historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the nation, we guarantee it that you might just be gone like the wind.
After what seems like forever and a day, the ship has finally docked on the campuses at black colleges in the South and the North and the University of the Virgin Islands. So, in fact, we got it all covered like a wedding band now.
According to a recent report by TMCF which supports and represents nearly 50 of the nation’s public black colleges, the United States Congress not only has listened to HBCU community but has also acted and followed through on their word.
“On behalf of our 47 member-schools, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) extends our gratitude to the United States Congress for supporting our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the FY’18 Omnibus Appropriations Act in such a significant way. Through our collective engagement, Congress has not only listened to the HBCU community but has also acted. HBCUs play an integral role in educating the next generation of leaders and shaping our nation’s and local economies,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund in a statement, explaining in details the great news about the nation’s most beloved black colleges that was founded to help educate freed slaves worldwide.
He continued: “We appreciate Congress increasing vital Title III funding which will allow our member-schools to continue building capacity and further demonstrate devoting federal resources to HBCUs remains a sound investment for the entire country. TMCF will continue working with all of our Congressional partners, especially the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, to ensure our HBCUs remain a budgetary priority so they can continue to thrive.”
For too long HBCUs have been too strong, and like a phoenix bursting into flames and getting lost just to find something new: tell them we are still rising.
About Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly-supported HBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education spaces. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
Shortly after a (now deleted) report leaked that officials at Howard University allegedly stole nearly $1 million from the university’s financial aid office, one former student employee was dragged by Black Twitter into the spotlight and became the face of the controversy. Six employees were fired from Howard University last year after an internal investigation revealed the misappropriation of university-based grants.
Former student employee Tyrone Hankerson Jr. found himself at the center of the scandal when it was reported that he allegedly scammed $429,000 from the university.
Howard University is an HBCU with undeniable talent and an extremely ambitious student body. Mona Dinal, a junior Business Management major from Brooklyn, NY, recently curated an event with the goal to promote black owned business from Howard University students and local Washington, D.C. residents.
Her passion for both fashion and beauty industries inspired her to curate an event that allowed brands from both worlds to collaborate. Dinal single-handedly brainstormed, organized, and executed this event, including having vendors, a fashion show, multiple panels on entrepreneurship, and numerous sponsors.
Leon Funchess, a junior at Howard University attended the event to support his friends who showcased their brands in the fashion show. He said, “the name evolution exhibition kind of speaks to how much I’ve seen a lot of my friends grow up. They started out with t-shirts. Now, they have sweatshirts, my friend Chloe has vests and all of that, it’s remarkable to see their brands grow.”
The event, Evolution Exhibition: The Journey of Fashion and Beauty by People of Color, had guest speakers, vendors, and a fashion show. Vendors at the event included Capsulated, Trophy Year Apparel, The Players Club, PopxTwo, and Baldie Revolution.
There was even free giveaways from companies such as SpokeHub and Shea Moisture.
Dinal, the event curator, recalls the Evolution Exhibition as the “perfect networking place, perfect event to showcase new vendors, and the perfect way for my Howard family to come out and support one another in an awesome, informal time and enjoy themselves.”
According to a statement from Wayne Frederick, Howard University president, an outside auditor found that several university employees received grants in addition to discounts on tuition that exceeded the total cost of tuition and kept the difference.
Some students said they felt betrayed. Employees took financial aid funds as students prepare to spend years paying off their loans.
“I’m actually on the verge of transferring schools because I can’t afford to stay here because a grant was taken away from me,” one student said.
“It’s disappointing to actually come to terms with the reality of what’s going on,” senior Quencey Hickerson said.
Parent Cecily Johnson said she was disgusted.
“Someone could totally change their trajectory if they can’t pay tuition,” she said.
Frederick said he was told in December 2016 that there may have been “some misappropriation of university-provided financial aid funds,” and launched an internal investigation.
The auditor found that between 2007 and 2016, university grants were awarded to some university employees who also were receiving tuition remission. The grants and tuition remission equaled more than the total cost of attendance, which allowed the employees to receive “inappropriate refunds.”
The grants came from institutional funds that help low-income students pay tuition. Frederick said the grants came from the university and were not federal or donor funds.
Tuition remission allows eligible employees or their dependents to receive discounted tuition at the university. Full-time employees eligible to receive tuition remission can take two classes per semester for free, according to the university’s website. Tuition at Howard for the 2017-2018 school year was $12,061 per semester, not including room and board.
Frederick’s statement came after an anonymous post on Medium.com claimed financial aid employees at the university stole nearly $1 million in funds.
Frederick did not comment on how much had been received by those individuals.
Frederick said the issue was reported to the Department of Education in July 2017, and six employees were fired two months later for “gross misconduct and neglect of duties.”
The revelations follow a string of problems at the university. In March, Frederick drew criticism for his response to a student who begged him for help securing housing. He told her the “tone and tenor” of her email were inappropriate. In January, spring semester classes were delayed by more than a week because of campus-wide problems with the heating system. And last May, students filed a lawsuit saying the university failed to help students who were raped by fellow students and employees.
A man who worked in the financial aid office for years said he tried to report inappropriate activity.
“It was a culture of fear where you had a lot of people who were afraid of the powers that be in the office,” he said. He asked News4 to withhold his name.
“When these things were brought to [officials’] attention, they were just handled in a way that made people afraid to speak up. And that whole culture is still present, and it starts from the top,” he continued.
Students said they’re planning a protest.
Read Frederick’s full statement below:
Statement from Wayne A. I. Frederick, President of Howard University
In accordance with my commitment to continuous progress, in February 2015, I initiated a proactive review of the Howard University Office of Financial Aid to ensure the office was providing the best support to our campus community.
As part of this process, I was alerted in December 2016 that there may have been some misappropriation of University-provided financial aid funds. From the moment I was alerted that there may have been a misappropriation of funds, I have taken this situation extremely seriously. I immediately informed the Board of Trustees, and together we moved swiftly to begin an internal investigation. The University immediately engaged an outside auditor (RSM) to determine whether there had been any misappropriation of Howard University funds by staff in the Office of Financial Aid or elsewhere, and if so, the magnitude of that misappropriation. The auditors completed their investigation and reported the results to me in May 2017.
The investigation found that from 2007 to 2016, University grants were given to some University employees who also received tuition remission. The audit revealed that the combination of University grants and tuition remission exceeded the total cost of attendance. As a result, some individuals received inappropriate refunds. Note that University grants are institutional funds used to help support students with student charges. They are not federal funds or donor directed funds.
In July 2017, I self-reported this issue to the Department of Education and assured them we would provide regular updates on the investigation.
An investigation of individual employee actions was completed in September 2017 and as a result, six employees have been fired for gross misconduct and neglect of duties. We will refer this matter for criminal prosecution, as appropriate.
Third Coast Higher Education, another outside expert, was also brought in specifically to determine if any misappropriation of federal funds occurred. At this point, Third Coast found no misappropriation of federal funds related to this issue.
The financial integrity of Howard University’s operations is paramount and strong measures have been taken following the RSM investigation to ensure this never happens again. As part of these reform efforts, significant new policies and procedures have been implemented to strengthen Howard’s internal controls with respect to the awarding of financial aid, including:
• Annual budgets for each category of financial aid are now loaded into the University’s Banner student information system by the University Budget Office consistent with the University’s overall Financial Aid Budget.
• Approval for all awards of University Grants are now reviewed and approved by the Budget Office prior to being awarded by the Financial Aid Office
• Approval for all donor-designated scholarship awards are now reviewed and approved by the Controller’s Office prior to being awarded by the Financial Aid Office.
• Approval for all grant-funded financial aid are now reviewed and approved by the University’s Grant Accounting Unit prior to being awarded by the Financial Aid Office.
• Access to the Banner financial aid module has now been limited to a small number of appropriate senior University individuals, with adequate third-party review and appropriate segregation of duties.
• An annual reconciliation of awarded financial aid to approved financial aid is now being conducted.
• Management has established proper reporting relationships and segregation of duties within the Financial Aid Office.
• Management is in the process of hiring for all remaining open positions in the Financial Aid Office and enhanced training on policies and procedures will be provided both to new hires and continuing employees.
• A new Associate Provost for Enrollment Management and a new Chief Compliance Officer have been hired by the University.
While this has been a very difficult and disappointing situation, I know our campus community deserves better and I am committed to ensuring that each of our campus offices operate with integrity and are the best that higher education has to offer.
“Our goal is to highlight the accomplishments of not only HBCUs, but some of their most accomplished graduates,” reads the museum’s mission statement.
The venture is both family-run and mostly family-funded, museum executive director Terrence Forte told the Washington Business Journal. Both of his parents attended Howard University and, together, the family hopes the museum will serve as a point of education.
“We want to bridge the gap for those who might not know about historically Black college and universities’ stories,” Forte said.
In today’s society HBCU students cannot allow others to Brand them or label them. There are billions of people on the planet, each person from conception to death has a story and a personal Brand. Students cannot allow others to tell their story, to Brand with error about who they are, and what they are about.
HBCUs have a rich history of culture, creativity, innovation and invention. They must tell their own stories to collectively expand the potential of graduates and influence the world. How others see you is important, society should see you beyond skin tones, hair styles, and accept the beautiful imperfections that we each have and should embrace in ourselves.
This is why an HBCUs Brand is important to help define outside of visual and cultural perceptions. Why would anyone allow mass media to define them, to tell an incomplete and inaccurate story that only sees or tells false/half truths. HBCUs even today are fighting for not just financial support, they are striving for respect and recognition too show their continued and contributions in this nation.
In 2013, St. Paul College closed after 125 years, a rich history of building men and women, their stories continue in history. There are many other HBCUs that have not survived history, they live on in their students and the accomplishments still being achieved. Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics Medicine are the legacy in the 20th and 21st century. The Brand of HBCUs should continuously be modified and adapted for telling a story of growth, hope and preparing for the future. HBCU students personal Brands should be self reflective, what do students want society to see, that do HBCU students want societies perceptions to be?
The work that goes into building a Brand is not an exact science, it allows that person to be reflective. HBCU studens must find out what their Brand is personally, asking themselves where they are heading: What do they want to do with their life? How can they match their career aspirations with their personal Brand? How do they want society to see them? What makes them unique? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? HBCU students must identity why their Brand is important? Understanding your “Personal Brand” how you present yourself to others understanding your “Brand Identity” the qualities that make you unique and different from others. HBCU students need to understand the importance of their Personal Brand in starting a career, standing out from others, personal self confidence.
Celebrities are not the only ones that benefit from Personal Branding. There is competition for employment and career stability is fierce. Having a Personal Brand workig can be the difference between an entry level position or executive positions.
Controlling your Brand helps you control how you are perceived, when you see Brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Coke, Pepsi, Empire, Scandal, The View and other products. Each one you expect a certain thing from them. The same should be held for HBCU’s as well, what do you as the student expect people to expect. Your Brand can make you memorable or nefarious, notorious or noticeable, you decide.
North Carolina now has a new Mister Black North Carolina, Spencer McKan Heath III. This 20-yr-old Hampton University Junior is a Strategic Communications major with a double minor in Leadership Studies/Military Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.
Winning the crown has been a dream since high school for this young man. In an intense competition, Heath took on the categories of interview, athletic wear, formal wear, talent, and question & answer to showcase his substance. Being raised in Charlotte, North Carolina by way of Queens, New York, Heath has always seen positive black male representation through Mister Black North Carolina. He remembers growing up noticing the huge differences they made in the community. Now he plans on helping the community as other kings have done in the past for the state of North Carolina.
Helping others has always been a passion and Heath has the college background to prove it. From the time he stepped on the campus of Hampton University he has served the campus in positions such as Mister Freshman 2015-2016 and Sophomore Class President 2016-2017. He is a member of the New Era Modeling Troupe along with being a brother of the prestigious Beta Gamma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma.
When HBCU Buzz sat down and talked with Heath he expressed his feelings of the very moment he was announced king. “It felt surreal. I felt like all my hard work paid off,” Heath told us. Under a lot of pressure, the night before competition Heath swiftly changed his talent to be more fitting for the audience.
That rocky moment did not affect his performance though. Having a solid platform, he knew that he would lay out all he prepared for leaving everything on the stage. Now, Heath is the Mister Black North Carolina. “Spencer dedicated many hours during pageant weekend to perfecting the opening number, his talent, and walks,” stated his fraternal brother Caleb Cuthbertson, Mr. Black Greensboro 2018.
Cuthbertson continued, “During any “free time,” he could be found on stage or any available space running through the counts over and over.”
Spencer’s platform is “The Gentlemen Project, revitalizing the idea of the classic gentleman!” It consists of three initiatives, K.I.N.G.S., a partnership with Community In Schools, and black mental health.
K.I.N.G.S. stands for Knowledge Igniting National Gentlemen Success. Heath’s goal is to promote positive male role models for young students striving for success. He plans on partnering with HBCU Kings with the goal of adopting three mentees. The existence of this initiative is to further develop the student by having older kings pour knowledge, support, and wisdom into their mentee.
“From the small amount of time that I’ve known Spencer, he has shown himself to be a true king dedicated to the service of others. Not pressed about the position he serves nor the accolades he would receive, he represents the true values of a king. With that being said, I’m honored to pass the torch down to none other,” stated the former Mister Black North Carolina 2017, Naim Fate.
This is not the first experience Spencer has had with a pageant. Spencer has orchestrated a production before. “I met Spencer when I entered the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity scholarship pageant. He went above and beyond for my pageant sisters and I,” stated his friend and pageant mentee, Ashley Green.
Heath also will focus on helping promote African American student success that focuses on attending college and having resources to complete the degree program. The last but not least leg of his platform is black mental health. It will focus on targeting issues facing the African American community and ensuring positive mental health and exposure.
At a young age of 20, Heath is stepping into the North Carolina area heavily not only wearing a crown but teaching others how to pick theirs up and make the most out of life.
WILBERFORCE, OH. — Two Central State University students received youth leadership awards from the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument for spearheading a letter-writing campaign in support of recognition for Colonel Young.
The Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park may be 2,300 miles away in California’s southern Sierra Nevada mountains, but the impact that Colonel Young made there in the summer of 1903 is still being remembered today. A California Assemblyman is sponsoring an effort to rename a road leading into the park for Colonel Young, the namesake of the National Monument located in Wilberforce. Through the efforts of Kristin Johnson and Sydney Johnson, more than 180 letters were written and sent in support of that effort.
On March 15, the two students received the Brandon Billips Youth Service Leadership Award, named after Billips, who was a CSU graduate and the first intern at the Charles Young Monument. The event was a celebration of Colonel Young’s 154th birthday. Also, Attorney Benjamin L. Crump received one of two Trail Blazer Awards.
Dr. Joy G. Kinard, Superintendent of the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, said the two sisters received the honor because their volunteer-efforts exceeded expectations.
Both work at the Charles Young Monument. After hearing about the campaign, the two built a strategy to solicit as many letters as possible. Sydney Johnson, a CSU Junior, said it was fun “creating a small piece of history.” More than half of the 180 letters came from CSU students and employees, she said.
Colonel Young was the first African American superintendent of a national park. He also was the third African American man to graduate with his commission from the US Military Academy at West Point. While commanding a black company at the Presidio of San Francisco, Young received orders to take his troops to Sequoia National Park. Their task – complete the first road to the Giant Forest, making the grove with giant sequoia trees easily accessible for the first time. On the day the road opened, modern tourism began in Sequoia National Park, according to the Park.
Sydney Johnson said it was an honor to receive the award. “I was more humbled by the award not because of the task I was given…but because I was given an award named after Brandon Billips. He created such a love for me of Central State University,” she said.
Also at the March 15 event, the University’s Student Government Association was named Volunteer of the Year for helping to recruit student volunteers for the National Monument, and Mr. Gorgui Ndao was named Volunteer Educator of the Year for his work with the Seed to Bloom Ag-STEM Institute Camp. Cadets from CSU’s Marauder Battalion were also recognized for helping out at a Buffalo Soldiers Pep Rally during Black History Month.
About Central State University:
Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, is a regionally accredited 1890 Land-Grant University with a 131-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. The University, which has been named 2017 HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest, fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally.
This story was written by CSU Public Relations. This story is published here with permission.
Morehouse College graduate Christopher Sumlin recently released his new book “This Thing Called Life” about helping prospective students attending college with navigating life at a historically black college or university, or HBCU.
The book was released to all major markets in paperback and digital editions, including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Kobo and iTunes via Boyle & Dalton, according to an official statement released by Sumlin.
In regards to his book “This Thing Called Life,” Sumlin expressed that choosing to go to college is a important part of the process, adding that he wanted to write a book that was quite informative and vital to one’s duration in college at an HBCU. But he also wanted to create a book that is more than just worthwhile, the statement reads. “The writing in the book is witty, funny, and captivating,” Sumlin explained.
According to Sumlin, he wanted to draw on his recent experience as a 2017 college graduate to “create a body of work that was relevant and authentic to going to college.” What’s more, when Sumlin was preparing to leave for Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia from his home in Columbus, Ohio, he says, he found that there were very few resources with up-to-date information on the realities of campus living and young adult independence.
The rest is history, as they say.
“If anyone [headed to college] is looking for a laugh, a good story and wisdom, this book is for them,” Sumlin had said laughingly.
According to the statement, “Dealing with This Thing Called College” is Christopher Sumlin’s second book, and builds on the self-help materials he assembled in his debut work, “Dealing with This Thing Called Life.” Sumlin noted that he is inspired by the writing style of Tim Ferriss (The 4-Hour Work Week), which he describes as “great advice and stories…backed with research.” Sumlin also mentioned that he is inspired by incredible modern-day black entrepreneurs like Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey.
“If anyone [headed to college] is looking for a laugh, a good story and wisdom, this book is for them.” – Christopher Sumlin.
For more information and links to preferred retailers, please visit Christopher Sumlin’s website: www.TheChrisSumlin.com.
Christopher Sumlin is a native of Dayton, Ohio, but graduated from high school in Columbus, Ohio. He holds degrees from Ohio Dominican University and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts where he is pursuing a Master’s Degree at Boston University.
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For more information, contact Boyle & Dalton by phone at 614-805-3982, or by email at info@boyleanddalton.com.
The author may be directly contacted by email at sumlinchristopher@gmail.com.
Howard University graduate Chadwich Boseman who stars in the hit movie Black Panther now in theaters everywhere recently spoke with the folks over at the Breakfast Club to discuss his latest film, turning down famous biopics, marvel myths and more. Check out the video below.
It is our job to re-gift what we have been given, I truly believe that. Coming from Columbus, Ohio it was not likely that I would go to Morehouse College let alone graduate. No one from my neighborhood had ever gone to Morehouse. When I got accepted back in February of 2013, I knew that Morehouse was the school I wanted to attend. It was also very clear that if I did go there, that it would be an uphill climb to finish. Luckily in May of 2017, I graduated from Morehouse and now I’m in graduate school.
The day after graduation I started writing, knowing that I wanted to share my collegiate journey to anyone who would listen. On February 21st, my second book, “Dealing With This Thing Called College” made its way to Amazon. This book is a follow up to my first book, “Dealing With This Thing Called Life” which came out in April of 2016. It is my intention to share my author journey with HBCU students everywhere. Read the sentiments below as to why I wrote two books while being a full time student.
“You’re never too young to change the world.” –Sean “P.Diddy” Combs
I Want To Represent An Idea
I heard a quote at Morehouse once from my professor who said. “If you want to hide something from a Black man put it in a book!” I know that many people believe the stereotype that black men, particularly young black men, don’t read. I hate this stereotype. Growing up I watched my father read the bible, he and my mother were always making sure that my siblings and I read. Unfortunately, I know that the way I was raised is not common. It is a fact that most black men don’t read. It’s also true that most Americans don’t read regularly. This is true because there aren’t a lot of role models outside of academia that advocate for leisure reading. I want to always be known for not only reading but writing. I want people who know me to know that I read and so should they. My hope with my social media accounts and two books is that my supporters will understand the importance of reading and writing.
I Want To Talk To Us
There’s a lot of good writing out in the world. I also believe that there isn’t a lot of positive writing by black authors for young readers. I want to refute this perception by creating affordable, positive and easy to read writing that will inspire people. I’m bored with self-help guru’s and life coaches being over 40 and white. I want to create work in the world for young people that will speak directly to them and let them know that they, too, can be great no matter what age or background.
I Want To Be Different
With social media and the hundreds of open-source platforms, everyone can produce content. It is very easy to hop on Facebook live and talk, post YouTube videos and even make graphics. There are millions of people who will take that route to build their platforms. Although these are great mediums to get started, everyone is doing them. I want to be different. Anyone can hop on social media and start trying to influence people. One thing that everyone can’t do is write a book. Book writing is hard. It takes a lot of money, time and effort. I’m willing to make the investment to write books.
Inspiring storytelling isn’t a hobby of mine, this is what I was born to do. I take every bit of it so seriously. It is my intention to share with my supporters that I’m not “just another guy with something to say.” The investment to write books is telling and I know that it will differentiate me from a lot of the others out there looking to inspire.
I Want To Share What I’ve Learned
The way my life was set up, it truly is a miracle that I’ve been able to accomplish what I have. Spiritual teacher, Marianne Williamson defines a miracle as “A change in perception from fear to love.” As a young child, I was deeply afraid of going to college. I always knew that it just wasn’t an option for me because I was black, male and lived in a poor neighborhood. As a young adult, I was terrified to get on a plane or live anywhere other than Ohio. Today, I’m in graduate school, I’ve lived in NY and LA and have loved it along the way. This life and experience that I’ve been given is only by the grace of God, that humility makes me want to share what I’ve learned with anyone who will listen. The two books are just expressions of me sharing what I’ve learned along the way.
I’m excited to see what will come of these books. I put my heart and soul into both of them. Anyone who reads just a page of my work will walk away feeling better. I’m anxious to see where this author journey will take me. I plan to keep working on my craft and pumping out good stuff for you all to read. If I can gather up the faith and resources to publish two books, you can too.
To purchase any of my two books head over to my Amazon Author’s Page by clicking HERE.
“The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus is working hard to address the inequities facing HBCUs. We’ve made progress, but Congress cannot do it alone,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Leveling the playing field for our schools and our students requires a collective approach to ensure HBCUs have access to the same federal resources and private sector opportunities as their peer institutions. Lyft’s efforts are a great step towards addressing diversity in the tech sector. We’re glad to continue working with them to create a better equipped and more inclusive workforce.”
“The HBCU Partnership Challenge is just one of the many ways our bipartisan caucus is working to advance the role of HBCUs in our communities,” said Congressman Byrne. “I applaud Lyft for taking on this challenge to increase their involvement with HBCUs from around the country. With more companies take the challenge, we can continue to address unique challenges that HBCUs face in every industry and develop a diverse workforce that attracts talent from all backgrounds.”
“As Lyft grows, we can’t reach our goal of hiring the best, most diverse tech talent without investing in and developing close partnerships with the HBCUs that are educating our future workforce,” said Lyft’s Director of Public Policy, April Mims. “That’s why we’re so excited to team up with Congresswoman Adams, Congressman Byrne, and bipartisan champions on the HBCU and STEAM Caucuses to highlight the tremendous leadership at these schools and engage in a dialogue on what we can do to help.”
Last September, during the first annual HBCU Braintrust, the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus issued the Partnership Challenge. The Challenge encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs. Following the issuance of the Challenge, the Caucus conducted a survey to learn more about current HBCU engagement with corporate America. After the conclusion of the survey, the Caucus will work with industry to establish best practices to continue diversifying our workforce. Please see the attached document for more information about the Challenge criteria.
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The Bipartisan HBCU Caucus is comprised of 74 members from both chambers and both sides of the aisle. Please find the Partnership Challenge criteria attached here.
I Want To Talk To Us
