Here’s How HBCU Students Can Find Their Dynamic Calling In Life As Content Creators

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Historically Black Colleges and University students are growing as content creators and the need for training is increasing. WordCamp conferences meet the needs of bloggers, micro-bloggers, and podcasters. As speakers and participants of WordCamp conferences, Aida and I provide a few hints for HBCU students before registering for WordCamp.

HBCU students should already have expectations for learning. Having attended and spoken at several WordCamps in 2017 the benefits are everlasting. The potential for continued collaborations are endless and possibly life changing starting careers in diverse areas of technology. The motivation is that less than 1% of tech companies are owned by people of color. There are different expectations for each person, there needs to be an established plan that fits individual needs based on the session or track that is available.

As a past professor at the historic Edward Waters College, I regularly took students that could attend with me to expose them to industry experts and leaders. Deciding what your goals are as a content creator and how you mesh or combine your plan to learn, integration of technology that can aid your business and personal growth, build a brand and market yourself. There is more to gaining readers, viewers and engagement than a flashy web site, dazzling coding and eye candy photos, it takes planning and engagement.

How you’re marketing your brand and integrating content as an engaging and interactive developer makes a difference in achieving the goals you have set as an entrepreneur and future professional. Attending WordCamp assists in finding out what products, services and resources can benefit you and your customers. Security updates, SEO changes and coding tips and tricks and learning the language. Make sure you have plenty of business cards, your appearance matches your brand, you have questions after or during sessions.

Building a brand creates future opportunities for investments and expansion outside of normal business lines. The benefits resulting from investing in attending WordCamp may lead to internships, new career options or second jobs. As a content creator you represent your business so consider the potential of building business relationships. Never judge a person by attire, color or culture, gain insights during conversations and interactions. Events like WordCamp provide opportunities to expose HBCU students to applying social skills and learning business skills that are important in commerce, finance and knowledge based careers.

HBCU students are establishing businesses and building awareness for their contributions. Building relationships in business and the connections to
future careers starts with networking. Intellectual design is key because knowledge based careers are expanding. Knowledge is power when applied strategically and effectively. Building self-confidence, self-awareness, self-determination and self-respect.

WordCamps are in every state and have after conference meetups that provide additional learning and networking. Technology contains and embraces diversity so students can gain opportunities. WordCamp venues contain great potential to be an awesome experience. To build life-long and generational intellectual learners. Access to wealth resources, intellectual design, community activism through digital community engagement. Building entrepreneurial vision that allows the embracing of adaptation, change and growth. WordCamp is unique, engaging, interactive and empowering.

https://videopress.com/v/Hh7voNWV

Albert Einstein Went To An HBCU

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Although I didn’t attend an historically black college, I’ve always been proud to know that they existed even before the end of American slavery.

The fact that institutions of learning were established with the express purpose of educating black people in a country that hated them and saw African Americans as a detested servant class, reflects the craving of black Americans for knowledge and enlightenment.

I recently learned that an honored guest once visited the campus of Lincoln University, an HBCU established prior to the Civil War—none other than Albert Einstein, the brilliant German-born physicist who had fled Germany after the Nazis’ rise to power.

He would make America his home, only to discover a sick racial prejudice here, although it wasn’t like what the Jews experienced during the Nazi era, and it was mostly—Jews and some others were also discriminated against—directed toward black people.

Read an excerpt here from the website Blavity, which describes the day Albert Einstein visited Lincoln University, and what he had to say about racism in the United States.

Dr. Albert Einstein is most celebrated for being a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and [developing] the theory of relativity.

Einstein was one of 340,000 Jews who became refugees after fleeing Germany during Hitler’s reign of terror…. Having been persecuted for his faith, Einstein knew–firsthand–the negative and deadly impact of power and oppression.

However, one aspect of the genius’s life that is often overlooked is his relationship with African Americans and his role in the civil rights movement.

In 1946, he visited Lincoln University, an HBCU located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The school is the alma mater of some of the greats, including Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, and Cab Calloway, and was the first university that allowed African Americans to earn … degrees.

… Einstein’s visit is … important because he shirked the racial climate of the time. Prejudice and racial violence against blacks [were commonplace]. Within this period, segregation was a way of life, and several lynchings and riots had occurred.

Undeterred, Einstein not only visited, but also spoke and took questions from students and accepted an honorary degree from Lincoln University.

“There is … a somber point in the social outlook of Americans … Their sense of equality and human dignity is mainly limited to men of white skins. Even among these there are prejudices of which I as a Jew am dearly conscious; but they are unimportant in comparison with the attitude of ‘whites’ toward their fellow-citizens of darker complexion, particularly toward Negroes. … The more I feel an American, the more this situation pains me. I can escape the feeling of complicity in it only by speaking out.”

Read more at Blavity.

Howard University Students Rebuild, Mentor In Puerto Rico For Alternative Spring Break

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By Tatyana Hopkins (NNPA Newswire Special Correspondent)

ARECIBO, Puerto Rico—When Howard University student Jasmine Stevens fled New Orleans in 2005 to avoid Hurricane Katrina, she left with just enough clothes for two days. The Category 3 storm would cover her family’s neighborhood in eight-feet of water, destroy their belongings and force them to abandon their home and flee to Port Arthur, Texas, where they remained for three years.

“We lost everything,” Stevens, 20, said. “It didn’t hit me until I watched the news and saw my city underwater.”

Now, Stevens, a junior biology major, finds herself in a familiar spot, but this time hundreds of miles away in Puerto Rico, where another hurricane has wreaked havoc on the lives of millions of Americans.

Stevens is here with fellow Howard students to help the people still recovering from Hurricane Maria, which six months ago destroyed thousands of homes, wiped out the island’s already out-of-date electric grid, and limited access to clean drinking water for millions.

Most of the island now has electricity and water, but the restoration of destroyed homes, businesses and churches continues.

Stevens and six other Howard students spent Monday rebuilding La Hermosa Church in downtown Arecibo, a town of 96,000 on the island’s northern coast. Stevens, who is participating in Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program, traveled to Puerto Rico during her spring break to assist in recovery efforts.

The students in Puerto Rico and more than 700 other Howard students have given up their vacation week, the parties and trips home to help people in various distressed areas, including Haiti, Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Flint, Mich., New Orleans, Chicago, Texas and Florida.

“I believe that, as a global citizen, it’s important to help those in need,” said Ngodoo Iye, 21, a senior on her third ASB trip.

Stevens echoed those sentiments.

“For me, this trip is a way to give back to those who helped my family when we were victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Stevens said.

Once a place of worship for a congregation of about 40 people, La Hermosa Church remains without power and running water. After the storm, the 12,000-square foot, one-story building church was submerged in at least eight-feet of water, said La Hermosa’s pastor, Miguel Asegarra.

“I was outside watching the hurricane, and it never touched my home,” Asegarra said, “but it destroyed our church.”

Asegarra has led the church for two years. He lives 15-minutes away in a residential neighborhood.

La Hermosa rests in the city’s downtown, which was flooded by the Rio Grande Arecibo, a river just blocks away.

“This is one of the oldest churches in this city and we lost everything,” Asegarra said. “But, God has blessed us, because many people have come to help us.”

The Howard students picked up restoration of the church where several other groups left off. The church, once covered in mud and debris, had been cleaned and gutted by previous groups. The ASB team was tasked with repainting the church’s walls.

The church was one of dozens of buildings—businesses, homes, schools, government offices—that were severely damaged in Arecibo, which lies about an hour and a half west of the capital city of San Juan.

Irma Sierra Cordova, owner of a downtown pharmacy, said she used her savings to re-open her business, which closed for two months.

“I lost all of my inventory,” Cordova said, “but homes should be the priority.”

Others are still repairing homes ripped apart by the fierce winds of the storm.

“I lost my whole roof, and I have a blue tarp on top of my house to prevent it from leaking [when it rains],” said Roberto Valez, 68, a Puerto Rican native who retired here after 30 years working construction in New London, Conn. “In the first month, rain would get in and damage everything.”

While Stevens’ team worked on the church, other Howard students helped restore a building in nearby Dorado. A third group visited the local Boys and Girls Club in Las Magaritas, a neighborhood in San Juan. While there, they tutored older students and danced and played hide-and-seek with the younger ones. They taught the kids the “Cha Cha Slide” and the students taught them salsa.

Pastor Humberto Pizarro of Connected Life, a ministry in San Juan, helped Howard’s ASB program connect with those most in need. Pizarro’s church organization, Shining Bright International, is a missionary and outreach ministry that has helped more than 40 teams from the United States and the Caribbean work more than 240,000 volunteer hours to restore the island.

“God has trained us for this, and we hit the ground running,” Pizarro said.

Within two days after the hurricane, his church began delivering meals, fuel and water to residents, and by the end of the week, they had flown in their first group of helpers from the U.S. mainland.

“Everyone in our church is trained to respond to these [types] of disasters,” Pizarro said. “The church is a temple to worship, but [the church’s mission] happens outside of its four walls. We focus on outreach.”

Howard student Audre’ana Ellis said she was impressed with the work Pizarro’s church had done to move recovery efforts along.

“I’m excited to help and serve,” Ellis, 18, said. “I’m surprised to see that everyone here is so strong and has come together to get through this.”

Hampton University, MEAC Announce Separation Agreement

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HAMPTON, Va. – The Pirates are free to set sail into the Big South.

Monday, Hampton University announced an “amicable agreement” with its former league, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), on terms of separation. Per a release from the university, HU agrees to pay a fine for failing to meet the MEAC’s July 1, 2017 deadline for withdrawal from the conference as it transitions into the Big South.

“Hampton University values our relationship with the MEAC and I believe this agreement is best for all parties going forward,” said Dr. William R. Harvey, President of Hampton University. “This agreement is not only what’s best for Hampton University and the MEAC, but it is what’s best for our collective students, alumni, boosters and fans.”

HU and the MEAC were involved a dispute related to the Pirates’ plans for departure. Norfolk State, Hampton’s longtime conference rival, released its 2018 football schedule last week – and HU was not on the slate for the first time since 1962. According to Hampton, Monday’s agreement “allows for Hampton University and MEAC member institutions to play as non-conference opponents in the future and preserves the traditional rivalries held dear by stakeholders of both Hampton University and the MEAC.”

“We are very pleased with the agreement reached between the MEAC and Hampton University,” Dr. Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner, said in a statement. “We wish Hampton University student athletes, coaches and staff continued success in their future endeavors.”

This article was originally published via WTKR

FAMU Soon To Be The First HBCU With Accredited Police Department

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A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will arrive on FAMU’s campus on March 25. Team members will be here to examine all aspects of the Florida A&M University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services.

Verification by the team that the FAMU Police Department meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

Since its inception on Nov. 6, 1958, the IACLEA has represented campus law enforcement and security issues before law and policymakers, higher education officials, and members of the public for more than 3,700 members at approximately 1,000 colleges and universities in 15 countries, according to its website.

This is the final stage of a 36-month process, which, according to Wendy Dorival, the accreditation manager for FAMU’s Police Department, started two years ago. “This is all Chief Calloway,” said Dorival “This was part of his plan since the beginning.”

FAMU PD Chief Terence Calloway, of Cleveland, was sworn in during February of 2014. “What I bring to the table is stability, accountability, discipline, structure and communication,” Calloway said at his swearing in ceremony. “I bring a different kind of leadership style here. I don’t have just one leadership style.

“I believe in coming together as a family and doing things collectively as a team. It’s not just about me,” he added.

This accreditation process is another step to assure the safety for students on campus. “They have standards set where those standards provides the best practices in law enforcement,” said Dorival. “There are over 210 standards that enables us to enhance our protection. So a lot of those standards focuses on safety for students, faculty and staff, how we respond to calls, what is our process for maybe making an arrest and processing information,” she said.

“The assessment generally consists of a tour of facilities, interviews with agency personnel and members of the campus community served, a compliance review of applicable standards, and receipt of public comment.  The assessor will review all standards and verify applicable standards as well as standards not applicable to the department.  Assessors will provide feedback to the department during the review.  The assessors will prepare a written report and submit it to IACLEA,” according to its website.

Dorival is optimistic. “If everything gets passed and we receive our accreditation, we will be honored in June,” she said, “making us the first HBCU in the country to receive accreditation from the IACLEA.”

University members, agency employees, and the public are invited to offer comments by calling (850) 412-5434 on Monday, March 26 between 1 and 3 p.m. Comments will be taken by the assessment team.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. The IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual is available on the IACLEA website (www.iaclea.org).

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Florida A&M University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation at 1110 Bonifant Street, Suite 220, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

Claflin University Wins First SIAC Championship Title Over Clark Atlanta

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 3, 2018) – “Going all the way back to August until today, they’ve been challenged. The challenges they’ve met have been unreal from start to finish, but we’re not done yet,” said Coach Ricky Jackson, head men’s basketball coach at Claflin University.

These challenges have only pushed the Claflin Panthers forward as they solidified their first title as 2018 SIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Champions since joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Jaleel Charles, who was named this year’s All-Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored 18 points for the Panthers while adding 10 rebounds which lifted Claflin over previous champions, Clark Atlanta, in a 69-61 victory.

“From the jump, we just wanted to win. We said in the locker room, it doesn’t matter what it takes, the next man, me, Triston, Benjamin “Tre” Williams, we were going to get it done and everybody stuck by their game plan,” Charles said.

The Claflin Panthers (25-6) secured their championship title after finishing third place in the eastern division during regular season.

Clark Atlanta Panthers struggled shooting in the paint and from behind the arc as the Claflin Panthers kept them shooting under 35 percent in both categories. Claflin led the entire game as Clark Atlanta encountered various fouling troubles throughout the game.

“I thought it was a great game. I thought they thoroughly outhustled and outworked us. When you shoot 35 percent from the field, 15 percent from the 3-point line, and 64 percent from the free-throw line, you won’t beat anybody. Let’s just call a spade a spade,” said head men’s basketball coach, Darrell Walker.

Claflin finished by outscoring Clark Atlanta 11-7 in the final four minutes, the final point a free-throw by Benjamin Williams.

Clark Atlanta (24-5) fell 2-1 within the tournament having split with Claflin in the regular season.

“Our rebounding we kind of cleaned up, but we have to get our basketball IQ better. I’ve been saying it for the past four to five weeks,” emphasized Walker.

Akil Douglas led scoring with 14 points as Mitchell and Davis added 12 for the Clark Atlanta Panthers.

With 4:06 remaining, Triston Thompson tried for a jumper and was successful as the Clark Atlanta Panthers trailed and eventually fell, leading the Claflin Panthers to their first conference title.

2018 Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
MVP: Jaleel Charles (Claflin)
Brandon Morris (Benedict)
Triston Thompson (Claflin)
Akil Douglas (Clark Atlanta)
Cairo Brown (Benedict)

Howard University Community Mourns The Death Of Recent Howard Grad Robert Lawrence

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Back in January, friends, and family of the bison community took to social media to talk about reports of Robert Lawrence, a recent Howard University graduate, who was missing. Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria had put a notice of him and he was last seen Wednesday, Jan. 3, leaving his Main Street home at 7 p.m., according to the NYPD. The 2012 graduate was said to have been working as a front desk administrator for VOICE Charter School in Long Island City before he went missing, according to multiple Facebook users who shared his missing poster.

In another public Facebook post, Nancy Rodriguez called Lawrence “a great sweet man with a great smile and personality.”

This is a tweet from the university below.

Today, those same students and alumni are mourning his death receiving notice from his mother, Keisha Lawrence.

Rob is a loving son and brother and he was enthusiastic about life, charismatic, kind and creative. He is funny too.

He is my only son and this is such a traumatic and devastating loss.  In lieu of receiving flowers we have set up this memorial fundraiser.  Rob did not like flowers and he would go out of his way to give me any gift except flowers to say thank you or I love. The funds we are raising will be used to defray the cost of the memorial services and to make a donation towards suicide prevention. 

We appreciate your offerings as soon as possible.

Thank you for all of your love and support during this difficult time. 

Keisha Lawrence, Mom 

https://twitter.com/MrsSewItAll/status/970792527434575879

Here is how you can Donate and help in his Honor.

The Mutiny At Hampton University

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Students at one of America’s top HBCUs are protesting a long list of problems faced by students at the school, including sexual assault, safety, food and the lack of maintenance of campus facilities.

The long-simmering situation at Hampton University is reaching a slow boil, pitting the student body against the university’s leadership and administration. Faced with a maelstrom of criticism over the school’s perceived apathy and lack of concern for the constituents of the heralded Virginia school, the Pirates of Hampton now face a quiet mutiny that has not only manifested itself on campus but has also spilled over onto social media and the public eye.

Hampton trails only Spelman College and Howard University on U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 list of the best HBCUs in America. Founded in 1868, the liberal arts institution of more than 4,600 students is always included in the list of historically black schools known as the “black Ivy League.”

On Feb. 20, Hampton students, frustrated by a number of unaddressed issues, held a town hall meeting to confront the school administration’s seeming indifference to the concerns repeatedly raised by various groups at the school. According to several Hampton students who spoke with The Root, the airing of grievances quickly turned contentious when students felt that Hampton’s leadership was ignoring and belittling their concerns.

One of the more important issues mentioned at the protests and by the students who reached out to The Root was what the students described as a prevailing culture of sexual assault on campus and the administration’s perceived unwillingness to address the issue.

Each freshman and transfer to Hampton is required to take a course called University 101, focused on the tradition of the college. According to the university, the U101 course covers test anxiety, personal finance, the dress code and even the alma mater. The student catalog describes the University 101 course as:

A one-semester required orientation course designed to improve the quality of the freshman experience for entering students by helping them understand the purpose and value of higher education at Hampton University, as well as the larger context in which that education takes place and the multicultural nature of the problems and concerns which it addresses; to develop positive attitudes toward the teaching learning process; and to acquire coping skills essential for successful college life.

Despite the school’s past problems with sexual assault, including a 2014 case of a faculty member allegedly assaulting a student and a report that the school is being investigated by the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Division for violating Title IX campus sexual-violence policies, Hampton still lags behind other schools in informing students about sexual assault on campus.

For comparison, since 2014, Howard University has mandated that all freshmen take Title IX training. According to student organizers, Hampton, in its University 101 course, has chosen to solve its campus problem of sexual misconduct in a unique way:

By not addressing it at all.

Read full at the Root by Michael Harriot

Virginia Union Wins CIAA Title For First Time In Over A Decade

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The Virginia Union University men’s basketball team claimed their first CIAA title since 2006 with an 82-52 victory over Johnson C. Smith University Saturday night at the Spectrum Center.

With the victory, Virginia Union is now the fifth team since 1975 to have both the men’s and women’s teams to claim the title in the same year; while receiving the CIAA’s automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament. The last team to pull of the men’s and women’s sweep was Shaw University in 2011.

Todd Hughes scored a game-high 22 points and six rebounds to lead the offensive attack for VUU. Andre Walker added a double-double, 19 points and 11 rebounds while William Jenkins also chipped in a double-double, 16 points and 11 rebounds. Kory Cooley would round out the double digit scoring for the Panthers with 13 points in the win.

The first half saw four ties and five lead changes with Johnson C. Smith outscoring the Panthers 14-10 in the paint, (5-4) points off turnovers, and (8-3) in bench points. Virginia Union claimed the edge (10-6) in second chance points; while both teams recorded two fast break points, respectively.
Arthur Bennett (Powder Springs, GA) recorded the opening points of the game on a lay-up at the 18:37 mark, gifting the Golden Bulls a quick 2-0 lead. Free-throws off the finger-tips of Jenkins knotted the game at 2-2. CIAA Player of the Year Robert Davis (West Friendship, MD) added a jumper at the 17:20 mark to take a 4-2 lead.

A back-and-forth half, the Panthers grabbed the momentum with 3:21 remaining (27-26) off a three-pointer from Hughes and took a 36-28 lead into the locker room, after shooting 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the floor, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from behind the arc, and 88.9 percent (8-of-9) from the line.

JCSU closed out the half, shooting 36.7 percent (11-of-30) from the field, 30 percent (3-of-10) from downtown, and 50 percent (3-of-6) from the charity stripe. Union led by as much as eight during the half; while out-rebounding the Golden Bulls (24-14).

The second half would be all VUU as the Panthers opened up the stanza with a 19-7 run to lead 55-36 over Johnson C. Smith with 11:16 left in regulation. The Golden Bulls trimmed at the deficit with a 3-point play from Roddric Ross (Forest City, NC) but VUU then ballooned to tenacious lead after producing a 23-9 scoring margin that would eventually lead to the Panthers outscoring Johnson C. Smith, 46-24 and the Panthers cruising to the victory.

Davis was the only Golden Bull who reached double digits in scoring, he finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals.
For the contest, Virginia Union shot 50 percent from the floor (28-56), connecting 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from long distance and 19-of-28 (67.9 percent) from the charity stripe whereas the Golden Bulls were responsible for 19-of-60 (31.7 percent) from field goal range, 25 percent (5-20) from the free-throw line and 53.9 percent (9-17) from the charity stripe.

Cory and Hughes was named to the 2018 All-Tournament team as Cory was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

2018 CIAA Men’s All-Tournament Team:
Richard Granberry – Virginia State
Omari George – Bowie State
Todd Hughes – Virginia Union
Roddric Ross – Johnson C. Smith
Kory Cooley – Virginia Union
Robert Davis – Johnson C. Smith
Cameron Burhannon – Livingstone
Jonathan Curtis – Johnson C. Smith
Willie Gillmore – Fayetteville State
Quincy January – Saint Augustine’s

2018 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player
Kory Cooley – Virginia Union

2018 CIAA Sportsmanship Award
Livingstone College

Grambling Grad Kaeyla Boyd Starts Cultural Threads Brand To Promote Love For Melanin

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GSU graduate, Kaeyla Boyd, creates inspiring clothing brand Cultural Threads, for culturally conscious minds aiming to educate and promote progression through fashionable street-wear.

After contemplating on creating her own brand for years Boyd finally launched her business early this year with merchandise that she feels will appeal to people everywhere who love both culture and style.

“I wasn’t sure in what direction I wanted to go in for a while because I had so many passions,” said the Shreveport native.

The new brand owner explained that her attending Grambling State was extremely inspiring and that just being surrounded by the HBCU culture and many creative people really motivated her.

“I’ve watched people create their own businesses while attending Gram and thereafter, being around that and helping other people with their projects gave me the energy to want to create for myself,” she said.

Recently she figured with her passion for street-wear, urban clothing and social work, that she could tie the things she’s interested in together.

Boyd knew that she wanted to do something that promoted progression and that was culturally conscious, coming up with the brand name Cultural Threads

Boyd’s brother had the pleasure of assisting her with the business concept and her partner assisted her with a name that turned out to be a perfect fit! Although, the name changed a few times before they finally decided upon Cultural Threads

“I’ve sat on the idea for a long time so, it just seemed like now would be a good time to take that leap of faith sort of speak,” Boyd said.

On a few of the new Cultural Threads caps, there is a saying, ‘Melanin & Dope’.

Boyd says to her  the saying means that “we are dripping in finesse”. She felt like it was a pretty cool phrase and that exhibiting melanin is strong, beautiful….and dope!

“Melanin should be praised in any and every way,” she expressed. ” I believes its extremely important that woman of color completely love their skin. The beauty of melanin is that we all have it, some more concentrated than others. This is why its ‘DOPE’.”

She explained that for so long women of color have been devalued for their skin being too dark or their skin being too light. Its as if they can’t win because of the color of their skin.

“I love the amount of praise we are giving each other now days. I only want to be a part of it and continue support my Melanin DOPE sisters,” Boyd said.

Boyd said starting her own business was pretty frightening, but also very exciting.

“You just don’t know how people will respond to the things you put out, so I’m being open-minded and just enjoying this experience. I’m still tackling challenges because we are very new but I find that I have to completely plan and become more organized than I thought I was,” she said.

In addition to Grambling State, Boyd’s inspiration comes from ‘the culture’, and she explained that with different aspects in mind including: Black culture, street-wear as a culture and African-American women as a culture.

In terms of street-wear brand inspiration, Boyd loves the ‘God is Dope’ line.

“I know that brand is fairly new, but the creators behind it are so talented. I admire everything they are doing there. I also admire and got inspiration from Bobby Kim with his Hundreds brand, Neek Lurk with ASS club and old school brands like Karl Kani and Pelle Pelle too.

More personally, Boyd’s aunt inspires her tremendously. She describer her aunt as being very wise and soulful and she’s always looked up to her.

In her aunt’s college days at Southern University she did a lot of poetry. One poem that she performed was titled ‘Taking back my Crown.’ She speaks of the black woman being the mother for us all and how her crown has been taking away by impostors and people that aren’t for her.

Boyd had the poem in mind when deciding on some of  the phrases for the T-shirts.

She says she is still learning to balance her life as a full-time employee and a new business woman.

“Being that Cultural Threads is new I’m multitasking a lot,” she said. “I try to do what I can during my 8-5 work day and dedicate more time to the brand after then. I’m lucky to have my partner with me supporting and helping in any way she can.”

Although, Cultural Threads is a clothing business, Boyd would love for it to become more than that and for people from all over the world to learn and become more aware of their culture and be excited to express that from her brand.

Also, with her professional background in Social Work, she knew whatever she did would be centered around the community and giving back.

“Under Cultural Threads I will host food pantries, clothing closets and back to school giveaways for the community.”

Right now, Cultural Threads has caps available. Boyd mentioned that she wanted do a soft start for Black History Month. The current color theme of the caps and fonts were chosen because of Black History Month.

“I absolutely love the caps,” she said. “I like that they are embroidery instead of screen printed. I really enjoyed the creation process.”

In addition, they will be selling t-shirts and other inspiring apparel that will become available next month.

Boyd plans on working towards having a booth at Bayou Classic next year, the Essence Festival and other events that provide her the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with other black business owners,” she said.

In five years, Boyd would like to see Cultural Threads become apart of the community by hosting several fundraisers and truly giving back. She would like to offer more products and focus on becoming more than the average t-shirt line and creating an impact on others lives.

The new entrepreneur says her advice to people who want to start a business or build a brand would be not to think about it too long.

She says if you have an interest in owning your own business and it’s all you think about, go ahead and take that step. If you contemplate on it too long you’ll find all the reason why you shouldn’t do it.

Boyd plans on using social media as much as possible to promote Cultural Threads, host pop-up shops and collaborating with other artists in the community.

“I have some fun things coming up,” she said.

If you are interested in purchasing a cap from Cultural Threads for JUST $12, head on over to Instagram @cultural__threads or send a quick order email to culturalthreads00@gmail.com

Wilberforce University Alumna Edmonia Lewis Loved Her Freedom So Much She Emancipated Herself — Three Times

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Today, we honor Wilberforce University alumna and sculptor Edmonia Lewis (1844-1907). She played a vital role sending messages to those who need it most.

“Edmonia Lewis marketed her work to Wilberforce University and other HBCUs by ‘direct mail’ (writing letters): affordable plaster busts of Bishop BW Arnett, Sen. Sumner, John Brown, around 1876, the time of the Centennial,” wrote Albert Henderson on Twitter, celebrating the life and legacy of a lost but never forgotten hero. Henderson is the author of the award-winning biography of the pioneering artist. According to him, Lewis is the first American sculptor of color and an artist at war.

Wilberforce which is adjacent to Ohio’s only public HBCU, Central State University, is the nation’s oldest private black college in the nation.

In a story by Henderson on EdmoniaLewis.com about how Lewis managed to emancipate herself three times, he noted that “Henry Wreford (Athenæum, Mar.  3, 1866) described the first Emancipation statue sculpted by an African-American artist: “Her first ideal group was to be executed under a promise for some gentlemen in Boston, and, in the true spirit of a heroine, she has selected for her subject ‘The Freedwoman on first hearing of her Liberty.’”

He continued:

“She has thrown herself on her knees, and, with clasped hands and uplifted eyes, she blesses God for her redemption. Her boy, ignorant of the cause of her agitation, hangs over her knees and clings to her waist. She wears the turban which was used when at work. Around her wrists are the half-broken manacles, and the chain lies on the ground attached to a large ball. ‘Yes,’ she observed, ‘so was my race treated in the market and elsewhere.’ It tells, with much eloquence, a painful story.”

“A dispute arose with her biggest booster in New England, Lydia Maria Child. Mrs Child was one of several women to whom Lewis sent photographs of her work. “The Freedwoman” was not seen again and was rarely mentioned in later interviews. Edmonia went on to a second Emancipation vision, which we now know as Forever Free. The unfortunate conflict with Mrs. Child continued. Forever Free found a home in Boston without Mrs. Child’s blessing. It is owned today by Howard University in Washington DC.”

Head over to EdmoniaLewis.com to read more.

Posted by HBCU Editors Posted on 5657 articles

Tennessee State Deontae Henderson Takes Children’s Book To The Top

Posted by Delvakio Brown
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Deontae Henderson is the young and ambitious author responsible for the creation of “To The Top,” a children’s book that showcases the journey of Koa the turtle. The concept of the children’s story came about when Henderson was running track for the Tennessee State University Flying Tigers. As he began watching motivational videos on YouTube he came across a video of Steve Harvey talking.

In the video, Harvey talked about his journey to comedy. He questioned his involvement with the sport of basketball and figured he needed to operate in his gift. The same awakening came for Henderson. Leaving behind the sport of track and field, he decided to focus on what mattered the most to him and that was being inspired.

To The Top empowers both children and adults by intentionally planting the roots of persistence into their minds. Explained in an understanding format for kids, the story showcases how Koa was always told to not continue up the mountain. Always going with his gut and not the words of others Koa eventually finds something so beautiful as a result of his drive to continue to move forward. Koa wanted a greater view of the world and Deontae is sharing that inspiration of going after what you can’t see yet with young people all over the country.

His friends including Jemarruse Amos took away valuable thoughts from the book. “I enjoyed the story of people talking down on the turtle because people go through it all the time. You only need one person which is God,” stated Amos as he sat still reflecting on the story looking beyond the walls that surrounded us.

Henderson is pictured giving a motivational speech on the campus of Tennessee State University.

You never know how far your work will go and what barriers it will break.

The book is featured now with Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, Kindle, Nook, iBook, Xulon Press, and Mall Of America, and Minneapolis Barnes and Noble in the children’s section with its own section.

The first ever signing was in question for this new author as the expectations from the bookstore that held his first signing was not high. The place that wasn’t too optimistic of the book now showcases a section in the children’s section just for To The Top. Minneapolis Barnes and Noble is proud to showcase Henderson’s work especially with him being a hometown writer.

Congressman Keith Ellison of the Congressional District, who once had the record for most books sold by a local author at the Minneapolis Barnes and Noble, is now second as Henderson is currently the top salesman for the store.

The book has been featured on Thisis50.com briefly for its inspirational message. When presenting the book to Ricky Davis, former NBA Player from Minnesota Timberwolves, Henderson was requested to sign the book for his kids.

Henderson is not slowing up when it comes to writing and has recently came out with yet another children’s book, Momma Bear. The running didn’t stop for Henderson, the track just changed.

Posted by Delvakio Brown Posted on 48 articles

Lincoln University Goes Pink For LU Alumna Liz Morrow

Posted by Maya Brown-Edwards
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The dynamic of Lincoln University of Missouri shifted on December 10, 2017, when Liz Morrow shared on her social media that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Although not being able to be there physically, due to winter break, Lincoln University students and faculty began to send their love and support to Liz Morrow. Everyone was determined to let her know she was not fighting this battle alone.

Liz Morrow, also referred to as Ms. Liz and/or Mama Liz, has been very influential in the culture of Lincoln University. She is a Lincoln University Alumna, a member of the Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students and the University Registrar. In addition, she is also a mentor, confidant, friend, and a mother figure to a plethora of Lincoln University students.

You could always find her somewhere smiling at a sports event, or mostly at the gym and that is why this diagnosis shocked the entire campus; it just didn’t seem like this would happen to her.

“The moment I found out I was devastated, there were tears, I was in denial and I was the first person in my family to be diagnosed. Not having any symptoms made this diagnoses even more of a shock,” said Ms. Liz.

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer, Ms. Liz has been very open with her journey, from sharing her sessions at chemotherapy to her deciding to officially cut her hair. “I want to educate everyone about early detection being the best detection. By sharing my journey, I hope to encourage anyone and everyone who has this disease to fight,” said Ms. Liz when asked why she decided so open during this process.

Lincoln University students have been with Ms. Liz through every step of this journey thus far showing countless amounts of support.

From having a “Pink Out” basketball game dedicated to her and an LU Goes Pink day sponsored the Alpha Iota Chapter, the campus has strived to not only bring awareness to Ms. Liz, but to spread more awareness about breast cancer as well. Ms. Liz was also presented with The Keeper of the Dream Award by the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the Henry T. Asher Award of Achievement by the Rho Eta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

These are just a few things that LU has done to show their appreciation for Ms. Liz.

Here is what LU students are saying below.

Ashton Eadie

“Ms. Morrow is nothing short of what you would call a ‘change agent’. Everyone she comes in contact life is inevitably changed for the better. I’m grateful to know her and I can only pray she knows the love and admiration others feel for her on a daily basis.”

Kristen Wallace

“Liz Marrow-Cotton touched my heart the moment I stepped foot on campus and I am forever indebted to her. If it wasn’t for her I would have never known what the word Sisterhood meant. I end with this quote – difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

Ashton Greene

“She is one of the strongest women I know! She’s helped me through so much with no hesitation and that’s why she will always be my mama Liz.”

Paula Vickers

“When I met ‘Mama Liz’ I was reluctant to call her that at first. At that time, I had lost my mom and didn’t want to just seemingly throw that title around too freely, so I still called her Ms. Liz. As time went on she continually showed me all the things I was physically missing from my own mom. She is strength, courage, excited, loving, forgiving, patient, understanding, and so much more. She is a mama. Even in the midst of her own storms, she has adopted me in, and to witness her strength and faith in God has been a wonderful lesson.”

Kat Langley

“Mama Liz gives me the reassurance that my college journey will be worth it in the end.”

Makayla Adams

“Ms. Liz has motivated me to keep pushing even when I felt like I was going to give up.”

According to breastcancer.org, “In 2018, an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S.”

Like Ms. Liz motivates others, let her be your motivation to go get your breast cancer screening. Early detection is the best detection!

To follow Ms. Liz on her journey, you can keep up with her on Facebook: Liz Morrow & Instagram: @alphaiota10.

Howard Alum: ‘I Want Four Years Where I’m Not Judged By The Color Of My Skin’

Posted by Brittany Ireland
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Brandon E. Patterson, writer for reader-supported nonprofit news organization Mother Nature, shares why America’s black colleges are as important now as they ever were. 

Historically black colleges and universities made headlines during Trump’s first year, as students pushed back against what they perceived as a racist administration. Last May, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed during her commencement speech at Bethune-Cookman University. And student activists chanted over former FBI Director James Comey’s speech at Howard University—my alma mater—in September. The demonstrations were part of a long history of student activism on HBCU campuses, a history that, until now, had yet to be told on screen.

Tell Them We Are Rising, a new documentary by veteran filmmaker Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers: Vanguard of a Revolution, Freedom Summer, The Murder of Emmett Till), is the first feature-length documentary on the history of these institutions. Premiering on PBS on Monday, February 19, the film takes a look at the schools’ inception as slavery drew to a close, their evolution over the 20th century, and the integral role they’ve played in black social movements.

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Mother Jones: Why this film, and why now?

Stanley Nelson: A few reasons. One, the African American community has had few institutions that sustain it: The black church. I made a film a few years ago about black newspapers. And black colleges and universities—there has been nothing that has been more of a catalyst for African Americans to enter the middle class. I didn’t see people lining up to tell the story. I kind of felt like if I didn’t tell it, nobody would. On a more personal note, my mother went to Talladega College and my father went to Howard in the 1930s. If they hadn’t gone to those colleges, they couldn’t go to college. So it changed the trajectory of my family, and so many other families.

MJ: What parts of the HBCU story did you think were most important to communicate?

SN: We set out to cover about 170 years of history in 90 minutes. We figured the best way to do that would be to tell stories. I felt it was really important to start during the time of enslavement, when education was denied to African Americans, because that’s kind of the framework of the whole film. We go into, then, the first HBCUs that are formed after the [Civil War] and into Booker T. Washington and his debates with W.E.B. DuBois. Our mission was for each piece of the story—there’s seven or eight chapters—to convey something different. The first chapter is the denial of education and the importance of education. The Booker T. piece was sort of, which way is education going to go? I found it fascinating that Booker T. Washington was arguably the most powerful black man in the country at that time, and he’s a college president. He’s being propped up in many ways by Southern planters and the Northern industrialists. And then we go into the idea of the New Negro—when African Americans return after World War I and say we want something different.

MJ: You recently released “Black Colleges in the Age of Trump,” a short film for the New York Times, which looks at the politics of Trump and HBCUs. Did you feel the need for a a supplement to Tell Them We Are Rising?

SN: HBCUs have been in the news over the first year of Trump read more…

NCAT Mens Basketball Team Finish Undefeated With Win Over UMES

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GREENSBORO (February 19, 2018) – The North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team did something the program has not done in 30 years. They finished undefeated at Corbett Sports Center. They put the final touches on a perfect home season with a 78-69 win over Maryland Eastern Shore Monday night in the Aggies home finale.

N.C. A&T’s last undefeated season at home occurred during the 1987-88 season when they finished 11-0 at Corbett. During the 2017-18 season, the Aggies finished 12-0 at home as they won their 13th straight at Corbett.

What makes the 2017-18 Aggies different is how far they have come compared to the 1987-88 team. The 87-88 team were coming off an undefeated season at home during the 1986-87 season. Meanwhile, the 17-18 team recovered from a previous season where they were 3-10 at home.

“I think it is a huge accomplishment for these young men to finish undefeated at home,” said N.C. A&T coach Jay Joyner who has seen his team play in a party environment at home this season dubbed #ClubCorbett. “Not many teams are able to do that over an entire season. Basketball is a long season, so you figure at some point someone is going to have your number in your gym. So, it’s one of those situations where you’re proud but you keep plugging away.”

Not only did the Aggies (17-11, 10-3 MEAC) complete an undefeated season at home but they also moved into a three-way tie for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with Savannah State and Bethune-Cookman. They are also guaranteed a winning season for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

It is the first time the Aggies have clinched a winning season in the regular season since the 1991-92 season. The Aggies finished that season 18-9. The 1991-92 season also marks the last time the Aggies won the MEAC regular-season title. The Aggies have double-figure wins in the conference for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

In his final game at Corbett, fifth-year forward Denzel Keyes had 21 points and nine rebounds on 9-for-14 shooting. Keyes has scored 20 or more points in three times in his last seven games and two of his last three.

Read full via NCATAggies.com

Fisk University Receives $1 Million Gift From Trustees Member Robert W. Norton

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Nashville, Tenn., February 13, 2018– Fisk University has announced a $1 million gift from Robert W. Norton, a retired Pfizer executive and member of the Fisk University Board of Trustees, and his wife Janice. The Norton’s gift will be used to provide scholarships for deserving students.

“We are extremely grateful to the Norton’s for their generous support and are thankful that this gift will assist us in continuing to provide financial support to deserving students,” said Kevin D. Rome, Sr., Ph.D., president of Fisk University. “We rely on private support to enable us to continue our mission of cultivating the next generation of scholars and leaders. The Norton’s have supported Fisk for many years and we sincerely thank them for the continued support.”

Symbolism Since becoming a member of the Fisk University Board of Trustees, Robert W. Norton has continued to strongly support the lasting commitment to scholarship and the success of students.

“It is indeed an honor to rejoin the Fisk University Board of Trustees and remain committed to being an active participant in the long-term viability of Fisk University,” said Norton. “Fisk is a national treasure that Nashville is privileged to have and we look forward to continuing our family’s financial support for this important institution of higher learning.”

A 1965 graduate of Princeton University, Norton received an AB Degree in Economics. Norton also holds an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Fisk University. Following graduation, he joined the Procter and Gamble Company before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. A military veteran, Norton served in the Vietnam War and was commissioned at the Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.

Norton joined Pfizer Inc. in their Corporate Human Resources Division in New York, in what would become a 33-year career with the company. He would later move to Nairobi, Kenya where he assumed HR responsibilities for Pfizer’s Africa-Middle East Region. After five years in Africa, Norton and his family relocated to Brussels, Belgium where he assumed HR responsibility for Pfizer, Europe. After returning to the United States, Norton would assume several roles with Pfizer’s global pharmaceutical business before retiring in 2004 as Senior Vice President of Corporate HR.

For more information on supporting Fisk University through private giving, please visit https://connect.fisk.edu/ways-to-support-fisk or contact the Office of Development at 615-329- 8749.