Black and Sexy TV Actors Talk About Their Respective Universities

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Ask any HBCU student or Alumni, and they will concur that the way one goes into an HBCU, is not the way they come out. The love and support HBCUs provide to their attendants is generally felt across the board. They produce an array of students with a variety of talents, who go on to conquer all aspects of the world.

Chef Julian a web series out of the Black & Sexy TV camp, is home to two proud HBCU alum Courtney Burrell and Javicia Leslie. If unfamiliar with the web series Chef Julian, here’s the rundown. Julian (Burrell) is a modern day bachelor who pulls out all the stops for his lovely ladies. “Cooking,” (because the food he cooks, looks cool, but none of the show’s characters thinks it’s bragging worthy,) and finessing his way into the hearts of three ladies. Mo ( Javicia Leslie,) who is his ex, happens to be one of them.

Both Burrell and Leslie are extremely satisfied with the experience they had at their universities. Javicia a graduate of Hampton University, and Courtney an alum of Delaware State University, both feel that their schools equipped them with the know how to maneuver in a post college world.

Courtney 02Burrell attended Delaware state as an Information Technology major. IT and acting are about as similar as apples and oranges, but it’s been working in his favor. “I’ve always been a nerd when it comes to computers, I love messing with computers and figuring things out.” Says Burrell. “I just wanted to take and put my skills with computers to work at school, but I’ve always considered myself an entertainer.” Operation plan B while having Plan A in motion, complete!

“I had teachers, certain professors at Delaware state that saw the potential in me to succeed. Not only in my field of IT, but they saw something in me that no one else did. That kind pushed me to keep in mind that I can be anything I want in my life if I just put my heart and soul into it.”

Courtney while never an on campus resident, describes himself as a big man on campus “I used to throw parties every other weekend, even though I didn’t stay there. Me and my boy threw parties. We had big security guards from like High School. They were like, “Yo are you gonna let this guy hop the line?”  I would say “I don’t know him man.””

Javicia 02Leslie, an actor and host says that she chose Hampton as means to get away from home, says she only applied to Hampton University. From freshman to senior year she went from the excited and socially involved student to the super focused and socially involved student. From theatre to running for Miss Hampton university her junior year, to taking advantage of the waterfront activities, he made sure her experience was one that she’s now delighted to talk about.

Leslie was a Business Management major who delved into theater her entire college career, and is now an actress. Asked if she thought her career would be different if she went to another school, Leslie states that some of her greatest connections come from her Alma Mater, and that it has affected her immensely.

Leslie understands the importance of giving back financially to the college community, but believes that there’s so much more to it. “It’s terrible for these kids, you don’t even have an opportunity to survive with a $100,000 loan and these payments are $500 a month and you don’t even have a job yet.”

Javicia states “If anything, instead of just giving back, how about giving opportunities, how about being that graduate that goes back to your university and gives jobs to me that’s more important. I can’t give anything back if I don’t have anything to give back. But if I can get a job then I can be able to take care of myself, and from there I can take care of what fed me, and take care of what bred me.”

According to Leslie, HBCUs provide students with a chance to do three things, “ connect with your people,  love the hell out of yourself, and see your people succeed and flourish in abundance.

Both Javicia and Courtney take pride in their HBCU education, and are extremely honored to be alumni of their institutions.

Senator Cory Booker To Speak At North Carolina Central University Commencement

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Cory Booker will be speaking at North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) commencement. In the video above, he says, “I would not be here today without North Carolina Central University!” His father, Cary Booker, graduated from the institution.

According to The News and Observer, “Booker, 46, the son of an NCCU graduate, will address about 700 students receiving their bachelor’s degrees from the university during a ceremony in O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on May 14th.”

Booker began his career as a city councilman in Newark, New Jersey. Then, he served seven years as mayor of Newark. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in October 2013.

His father, Cary Booker, graduated from NCCU in 1962 and was inducted into the Society of Golden Eagles.

According to NCCU’s website, “Ellis Smith, NCCU alumnus and former director of NCCU Office of Alumni Affairs, developed the Society of Golden Eagles in 1988 to acknowledge alumni celebrating their 50th class reunion. The first reunion class welcomed into the distinguished group was the Class of 1938. Members of the society are among the most dedicated supporters of NCCU and are a significant element of the university’s legacy.”

Lastly, Senator Booker is known for being very active on Twitter. One of his latest tweets said the following:

Stay tuned to The Buzz for the latest news on HBCUs.

Morehouse College Senior Honored As International Rhodes Scholar

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Morehouse College student, Prince Abudu, has been selected to the 2016 International Rhodes Scholar class. Abudu is the fourth Morehouse student to be selected to the prestigious scholarship to attend the University of Oxford in England. Abudu hails from the country of Zimbabwe and is very excited to make his home country proud.

“It is a truly humbling honor to be a Rhodes Scholar,” Abudu told HBCU Buzz. “Many younger people look up to me as their role model because of such an honor. For that reason, I cannot disappoint, underachieve or concede to mediocrity.”

The Rhodes scholarship is very prestigious and provides for two or three years of study at Oxford. The Morehouse student plans to pursue a master’s degree in computer science and a MBA at Oxford.

“My life motto says, ‘Destinato Alla Gloria.’ That is an Italian phrase for ‘Destined for Greatness!’ I remind myself of the meaning of that phrase everyday and that gives me the drive to achieve eminence without excuses!” he said.

After hearing his story many young men will be inspired and want to become a Rhodes Scholar like him. “I would advise any aspiring Rhodes Scholars to find something that gives them drive and motivation to pursue their dreams through discouraging times,” he said, when asked about what advice he would give to young students. “If a young farm boy from the middle of nowhere somewhere in Africa made it, I do not see why you cannot make it also.”

“Importantly, you cannot be a Rhodes Scholar if you do not have a heart for other people. Demonstrate in your own special people your love for mankind and you will surely be well on your way to such a prestigious achievement.”

In the summer of 2014, Abudu interned with Cummins Inc, where he developed a call support tree for technology-related issues for the plant’s IT Department and warehouse users. Abudu is also a honors student in Morehouse’s department of Computer Science.

Abudu has been successful since his time at Morehouse but still has a bright future ahead of him.

Morehouse College was the first HBCU to produce an African American Rhodes Scholar and is now the only HBCU to produce four scholars. Former Morehouse Rhodes Scholars include Nima Warfield, named in 1994, Christopher Elders, 2002, and Oluwabusayo “Tope’” Folarin, 2004.

HBCU Professor Is Teaching The First Ever English Course On Sneaker Culture In The History Of Higher Education

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Photo credit: Charlotte Agenda

Growing up as a kid having the latest sneakers out meant you probably was one of the cool kids, and you could only be part of the cool crowd by having the latest sneakers out growing up as a kid. For many self-described sneakerheads, it’s more than just a culture—it’s also a lifestyle. Jemayne King, a professor at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC, is teaching about that lifestyle, and much more.

According to Complex, the course “touches on elements of sociology, economics, and history, all through the lens of sneaker culture.” King, who also penned a “digestible” book on sneaker culture called Sole Food in 2008, said it’s the first English course of its kind in the history of higher education incorporating sneaker culture as a theme. Pretty dope.

“When he’s not writing about sneakers, lecturing about sneakers and collecting his own sneakers (he has enough to go “a few years” without wearing the same pair twice), King also co-hosts The Gentleman & The Jerk podcast and runs Sole Food Brand, his own line of branded lifestyle apparel,” reported Charlotte Agenda. Check out the video below, and head over to Complex for more information.

https://vimeo.com/161396547

Fisk Jubilee Singers Celebrate At Ryman Auditorium

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The Fisk Jubilee Singers will celebrate Fisk University’s 150th anniversary with a concert at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday, and they’ll be sharing the stage with some very special guests.

R&B legend Sam Moore, gospel mainstay CeCe Winans, acclaimed singer-songwriter Ruby Amanfu and Southern rocker Jimmy Hall will all be on hand for the 150th birthday celebration.

The Jubilee Singers have been around nearly as long as their university home. The choral ensemble was formed in 1871 and is credited with planting the seed of Nashville’s reputation as “Music City.”

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In its first four years as a group, it toured the U.S. and Europe and performed for Queen Victoria, Mark Twain and President Ulysses S. Grant. In the 21st century, it’s been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame.

Saturday’s show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $39.50-$50 at Ticketmaster and the Ryman box office.

Howard University Student Tevin Scott Creates Web Series for Black & Sexy TV

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A film major, a few of his Howard University cohorts, some summer networking, and a script about HBCU love. This is the equation that brought Tevin Scott’s new web series “Doing It Wrong” to Black and Sexy TV.

Black and Sexy TV, which originally started as a widely watched Youtube channel, switched over to a premium subscription service in 2015. The platform delivers web series that displays black normalcy in intimate and comedic ways.

“Doing It Wrong” creator Tevin Scott sent in a pitch of his show, and three episodes to Black and Sexy Co-Founder Dennis Dortch in 2014. With no hesitation, Dortch picked the show up to develop it for their lineup, of course.

“The idea for the show came from two things, one of those being the song “Doing It Wrong” by Drake. The first episode actually starts off quoting a lyric from the song, which I found to be very profound when it comes to describing what dating and being in love is like in this day in and age. The idea also stemmed from a never ending conversation on talking vs. dating in college. I would see this debate resurface time and time again on social media and in my daily dealings at Howard, so I thought, why not make a series about it?”

Left to right: Marcus Livingston, Kiah Clingman,Sideeq Heard,Colby Muhammad
Left to right: Marcus Livingston, Kiah Clingman,Sideeq Heard,Colby Muhammad

Doing It Wrong is a dramedy if you will, about relationships in college and how badly they can be handled. It follows the turbulent relationship of Chanel Stephens (Kiah Clingman) and Tyler “Ty” Drayton (Sideeq Heard.) While Ty and Chanel are going through the “situationship” ringer because of his infidelities with women like Kiana (Colby Muhammad,)  Chanel finds solace in the smooth guy on campus, Jake (Marcus Livingston.) Both Chanel and Ty seek their friends  Anya (Phoenix Renee), Sean (Shawn Washington), Brandon (Jarrett Powell,) and Bria (Olivia Russell) for advice in the whole ordeal.

Scott said that he pitched the show in 2014 with the script and three episodes to Black and Sexy Co-founder Dennis Dortch. B&S decided to pick it up for their roster.

“I would lock myself in my room, throw on a playlist of songs that would get me in the mood to write, and I wouldn’t leave my room until I finished at least an episode!”

“The show kinda has this “battle of the sexes” feel where we’re seeing how the guys view things and how the girls view things, so talking to girls beforehand really helped me capture the woman’s voice.”

The show will premiere on Black&Sexy TV’s premium subscription service on Sunday, April 17.

The cast of Doing It Wrong and Creator Tevin Scott sat down with us at The Buzz and talked all things HBCU with us. Each of them are Howard students and graduates.

Sonia: Why Howard University?

Colby Muhammad: “My older cousin who is four years older than me attended Howard University, and he shoved it down my throat literally ridiculous. So I visited the yard and I fell in love with it. It’s nothing like coming out here and seeing so many brown faces on the yard… It’s such a rich and beautiful culture that I had to come here”

Sideeq Heard: “I only applied to Howard, and then I got denied. I was like “woah!” So I called up here like “So can I be undecided, What can I do because I’m coming to Howard University.” My test scores were high enough to be undecided, but not high enough to be a regular student. I went to the Theatre Arts audition, and I got into their program. Eventually after I got my denial letter, I got my acceptance letter.”

Kiah Clingman: “I never thought I’d come to an HBCU. I wanted to attend Northwestern, Columbia, USC, NYU included, but Howard gave me the most money out of all the schools. What Howard gave me was a sense of purpose and a sense of identity. I was not able to identify with my roots or who black people were. I came from an all-white neighborhood in Ohio, and coming here it felt so refreshing to be around so many people of my kind who are immensely intelligent and gifted.“

Jarrett Powell: “I always knew that I wanted to go to an HBCU. I grew up in an all-white neighborhood, and went to a majority white high school. I was the only black guy in all my honors classes, and I would always get those questions like “Can I touch your hair?” I always knew I wanted to be around black people.”

Phoenix, Tevin, and Marcus all knew Howard was the place for them in the long run as well. Each of them having a never say die mentality, today they are able to call themselves Bison.

A show centered around anything dealing with HBCUs has rarely been seen since the hit series A Different World. It is Scott’s hopes to appeal to a younger demographic about an aspect of Black College life, and if this goes off without a hitch, we could be looking at a web series that will sweep Black America in way that has been untapped for quite some time.

 

Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams Celebrates the Past and Future of HBCU Football

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Doug Williams owns the word “Grambling.” He says it with a casual love, like he’s talking about a spouse. “Gram-blun.” His relationship with his alma mater is complicated and thorough, from star quarterback to head coach to frustrated alum.

Williams signed with legendary Eddie Robinson’s Tigers in the early 1970s and led Grambling to three Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. In 1977, the one season SWAC teams were considered Division I schools before the I-A/I-AA split, the senior led major college football in just about every passing category. He threw for 3,286 yards and 38 touchdowns, finishing fourth in Heisman voting.

After a 12-year pro career that featured the Super Bowl XXII title and 100 passing touchdowns in 88 NFL games, Williams got into coaching. He was a running backs coach at Navy, then the offensive coordinator for the World League of American Football’s Scottish Claymores. He spent two seasons as a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars and a year as Morehouse’s head coach.

Then his alma mater asked him to succeed Robinson in 1998.

“I was realistic,” he says. “I’ve been real all along. I knew when integration came in, the guys who used to go here because they didn’t have anywhere else to go, they weren’t going to come. We didn’t have the resources, the economics. We’re not going to battle LSU for a kid. You’ve got to get the kid who wants to come to Grambling and let those kids grow.”

Since he’d left GSU in the 1970s, the stature of HBCU football had fallen. read more

Shaw University President To Receive Inaugural Higher Education Award

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Shaw University President Dr. Tashni-Ann Dubroy will be honored for her leadership in higher education as the first recipient of the 2016 Spirit of Excellence in Higher Education award. The award is presented by the Durham based Movement of Youth organization. Dr. Dubroy will receive the award at the organization’s 10th Anniversary Celebration to be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the William and Ida Friday Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“I am truly honored to receive such an illustrious award and to be recognized for my passion for students and ensuring their success,” said Dubroy. “Thank you to Movement of Youth for this award and for the work you do in making college a reality for our young men and women,” Dubroy said.

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Movement of Youth president and CEO Atryus Goode announced Dubroy as the award recipient on behalf of the organization’s board of directors.

“This is the first year that Movement of Youth has awarded such an honor,” Goode said.  “Thank you [Dr. Dubroy] for all you do to support the growth and development of historically black colleges and universities.”

Dr. Dubroy is the 17th president of Shaw University and the youngest female to lead the institution. Within the first 100 days of her presidency, she streamlined operations to make Shaw more efficient and economical; reallocated tuition reductions to merit-based programs; established Shaw as one of the first HBCUs to become a smoke-free campus and increased outreach to downtown Raleigh businesses and neighborhood stakeholders.

Under Dr. Dubroy’s leadership, the university has exceeded record fundraising benchmarks. In addition, she has elevated Shaw’s profile in the Raleigh-Durham area by establishing partnerships with major businesses and corporations, resulting in increased financial support and internships for students, and job opportunities for graduates. The university was also the first HBCU in the nation to receive a grant from IBM for strategic planning.

Dubroy’s approach to leadership, “E.P.I.C.”, focuses on Entrepreneurship, Presence, Innovation, and Customer care. These four areas represent opportunities for the university community to pursue excellence in order to successfully position the institution for long term growth and success.

Movement of Youth (MOY) trains college students to prepare youth for success through mentoring and targeted enrichment activities. The organization’s Spirit of Excellence Awards program will serve as a fundraiser to support its “20 by 2020” expansion plan. MOY plans to expand to at least 8 new college sites per year—in North Carolina and beyond—with the goal of being in 20 states by the year 2020. This expansion will impact approximately 4,000 middle and high school students and 1,000 college students across the country.

The awards ceremony will begin with a reception at 5:00 p.m. followed by a dinner program at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Steve Perry, best-selling author, education contributor for CNN and MSNBC, and Essence Magazine columnist, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.

New Graduate Program To Prepare HBCU Leaders

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Jefferson City, MO- A unique graduate degree program beginning this fall at Lincoln University will prepare future leaders for the university and its counterparts.  The Master of Higher Education with a concentration in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will enroll its first cohort in Fall 2016.  

Offered through the university’s Department of Education, graduates of the program will gain skills and knowledge in higher education leadership as a practice, with a more specific understanding of the nuances and issues of HBCU leadership.  The program is designed with the full-time employed student in mind. Diverse professional backgrounds and career goals will help prepare students for their future as they work together in and out of class.  These interactions will help students appreciate and understand the multiple perspectives that may be needed in higher education decision-making.

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“The challenges that HBCUs face require administrators to not only adapt to change, but also understand the historical mission, the culture, human capital, politics, and resource that beset these institutions in the 21st century,” says Dr. Said Sewell, Lincoln University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  “Our main goal is to prepare individuals for leadership in shaping the future of HBCUs through generating and applying knowledge, advancing the role of HBCUs in supporting the public good, and improving institutional practice,” continues Sewell.

Dr. Avila Hendricks, Lincoln University Department of Education Program Director sees the program as a necessary asset for developing future leaders of HBCUs.  “The Master of Higher Education degree program will draw its core faculty from Lincoln University’s best instructors, and its affiliate adjunct faculty from some of the top universities and premier higher education agencies in the country.  This program will create an extraordinary platform for professional development and innovation at HBCUs.”

Graduates of the program will be qualified to participate in a wide range of HBCU settings, including: student affairs, academic affairs, and development. They will assume a wide variety of roles and work on key activities such as admissions, advising, residential, fundraising, and administration. Coursework will be offered in an accelerated cohort model, with the typical completion time of three semesters, over a year and a half.  The university has available graduate assistantships for qualified non-Missouri resident students.  

 
Graduate students and elite practitioners who aspire to higher intellectual levels, or who would enjoy studying and working with leading educational specialists in order to improve their job performance and professional qualifications to apply now.  For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at gradschool@lincolnu.edu or by calling 573-681-5247.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame To Enshrine Coaching Legend Again

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Legendary basketball coach and innovator John McLendon was announced as a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement class of 2016 to be honored Sept. 8-10 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The announcement was made in Houston, the site of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and televised live on ESPN SportsCenter yesterday.

McLendon, who started his college coaching career at North Carolina Central University (then known as North Carolina College) in 1937 and served as the Eagles head basketball coach from 1940-52, was first enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979 as a contributor. In September, he will enter the hall posthumously as a coach.

With his second enshrinement, McLendon joins a distinguished few who have been elected twice, including John Wooden, Lenny Wilkens, Bill Sharman and Tommy Heinsohn.

Born April 5, 1915 in Hiawatha, Kansas, McLendon’s contributions to the sport of basketball are virtually innumerable. His advisor at the University of Kansas was the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith.

During his time at NCCU, McLendon pioneered basketball’s full court game, using such strategies as the full court press, the full court zone (now known as the zone press), the open center offense whose variants include the “four corners,” the rotating pivot, and the double-pivot.

In 38 years as a head coach, he achieved a collegiate coaching record of 523 wins to 165 losses for a .760 winning percentage, including a 239-68 record at NCCU. He was the first coach to win three consecutive national championships, leading Tennessee State to NAIA National Championships in 1957, 1958 and 1959. He was also the first black coach in a professional basketball league (with the Cleveland Pipers in the American Basketball League in 1961) and the first black coach at a predominantly white university (Cleveland State employed him in June 1966).

McLendon died on Oct. 8, 1999 at the age of 84.

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This year’s class also includes 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, eleven-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, two-time NABC Coach of the Year Tom Izzo, three-time NBA Finals MVP Shaquille O’Neal and four-time WNBA Champion Sheryl Swoopes. Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected four directly elected members. They include Zelmo Beaty from the Veterans Committee, Yao Ming from the International Committee, Cumberland Posey from the Early African American Pioneers Committee and Jerry Reinsdorf from the Contributor Committee.

Howard Grad Running For Congress Talks With The Buzz

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It was an honor to interview Clyde Williams. He announced his candidacy for New York’s 13th Congressional District in October of 2015. He was the recipient of the Harlem Business Alliance’s Community Service Award in 2003. In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Williams as the Political Director of the DNC. He is married to former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen. Lastly, he graduated from Howard University with a degree in political science. 

Robert: You are a Howard grad! How has being a Bison been helpful to you in life?

Clyde: I loved my time at Howard and continue to have a soft spot for that school. Attending Howard really changed my life and provided me with opportunities and a belief in myself. If you think about some of the people that have gone to Howard or have been affiliated with the school – people like, Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Charles Drew, Ed Brooks, and Sharon Dixon, among countless others – the school has an important historical significance and legacy that not many schools have. Attending Howard gives you an opportunity to build on that legacy. Attending Howard was a special time in my life and an experience I have really valued.

Robert: What do you think the role of HBCUs are in the world?

Clyde: It’s important to remember the historical role that these schools played for the African American community in American history, offering young Black men and women an opportunity for higher education that they otherwise would not receive. These schools gave people the ability to better themselves when other universities wouldn’t. Some of the best and brightest minds in society today are from these institutions, and these schools played a critical role in helping mold them as individuals, and will continue to mold the future leaders of our society. HBCUs have played such an important role in this country’s progress in the past, and I think that will continue to be the case in the future.

Robert: Talk about your time as Political Director of the Democratic National Committee. What did you learn? What did you bring to the position?

Clyde: I was appointed as Political Director of the DNC by President Obama to help further advance the Democratic Party’s platform and agenda. I think my previous experiences prepared me well for the role. I was able to bring real political leadership to the position because of my experience working at the White House for President Clinton, my role as Deputy Chief of Staff at the US Department of Agriculture, and my position as the Domestic Policy Advisor for President Clinton at the Clinton Foundation. I was also able to understand the different constituents the party is serving, from rural, suburban, and urban parts of the country.

Rudarakanchana_HarlemPoliticsWilliams_StoryRobert: What do you want to accomplish in Congress?

I want to help improve the lives of people living in this district. This community needs representation in Congress that not only represents their best interests, but also fights for the right policies and federal support to help the district. For too long, this district has lagged when it comes to progress, and in many cases, has fallen behind other parts of the country. Rent has gone up 90% in Harlem and 55% in the Bronx over the past decade, which is unacceptable. Despite having some of the best hospitals and medical facilities in the country in this district, the average lifespan of a child born in this district is 9 years less than a child born just a few blocks south in Midtown Manhattan. 160,000 people in this district are food insecure – they don’t have access to affordable, healthy foods. Just 57% of Black and Brown boys in this city graduate high school within four years. And a third of this district lives in poverty.

So, there is clearly a lot of work that needs to be done to improve the lives and wellbeing of people in this district. The sad part is that our elected officials have had the opportunity to address many of these problems for decades but have chosen not to do so. The federal government offers some of the tools and funding opportunities needed to begin improving the lives of residents here in the district, and I can use my knowledge of the federal government along with my relationships in DC, to make sure that this district receives it fair share of federal support. I’ve been endorsed by people who know Washington and understand what it takes to be successful in Washington, including former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former White House Chief of Staff Pete Rouse, and former New Mexico Governor and Congressman Bill Richardson, among others. I want to use my knowledge and know-how to help the people of this district.

 
Robert: Who has your support for the 2016 presidential election?

Clyde: For me, loyalty is very important. I would not be where I am if it were not for the Clintons. They have done a lot for this country and for this community here in Harlem as well. When my mother passed away, one of the first phone calls I received was from Hillary Clinton. So I know the Clintons, I understand their passion for this country, and know that their ideas and know-how are what we need to continue the legacy that President Obama has created. I support Hillary Clinton in this race and truly believe that she is one of the most qualified people to ever run for the office – she has been a Senator, Secretary of State, and First Lady, and she has the right ideas and the know-how to get things done in Washington, which is important.

Stay tuned to The Buzz.

First Lady Michelle Obama to Speak At Jackson State University Commencement

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140510-140510-michelle-obama-dillard-1711_4ac0ed49e548cfcdeb106f083caaa970.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000Jackson, Mississippi – The First Lady will deliver the address at Jackson State University’s 139th Spring Commencement Ceremony. Mrs. Obama will address more than 1,000 graduates as well as their friends, family and members of the university community.

Jackson State University was founded in 1877 as a four-year public university; it is one of the largest institutions of higher learning in Mississippi and a Historically Black University originally established to educate newly freed African Americans to become ministers and teachers. Mrs. Obama has delivered remarks on an HBCU campus each year she has served as First Lady.

Echoing the call of the First Lady’s Reach Higher initiative, Jackson State University and the Jackson Public School District collaborated to form the first laboratory school in the Jackson area. Since 2013, Blackburn Laboratory Middle School has partnered with JSU in an effort to transform Blackburn into a highly successful middle school for replication and study of successful practices in the district, state, and nation.

Mississippi Valley Hires Jessica Kern as Women’s Basketball Head Coach

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On April 4th, Monday Morning, Mississippi Valley State University announced at a press conference that Jessica Kern will now serve as head coach of the Women’s Basketball Team.

Before coming to MVSU, Kern was an assistant coach for Women’s Basketball with the Furman University Paladins. Prior to that she served as head coach at the NCAA Division II Lincoln University for fours years. Kern has been the recipient of CIAA Coach of the Year honor after leading Lincoln University to a 22-9 record. That year her team shattered the school record with 22 wins until the CIAA Tournament.

With her coaching expertise, she was able to help Lincoln University win a victory over Division 1 Morgan State and help close 16-point deficit to beat Winston-Salem State. Before going to Lincoln she also served as a assistant coach and media specialist at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee of Horizon League and also a assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Kern too was a well-established athlete during her tenure. She had combined number of 11 letters in basketball, volleyball, and track where she served as team captain for each sport. In basketball she was in Four State Finals and won two state championships. She claimed 11 individual conference championships in track & field and was a three-time all-conference performance in volleyball.

Kern attended Penn State University, where she was basketball team captain for two years and was twice the Big 10 and Academic All-American honoree while also competing in Track and Field. After she graduated with a degree in Journalism, she then took her talents to the international stage for a seven year professional career playing in countries such as Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, and Poland.

Kern is expected to make an immediate impact on the Women’s Basketball Program.

Michael Eric Dyson Preaches the Importance of Accountability at Dillard University

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IMG_0529“He is not the president of Black America, but he is the president of black Americans,” said MSNBC Political Analyst, Georgetown University Professor, and best-selling author Michael Eric Dyson during his April 4 Brain Food Lecture at Dillard University.

Dyson’s hour-long reflection on the presidency of Barrack Obama ironically landed on the anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He used this historical context to juxtapose the two political spearheads; the prophet and the pharaoh.

Although Dyson believes President Obama will go down as one of the greatest presidents in history he was not shy about letting those in attendance know how President Obama failed Black Americans, and also how we failed ourselves.

“Black folks asked for nothing, and we got nothing,” said Dyson. He diagnosed the black community with a bad case of “afro-amnesia,” which would not allow us to effectively criticize Barrack Obama’s presidency; therefore we did not reap the benefits of it.

According to Dyson 97% of black voters voted for Barrack Obama in 2008 and 93% of black voters voted for him in 2012, yet we have nothing to show for it because, “black folks don’t know how to hold a black president accountable,” said Dyson. He is in fact the president of black Americans Dyson said, and we have every right to expect our president to do for us what that president does for everybody else.

Dyson ended his lecture by warning attendees to hold the figures we elect accountable no matter the color or else we end up with, “a sense of therapy, a sense of compensation, a sense of pride, but nothing in exchange.”

About Brain Food Lecture Series:

Established in 2013 to preserve the culture of lecture series on Dillard University’s campus, Brain Food was introduced by Dr. Walter Kimbrough the seventh president of Dillard University. A variety of speakers, opinions and ideas are expressed through Brain Food.

Lawrence C. Ross, author of, “Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses,” is the next Brain Food Lecture host set for April 12 at 7p.m. in Georges Auditorium.

Tennessee State Coach Dana Ford Named Nation’s Top Minority Coach

Posted by HBCU Editors
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Tennessee State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford won the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award, which is presented each year to the top minority coach in NCAA Division I.

Ford led the Tigers to one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA history, going from 5-26 in his first year in 2014-15 to 20-11 this season.

The 20 wins was tied for the most in TSU’s NCAA Division I history. The Tigers also earned a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, their first postseason appearance since 2012.

“This is another testament of how hard our guys worked to turn the program around,” Ford said. “I just happened to be the guy to oversee it.”

Ford, 31, was the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year after TSU finished 11-5 in the conference and tied for second in the East Division. The Tigers finished last in 2014-15.

Other finalists for the award included Tubby Smith, Texas Tech; Shaka Smart, Texas; Avery Johnson, Alabama; Kelvin Sampson, Houston; King Rice, Monmouth; James Jones, Yale; Kevin Keatts, North Carolina-Wilmington; Rod Barnes, Cal State Bakersfield and Mike Davis, Texas Southern. Read full at Tennessean

Steve Harvey Partners With Alabama State And Turkey Day Classic

Posted by Kyle Kidd-Buckner
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On Saturday, Alabama State President Gwendolyn Boyd announced at an evening press conference that Steve Harvey will partner with the school and the Turkey Day Classic, bringing about a buzz on campus. Throughout the conference, Harvey drove home that he just wants to bring more jobs to the state and partnering with ASU will help him achieve his goal–though, he gave few specifics on the details of the partnership.

“The Turkey Bowl will never be more fun than when we come down here,” Harvey told the Montgomery Adviser. “I’m going to bring some funky mess down here. This little country town is fixing to be jumping.” At one point Harvey exclaimed that currently “the most important thing” is Alabama State students and future students.

 

Steve Harvey and Alabama State University president
Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

According to the school website, Alabama State President Gewdolyn Boyd commented that she is honored that Harvey is joining the Classic and said the school is excited. In his remarks on the beautiful field of The ASU Stadium, Harvey said he plans to talk with the student body, putting together a staff of students who will eventually determine what they want to do regarding the matter. “It’s about everybody,” he said, moving Alabama State students to pitch in their thoughts and ideas.

“My objective is to make as many millionaires as I can…I joke around a lot, but I’m serious,” he said. “I know a lot about God and I know a lot about business. I know a lot about starting at the bottom…and how to get to the top. So, we’re going to bring some of that here to ASU and we’re going to try inspire some young people and we’re going to have a good time in the process.”