Retired HBCU Presidents Start Search Firm for Black-College Leaders

EWC President A. Zachary Faison Jr., Ph.D., FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., FMU President Jaffus Hardrick, Ph.D. and BCU President E. LaBrent Chrite, Ph.D. (Source: FAMU Forward)

How do you strengthen historically black colleges and universities? By strengthening the pipeline of administrators to run them. At least that’s the solution being taken up by a group of retired presidents of historically or predominantly black institutions.
On Tuesday four former presidents are to announce the founding of TM2 Education Search, a firm dedicated to identifying and placing candidates for top administrative posts at HBCUs.

TM2, which is connected to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, will be the first executive-search firm focused exclusively on HBCUs, and it arrives at a critical time. Many historically black institutions struggle to maintain enrollment, and public HBCUs face dwindling state support. Such pressures compound the challenges for leaders, and have contributed to “fairly significant turnover of leadership in the black-college community,” according to John W. Garland, a former president of Central State University and executive chairman of TM2 .

Mr. Garland and his colleagues hope to reverse the trend by recruiting solid candidates for HBCU leadership positions, and by offering guidance, and a sounding board, for up to a year for the new presidents and other leaders whom TM2 places. “We understand how lonely these jobs can be,” he says. “And we also understand how important it is to have someone who you can call on for advice.”
TM2 also plans to work with boards of trustees to help them understand what they should be looking for in candidates, and to set realistic expectations for new leaders. That promises to be an important aspect of the firm’s services, given the number of bitter feuds between boards of trustees and new presidents at historically black institutions in recent years. If conflicts do arise within the first 12 months, “we can be a third party to mediate that discussion,” Mr. Garland says. Read Full via The Chronicle

Fort Valley State Alum Marquette King Signs Long Term Deal with Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders SignMarquette King has emerged as one of the top punters in the NFL. Now he’s getting paid like it.

The Oakland Raiders announced Monday that King has been signed to a long-term contract extension. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the deal is worth $16.5 million over five years, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Per Rapoport, the contract includes $5.125 million that is fully guaranteed, second most among punters. The guaranteed money jumps to $10.75 million by year three.

Read full via NFL 

Top 5 HBCU Dance Lines 2016

DanceLines2016It is common knowledge that sporting events at historically black colleges and universities are not popular for sports, alone. Yes, the athletes do draw large crowds, but they do not do it alone! There are tons of elements to enjoy from the fun and inviting mascot, the glamorous campus royalty, and the catchy tunes of the band. The most lively element of the HBCU sports world is not on the field, it is in the stands, within the powerhouses known as marching bands— the ladies of the dance lines.

These small groups of ladies that often form into sisterhoods, captivate the crowd one move at a time. Dance lines are responsible for the eye-catching, rump-shaking, soul-stirring moves that get you out of your seat, and up, dancing to the music. Who cares if it’s cold? They don’t. Ladies in the dance line serve fierceness and flavor on a platter if it is 75 degrees, or 7.5 degrees.

View the Top 5 HBCU Dance Lines in 2015 

To make the dance line is a privilege, as tons of young women audition for a spot in the stands. Only a select few actually have what it takes, sticking it out through band camp and often managing 2 practices daily, while maintaining academic competitiveness. It is not easy, but when done right, fluidity and ease of motion is all you see. Which squad deliverS without fail, every game, and is far greater than any dance line you have ever laid your eyes on ? Only one can reign supreme. Considering costume, captain, squad, technique, and consistency. See this years Top 5 HBCU Dance Lines.

 

Jackson State University – Prancing J-Settes 19%

index

For the second year in a row, Jackson State University’s Prancing J-Settes claim the top spot. With nearly a fifth of the votes submitted, the Prancing J-Settes are the 2016 Best HBCU Dance Line. In last year’s competition, with nearly 40,000 votes, the J-Settes earned 17% of the poll. These ladies pranced to the lead with 19% of all votes. Dating back to 1971, the J-Settes are known for their unique style of dance. In its early days, beingg led by majorette Shirley Middleton, this auxiliary dance team was trained to reach perfection in every prance.

With a band that is known nationwide, performing for the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions, it comes as no surprise that its leading ladies reign supreme as the thrill of a million eyes.

Alabama State University – Stingettes 16%

index4

Some may fear The Alabama State University Hornets but everyone wants to be stung by a Stingette. With 16% of the entire poll, these ladies climbed up 1 spot from last year’s competition, earning the second spot of the TOP 5 HBCU Dance Lines. Since the mid 1970s, this organization has been adding sass and soul to the band. Even gaining its own television reality show, “Bama State Style”, the Alabama State University Stingettes symbolize a legacy of talent.

Southern University – Dancing Dolls 15%

index

Southern University’s Dancing Dolls are no stranger to delivering show-stopping, sensational performances. These ladies are more than a dance team, they are a sisterhood. With 15% of the voting poll, these dolls dance their way to the top 5 HBCU Dance Lines. The Dancing Dolls have performed at the professional boxing match between Floyd Mayweather v. Manny Pacquiao, with artist Madonna, and at 6 Superbowls. Its band recently received acclaim from USA Today, NCAA, and ESPN. Talent is in abundance amongst this group.

Hampton University – Ebony Fire 8%

5

These ladies have flames you’ll want to burn. Rain, snow, or shine, Ebony Fire can be seen in the stands and on the field, moving to the beat. For years, this fiery squad has delivered compelling routines with unique flare. At the Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama, these ladies sparked a flame that has
yet to dim. Earning more than 8% of votes submitted, Ebony Fire claims its spot amongst the best.

PVAMU – Black Foxes 7%

index1

The final spot for the TOP 5 HBCU Dance Lines is claimed by none other than the foxy leading ladies of the Marching Storm. The Prairie View A&M Black Foxes are without question some of the best historically black college and university dancers known to the stands and field. Known to steal half-time, the Black Foxes wow audiences with new, visually-intruiging routines. Earning 7% of the poll, the Black Foxes complete the 2016 TOP 5 Best HBCU Dance Lines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXzWlfOFZBY

American Baptist College Senior Selected to Present at NCUR

Nashville, Tennessee

Congratulations Tremaine Sails (’16), a graduating senior, on the acceptance of his abstract, “The Birth of African-American Identity: A Discourse of Resistance in 18th Century Philadelphia ,” for presentation at the April meeting of the National Conference on University Research (NCUR) at UNC Asheville. Chosen from more than 4000 submissions, Tremaine’s abstract, said the Selection Committee, demonstrated a unique contribution to his chosen field of study (which, according to Tremaine, is African Studies).

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Nashville, TN, Tremaine describes himself as a child of the Black Church, someone who has had an incessant urge to study as much as he could about biblical history, Black religious protest groups, and Black Church studies. He enrolled at American Baptist College (ABC) in the Fall of 2013 and has maintained a 3.43 GPA, making the Dean’s List or President’s List every semester since enrolling.

main

Other distinctions Tremaine has earned since enrolling at ABC are: selected as an HBCU All-Star by the White House Initiative on HBCUs , selected to the McNair Scholars Program, a 2015 Chi Boule scholar, and working as an intern for the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.

 

Jeevan Brown Seeks to Relate to Millennials With New Book About Overcoming Obstacles

In a conversation about his debut book “A Lesson Learned,” eagerness and excitement became the central emotions that escaped from Jeevan Brown’s mouth.

Brown, a 2008 Johnson C. Smith University alumnus, came up with the idea to interview sixteen friends and acquaintances about their time and experience at their respective universities. Each individual story is not laced with stories about ‘turn up ‘ or the nights of chaos and fun that society so commonly associates with college. Rather, all sixteen accounts in the book, aim to show the reader different trials and tribulations that each character faced and what they learned from the experience. The book, dealing with issues such a racism, rape, death, financial woes and more; it seeks to be a relatable read for others and a way to encourage them.

Initially wanting to write an account of his own college experience, and all of the craziness that it entailed, Jeevan Brown changed his mind. “As I grew and I matured, I started reading more and getting into church, and I realized that your purpose is to serve.” With his realization came the birth of “A Lesson Learned.” The book acts as means to give a message to its readers, that no matter what you’re going through, it is possible to get through it, and there is always something to be learned from it.

No stranger to writing, Brown states, “I’ve always been creative.” Getting his start in college, Jeevan held down 4 internships writing for different news sources and working with record companies, which landed him a position and O-Zone magazine after graduation.   Interviewing the likes of Twista, Roscoe Dash, Rasheeda, and many others; Jeevan made himself well known in the industry. He approaches his book very similar to how he wrote his articles, he used the interview process but notes that there were modifications he had to make.

He says, “I interviewed my friends but the difference was I had to put it in a story format, I had to make it visual and put more empathetic words.”

After a year and a half of working on his book, Jeevan is days away from dropping his work. Taking the self-publishing route, he put the book together completely by himself. Jeevan handled the research, writing process, formatting, and promotional outline for his book.Brown’s only aid in the entire process was Youtube. He argues, “I’m a do it yourself kind of person.”

“I found that the publishing industry is similar to the music industry right now where everyone is going the independent route. “Building up the excitement for the non-fiction piece, Brown has been travelling to different schools to get people on campus excited about it. Fully aware that self-publishing creates more work for himself he doesn’t mind at all actually preferring to put a personal feel to how he markets and sells his book. “It may be a harder process for the writer but it’s better for them in the end.”

Looking back on his time at Johnson C. Smith, Jeevan states, “I loved my HBCU experience!” Jeevan says that he had teachers who would call him and make him get out of bed to come to study sessions. “I doubt if I would’ve went to a bigger school, that they would have done that for me.”

Jeevan hopes that he can get “A Lesson Learned”  into the school systems, both high school and college for required reading. Overall, he states “I think they’ll love it and pass it onto others for generations to come.”

“People tell me don’t overwork myself, but I don’t feel like I am because I feel happy when I’m doing it, I feel like I’m really helping people and it’s something that I should be doing.” A Lesson Learned is currently available for pre- order.

Catch the trailers below

[vimeo 156497027 w=500 h=281]

“A Lesson Learned” Book Trailer Part 1 from Jeevan Brown on Vimeo.

[vimeo 157372936 w=500 h=281]

“A Lesson Learned” Book Trailer Part 2 from Jeevan Brown on Vimeo.

CollegeInsider.com Announces 8th Annual Postseason Tournament and the First John McLendon Classic

CollegeInsider.com is announcing their eight annual CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) starting March 14th that will broadcast on the CBS Sports Network for the fourth straight season.  This year, the CIT will also host the inaugural John McLendon Classic which will be the first classic held in a post-season tournament in NCAA Division I history and will honor one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball.

 

The John McLendon Classic, will be held on March 14th as a first round game in the CIT and will air on the CBS Sports Network. The game will feature a representative of either Coach McLendon’s former team at Tennessee State University, the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) or the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).  This guarantees the Classic will have at least one historically black college or university participating with the chance to advance to the CIT’s second round.

 

Serving as a celebration of historically black colleges and universities and their rich basketball tradition, the Classic will pay tribute to Coach McLendon and the legacy of some of the great pioneers of the game. At the conclusion of the game, there will be a trophy presented to the winning team and the Most Valuable Player will receive an award.  

 

“We are very excited to announce the creation of the Coach John McLendon Classic, which recognizes one of the great coaches of all-time,” College Insider, Inc., President, Joe Dwyer said. “This game, which will be a permanent part of the first round of the CIT, has been in the works for a few years and it’s finally become a reality. A lot of thanks goes to Ryan Tressler and the good people at CBS Sports Network who helped us to make the Coach John McLendon Classic a reality.”

 

This year’s CIT features a 32-team field with all 31 games being played on the home court of the higher seed.  The first round of the CIT will take place March 14th-16th followed by the second round March 18th-20th with the Quarterfinals March 22nd-24th. The Semifinals on March 27th will broadcast on the CBS Sports Network along with the Championship Game on March 29th.  Additionally, all games will be streamed lived on SIDEARM Sports which is the #1 provider of college athletics.

 

Following 2016, the John McLendon Classic will be a permanent part of the CIT held annually during the nation’s premier postseason tournament for teams that do not participate in the NCAA Basketball Championships or the NIT Tournament. The John McLendon Classic will pay homage to legendary African American coaches such as Coach McLendon, former Southern coach Ben Jobe and former Winston Salem State coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines; all great men whose role in growing the game is often overlooked.

 

“John McLendon, one of college basketball’s greatest coaches and ambassadors, was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as one of the game’s ‘Founding Fathers’ along with Adolph Rupp, Henry Iba and Forrest ‘Phog’ Allen,” said Reggie Minton, the deputy executive director of the NABC. “Like Allen, he learned the game from Dr. James Naismith at the University of Kansas and went on to become a trailblazer for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Coach McLendon’s great legacy of leadership will be perpetuated by the creation of the John McLendon Classic.”

 

In the last seven seasons, the CIT has provided abundant excitement while making college basketball history in the process. In 2009, Chris Roberts hit a 75-footer at the buzzer which was the longest game-ending shot in Division I postseason history that put Bradley into the semifinals. And, in 2010, the CIT featured Fairfield rallying from 27 points down with 16:08 remaining in the second half to advance to the second round making it the biggest comeback in Division I postseason history.

 

The CIT was created by CollegeInsider.com in 2009 in order to give deserving teams an opportunity to participate in the postseason. Since then, the CIT has had more schools make their postseason debut (25) and more programs win their first-ever postseason game (24) than all other tournaments combined.  In addition, the CIT has produced three NBA Lottery picks and two Top 10 selections including Damian Lillard (6th overall in 2012) who was named 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year which marked the first time since 1955 that a tournament other than the NCAA Tournament had produced the NBA Rookie of the Year.

 

In 2012, CollegeInsider.com established the John McLendon award which is presented annually to the top coach at all levels of college basketball. The award encompasses Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and JUCO.

 

CollegeInsider.com was founded in 1996 with their online coverage dedicated exclusively to college basketball.  In 1998, CollegeInsider.com created the Mid-Major Top 25 that has become the measuring stick for teams outside the power conferences and is now trademarked.  Each year, CollegeInsider.com presents 17 national awards in basketball named after some of the greatest coaches in the history of the game including Clarence “Big House” Gaines, Lou Henson, John McLendon and Lute Olson.  Since the inception of the CIT in 2009, the tournament has expanded from a 16-teams to 32-teams in 2012 which is currently the number of teams playing in the 2016 CIT.  CollegeInsider.com has been nominated for four Emmy Awards and in 2013 won the New York Emmy Award in Sports Coverage for the Sportscast/Series category and was selected over top broadcast outlets such as MSG and SNY.

Luke Lawal Jr., DJ Envy And More Discuss The Importance of HBCUs to College Hopefuls

luke lawal

The Brooklyn Nets v. Charlotte Hornets basketball game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York was no regular basketball game. During the game, and before, the historically black college and university (HBCU) community was vividly in the building. HBCU t-shirts, jackets, and banners decorated the arena. Not only were HBCU alumni invited to the game for a package deal, they were offered entry into the billboard lounge, with food, drink, and entertainment, and to a host of networking opportunities.

HBCU Night also featured an all-male panel, speaking to a group of about fifty all-male Brooklyn high school students and their fathers. Seats on the panel were shared by Hampton University pirate and celebrity disk-jockey, DJ Envy, Bowie State Bulldog and HBCU Buzz CEO Luke Lawal, North Carolina A&T State University Aggie and CBSN Live Associate Producer Dexter Mullins, and Theo Brown of Atlantic Records. Panelists embraced a relaxed, informal atmosphere, encouraging the young men to find and pursue their passion while motivating the group towards college, specifically the historically black environment. DJ Envy told a personal story about him almost going to jail, sharing that after praying to God, and after a weapon he touched was found without fingerprints, he was able to have clarity about his future decisions, from almost losing his future. DJ Envy and also shared that one reason he wanted to pursue higher education was premised on him wanting to be wealthy, having the opportunity to provide for his family.

CEO of HBCU Buzz Luke Lawal empowered students, telling them;

“never ever go in a room with somebody that you want to be and be afraid to talk to them..be aggressive in trying to figure out how you can get there”.


Associate Producer Mullins told students “even if you don’t have the best grades, and if you messed up, don’t be afraid to apply to a college, especially an HBCU” and “nothing is going to go the way you want it to ..ever, so it is important to have a plan A, and plan B and a plan C”.

Correspondent and America’s Next Top Model finalist Bianca Golden, who was moderating the evening, chimed in, expressing her Lincoln University Lion pride. A heartfelt story about her loved ones missing out on the joys of life resonated with the young men as they sat in silence, with wide eyes, listening to her as she pleaded them to take control of their lives.

“Being a part of something is important… [and] changing the path that you are on right now is important, though it may not seem cool when you are on the block, you can’t make any excuses like oh my mom wasn’t there, or like my parents didn’t have time for me”.

One Brooklyn Collegiate high school student took the mic and shared that to him, HBCU meant “a difference from white dominated schools, with a different opportunity to be surrounded by those who look like you and can understand certain similar struggles to reach the top.”

After the panel, the students were afforded the opportunity to take pictures and have a one-on-one time with the panelists, if desired, along with tickets to the basketball game. HBCU Night was a success, as the students left knowing more than they came knowing, and because they had the opportunity to see that no matter the industry, black men can shake the stereotype, and prosper.

5 Reasons Why the HBCU Community Shouldn’t Vote for Hillary

First, let me inform you on what I mean by the Historical Black College and University (HBCU) community. I consider the HBCU community to be: students at an HBCU, HBCU graduates, HBCU faculty, administration and staff, and anyone who knows that HBCUs are very valauble to Higher Education in America. You all represent the august body that can be the source of betterment for institutions that suggest current decline and a bright hope for the future–all at the same time.

It is important as voters in this election cycle that we elect the person who is the best for fighting against our issues. This does not happen by merely listening to candidates because voter education is never about what candidates say but about their track record on what they argue. We must always grapple with the question: does the candidate’s history match their campaign priorities?

This is why I chose to research and write about Hillary’s track record. Too many people from the HBCU community think that she is a good candidate based on her campaign rhetoric. Hillary is posing as a progressive with her campaign rhetoric, when her record is far from progressive–it is oppressive.

The rapper ‘Killer Mike’ points out how terrible she treated #BlackLivesMattter activists 

The video above is self-explanatory. Killer Mike sets the record straight about Hillary’s response to #BlackLivesMatter activists versus Bernie Sanders’ response. Hillary is very rude, while Bernie is very kind and listening to the demands from the activists. Do you want a president who listens or one who is combative and tells protestors that they are rude for interupting their speech on an important and unaddressed issue?

The Bill Clinton Administration was terrible for African-Americans

Michelle Alexander, attorney and author of the amazing book–The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, writes in her article,

“Bill Clinton presided over the largest increase in federal and state prison inmates of any president in American history. He did not declare the war on crime or the war on drugs—those wars were declared before Reagan was elected and long before crack hit the streets—but he escalated them beyond what many conservatives had imagined possible. He supported the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity for crack vs. powder cocaine, which produced staggering racial injustice in sentencing and boosted funding for drug-law enforcement.”

In essence, the school-to-prison pipeline was at it’s worst during the Clinton years.

She argues further, “When Bill left office in 2001, the United States had the highest rate of incarceration in the world. Human Rights Watch reported that in seven states, African Americans constituted 80 to 90 percent of all drug offenders sent to prison, even though they were no more likely than whites to use or sell illegal drugs. Prison admissions for drug offenses reached a level in 2000 for African Americans more than 26 times the level in 1983. All of the presidents since 1980 have contributed to mass incarceration, but as Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson recently observed, ‘President Clinton’s tenure was the worst.'”

Is this the person we want to lead our country? Her husband proved to us that he was not the best president for us over and over again.

In fact, Alexander gives us statistics on the Clinton administration that were never reported. She writes, “When Bill left office in 2001, the true jobless rate for young, non-college-educated Black men (including those behind bars) was 42 percent. This figure was never reported.”

Hillary’s $25 Billion Dollar Plan for HBCUs doesn’t make sense

In April 2015, I interviewed the former Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Dr. John S Wilson, he told me that capital enlargement was a major priority during his time with the initiative.

In that article he says, “we greatly increased the overall federal funding to HBCUs. Just before President Obama took office, the total federal funding to HBCUs was a little under $4 billion. Just after President Obama’s first term, as I shifted from the White House to Morehouse, the federal funding had risen to over $5.3 billion.”

A NBC news article spells out her plan to allocate $25 billion dollars to HBCUs, however, questions still loom. How will she get this done? Will $19.7 billion dollars fall out of the sky?

Conservative Philanthropist Robert A. Day Supports Her Campaign

A New York Times article tells us that Robert A. Day supported Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie and Hillary Clinton. He has also supported the Republican National Committee during the George W. Bush administration. According to a news source, he hosted a fundraiser with President Bush raising $1 million for the Republican National Committee. Why is this Republican philanthropist supporting Hillary? Could it be that he knows that supporting her is not far from supporting a Republican candidate?

Robert Day supporting Hillary could mean that he believes that she will be a good candidate and can run a presidency very similar to the Bush brothers. He supports Hillary’s campaign at a reported number near $11,000–which is not much, however, no one will ever invest a dime in anything that they think cannot give them the return they want to see in the world.

According to The Black Enterprise, President Bush’s budget proposal had major cuts in it for HBCUs. They argue, “At the time, Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, said Bush’s budget proposal essentially nullified an increase in funding that was promised to HBCUs by the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act.”

In short, the Bush Administration, which we know she has ties to now, was never kind to the HBCU community.

She served as a Wal-Mart Board of Director from 1986-1992

Lastly, this is something that no one is talking about. Hillary served on the board of directors at Wal-Mart. Let that sink in for a bit. In a 2008 ABC News article entitled:”Clinton Remained Silent As Wal-Mart Fought Unions”, it argues, “Hillary Clinton remained silent as the world’s largest retailer waged a major campaign against labor unions seeking to represent store workers.”

In fact, I am not sure why unions support her when she supported an organization that has fought tirelessly against workers fighting to unionize. Do they understand who they are supporting? Furthermore, that article also spells out, “An ABC News analysis of the videotapes of at least four stockholder meetings where Clinton appeared shows she never once rose to defend the role of American labor unions.”

The article goes even further to explain Hillary’s silence stating, “A former board member told ABCNews.com that he had no recollection of Clinton defending unions during more than 20 board meetings held in private.”

Hillary, who is well loved by African-Americans and labor unions, has a history of serving on the board of an anti-union organization and never raised her voice to speak out against it. Hillary claims that all Bernie talks about is his passion to solve income inequality while history tells us that she supported an organization, the world’s largest retailer, that is the face of income inequality in this country.

We want Hillary R. Clinton to be our president?

‘Stay woke’ HBCU community!

PVAMU Alum Kirko Bangz Returns With ‘Playa Made’ EP

After staying under the radar for quite some time, Prairie View A&M University alumni Kirko Bangz is back with an extended play release called Playa Made.

The Houston rapper seems to be going back to what transformed him into one of hip-hop’s most talked about newbies given the fact that Play Made “is steeped in the AutoTuned crooning that much of his discography is defined by,” writes Justin Ivey at XXL Mag.

Kirko Bangz’s latest project features just one guest appearance, singer-songwriter Jacquees comes thru on the track “145” on Playa Made, and the EP really sets the mood for the ladies as soon as you press play:

Kirko Bangz follows up his 2015 EP Fallin’ Up with another extended play release called Playa Made. It’s been awhile since the Houston rapper dropped a full length project and there has been no update on his Better Than Me album. It appears Kirko is intent with satisfying his fan base through shorter works like this one.

The Playa Made EP is light on guest appearances with X.O. and singer Jacquees as the only featured artists on the project. Kirko Bangz enlists the talents of Trakksounds, Chinky P, Albie, Sledgren, Gluck, B-Don and the aforementioned X.O. for production on the EP.

Playa Made is also a turn back to the radio-friendly style of Kirko Bangz’s work. When he released the “30 for 30″ freestyle last November, it sounded like the Texan was trying to break out of that mold.

While still enrolled at PVAMU, Kirko Bangz received early success with his first single ‘What Yo Name Iz?’ in 2011, following by his massive hit “Drank in My Cup,” his highest charting song to date peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Head over to XXL Mag to read more.

Stacey Dash Explains her Appearance at the Oscars

LOS ANGELES — Stacey Dash is known for speaking her mind, and on Sunday, she made an unexpected appearance on the Oscars stage, then explained it in a blog post.

Host Chris Rock introduced the controversial actress within the first hour of the show, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. She was welcomed with a few claps and a lot of confused looks.

Instead of a drawn out speech, she had four words for everyone watching.

“Happy Black History Month,” Dash said smiling and waving to the audience.

If you’re confused by her one-liner — in January, Dash said in an interview with Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” that there shouldn’t be a Black History Month.

“We’re Americans. Period. That’s it,” she said to show’s host Steve Doocy.

When the host asked Dash if the ban was because there was no “White History Month,” she responded, “Exactly, exactly.”

She also said the controversy over the Oscars was “ludicrous.”

“We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration,” she said.

Mister Harris-Stowe State Talks About His New Book on Ferguson

Timothy Moore, Mister Harris-Stowe State, is an innovator who develops brands such as Wells Fargo, Graybar Electric, Remy Martin, Hennessy, Boy Scouts of America, Klean Collar, Nawgan, Wage Peace, State Representative Michael Butler, and many more.

I had a chance to chat with him about his new book that released Thursday, Feb. 18th, 2016 entitled: Ferguson: The Harmonious Moments of Separation. The book is based on cutting-edge photography that tells the story of Ferguson.

Robert: Whats the main point of the book?

Timothy: The main point of the Photography Concept Book is to keep the voice of not only Ferguson alive and at the front of mind, but to speak volumes for cities and situations around the world that have affected people.
1

Robert: Why did you write it?

Timothy: I produced this Photography Concept Book simply for people to hold a piece of history in their procession that has not been altered. Simply shining light on the other side of what was shown in the media was my general purpose.

Robert: What did you want to accomplish with this book?

Timothy: It is my goal, that this moment in time causes a modern day Tipping Point. I want play an integral part in breaking the chains on the worlds definition of limits. I want this book to serve as a platform for purpose and an element of cultivation. As a reader and viewer of this book, I want everyone to recognize the opportunity that they have to change the world in any capacity that they put their mind to.

Robert: How instrumental has Harris-Stowe State been in preparing you for the future?

Timothy: Harris-Stowe State has had a great influence on preparing me for the future because they have genuinely provided me with tools to perfect my craft and allowed me the opportunity to test concepts that I have gone on to reproduce for brands across the world. When you have a home that invests in who you are socially, mentally, and emotionally you can’t help but understand the value in your Alma Mater. It takes a village to raise a child and Harris-Stowe State University has aided me in my development as a product of an HBCU!

Robert: Why Ferguson? Do you have any plans to sustain Ferguson beyond hashtags and protests?

Timothy: I chose Ferguson, because it was the 1st place in the history of my life that was close to home and caused a modern day civil war which directly affected me. I wanted to ensure that I did everything in my power to capture history. The thing is, I was directly volunteering inside Ferguson and in the surrounding area before August 2014 and I will continue to do what I can to assist in the development of the area. I definitely plan on assisting Ferguson in their sustainability programming through future efforts of mentoring and program development.


Timothy J. Moore released his book Thursday, February 18th, 2016. You can find more information about his project here.

Virginia Union Lady Panthers Win CIAA Championship

rp_primary_w_ciaa_champ-1Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 27, 2016) – Virginia Union used a late 10-2 fourth quarter rally to down Shaw 70-66 to win their second title in program history and their first CIAA title since 1982 (a span of 34 years).

Virginia Union (25-2) held Shaw (24-7) in check for the final 3:30 of the contest, thanks to the Panther duo of Kiana Johnson and Lady Walker, who contributed all 10 VUU points on the championship-clinching run.

As a team, Virginia Union shot 34.6% (27-78) from the field and 28.1% (9-32) from three point range.  Shaw returned a 32.4% (22-68) shooting percentage and the normally reliable Bears managed only a 15.0% (2-20) outing from long range.

Northern Division top seeded Virginia Union wasted no time in solidifying the early first quarter lead, as they vaulted to the early 10-3 lead capped by a Taylor White jumper.  Shaw quickly erased the seven point deficit when Eboni Ross and Kaula Jacks scored on consecutive possessions to draw even at 10-10 at the 3:03 mark.  Over the final stages of the first quarter, Shaw was able to take the 11-10 lead after a  Tabatha Anderson free throw, but VUU’s Kiana Johnson regained the lead for the Panthers at 13-11 when she cashed in from long range.

In the second quarter, the teams battled through three lead changes as neither team could pull away.  Virginia Union gained a three point advantage at the 8:01 mark when Kiana Johnson nailed a three-pointer, but Shaw’s Fantasha Tyson equaled that shot with one of her own with 6:18 left to again tie the score at 21-21.  VUU would then take the lead on a Taylor White free throw and would made it a three point game at 26-23 when Johnson connected for another basket with 3:04 to play.

Shaw’s Kaula Jacks would pull the Bears to within one (28-27) after a jumper at 2:08.  After forcing a VUU turnover, Eboni Ross gave Shaw the 29-28 lead after a layup with 25 seconds left and was fouled on the play by Lady Walker.  Ross would hit the free throw to extend Shaw’s lead to 30-28, a mark that they would take into the halftime break, as Virginia Union could not get another shot off in the half.

After Ross extended the Shaw lead to 31-28 on a free throw at the start of the third quarter, the Panthers’ Johnson would connect from long range to tie it once again, this time at 31-31.

Tied at 41-41 at the 4:52 mark, Shaw would go on a 6-0 run over the next 1:40 to take a 47-41 lead after Aaliyah Mercer converted a free throw.  Virginia Union again made a big play, this time fromLady Walker, as she cut the Bear lead to 47-44, after knocking down a layup while getting fouled, and she added the free throw for the three-point play.

After a Shaw free throw on the other end, Kiana Johnson launched a deep three pointer that again trimmed the Bears’ lead to 47-48 with 2:34 to play.  Shaw again pushed the ball inside, earning a foul and Eboni Ross canned both free throws to go up 50-47.  Following the free throws, Virginia Union connected from deep again, this time from Zana Godoy, tying the game again, at 50-50.  Shaw would then get baskets from Jacks and Ross to close the quarter, with the Bears holding the 54-52 advantage.

Shaw kept the Panthers at bay through much of the fourth quarter, as they matched Virginia Union basket by basket until Kiana Johnson dropped in a three pointer at the 2:43 mark and was fouled.  Her free throw rimmed out and Shaw clinged to the 64-63 lead.  Following a media timeout with 2:30 to go, the Panthers turned it over with 1:43 left, giving Shaw a chance to extend their lead.  After a missed three-pointer and an official’s review, Virginia Union retained possession and Lady Walker gave VUU the 65-64 lead in traffic with 1:04 remaining.

In the midst of VUU pressure, they forced a turnover and foul with 50.3 left.  CIAA Player of the YearKiana Johnson splashed a huge three-pointer that gave VUU the 68-64 lead.  Shaw then was able to get a layup from Eboni Ross to trim the lead to 68-66 with 7.0 seconds remaining.  After the Bears called timeout, Virginia Union called timeout to set up their offense.  After two Shaw fouls that put VUU in the bonus, Lady Walker stepped to the line and calmly hit both shots to make it 70-66, still with 7.0 seconds to play.

Following a full timeout by Shaw, the Bears three point attempt was short and VUU secured the rebound to earn their second CIAA Championship.

VUU’s Kiana Johnson was named Tournament MVP while teammates Rahni Bell and Lady Walkerearned All-Tournament honors.  Shaw’s Kaula Jacks, Eboni Ross, and Tabatha Anderson also received All-tournament plaudits.

With the win Virginia Union earns the CIAA’s automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament.  The official brackets will be unveiled on March 6 at 10:00 p.m. during the selection show at NCAA.com.

The 25 wins are the second-most for a women’s team in VUU history.  Only the 1983 team, which won 27 games, had more wins in a single season.

2016 CIAA All-Tournament Team
Kiana Johnson   Virginia Union – MVP

Tabatha Anderson    Shaw
Rahni Bell          Virginia Union
Kiara Colston       Bowie State
Amber Curtis        Livingstone
Alisha Mobley       Chowan
Kaula Jacks         Shaw
Asha Jordan         Johnson C. Smith
Eboni Ross          Shaw
Lady Walker         Virginia Union

John B. McLendon Sportsmanship Award
Elizabeth City State University

Virginia State Beats Livingstone for Championship Title

6fyns0fu3c1b8n4xCHARLOTTE, N.C. – Guard-forward Javon Moore scored 30 points and guard Kevin Williams added 24 points as Virginia State took charge in the second half to dethrone Livingstone 89-79 for the CIAA Tournament Men’s Basketball Championship at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016.

The Trojans used a 12-0 opening run in the second half to win their first title since claiming back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1988. They outscored the two-time defending champions 54-43 in the second half after trailing 36-35 at halftime.

“I’m just so proud of my guys,” said Trojans’ Head Coach Lonnie Blow, Jr., who became the first coach in history to lead two different teams to CIAA men’s basketball titles. “We set a goal earlier in the season to be conference champions. In August, we were weightlifting and getting up early, conditioning and doing things like that with this day in mind.”

The Trojans (22-5 overall), who earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament, were the best team in the CIAA during the regular season. They entered the CIAA Tournament ranked seventh in the Atlantic Region, and will await their national tournament seeding on the NCAA selection show, which will air March 6 on NCAA.com at 10 p.m.

The Trojans also proved they were the best team in the tournament, winning three games in three nights by an average of 11.7 points. They put the Blue Bears in a hole early in the second half, and the Blue Bears, playing their fourth game in four nights, never led again.

“For the most part [this season], we were consistent with our effort and consistent with our execution,” Blow said. “We are one unit, and that’s the way we play.”

The Trojans appeared to be in control of the first half after taking a 30-24 lead, but a late run put the Blue Bears ahead 36-35 at halftime. Williams says the talk in the Trojans’ locker room at halftime centered around one topic.

“Defense, Defense, Defense!” said Williams, the tournament MVP. “We didn’t say nothing about offense.”

Williams scored 19 points and Javon Moore scored 16 points in the second half as the Trojans knocked the Blue Bears off balance with a flurry of points. The Trojans led 47-36 at the 15:04 mark, and padded their lead to 64-49 with 8:45 remaining on Javon Moore’s free throw off his steal.

Led by guard Daryl Traynham, the Blue Bears had some fight left. Traynham scored 10 points during a 12-2 run to get his squad within five points. His three-pointer pulled the Blue Bears within 66-61 with 5:57 left.

The Trojans responded with their own run to put the game out of reach. Williams made two free throws for an 84-71 lead with 58 seconds remaining, capping an 18-10 run. The Trojans connected on 10 of 13 free throws during that span.

The trio of Waymond Wright, Elijah Moore and Cyonte Melvin each scored eight points for the Trojans. Tyler Peterson chipped in seven points.

Traynham and forward Ty Newman both came off the bench to score 29 points and 21 points, respectively, for the Blue Bears, the No. 4 Southern Division seed whose season ended at 15-16 overall. Juwan Cole added 11 points.

The Blue Bears were playing their fourth game in four nights, but Newman says that wasn’t the reason they fell to the Trojans.

“They were hungry,” Newman said. “They looked like the best team in the conference in the second half.”

The Trojans’ trio of Williams, Javon Moore and forward Elijah Moore in addition to the Blue Bears’ threesome of Traynham, Newman and guard Eric Debose were named to the All-CIAA Tournament team after the contest. The other All-Tourney players were guard Ray Anderson of Virginia Union, guard Ahmaad Wilson of Bowie State, guard Anthony Gaskins of Saint Augustine’s and guard Joshua Dawson of Fayetteville State. Johnson C. Smith won the CIAA Men’s Team Sportsmanship Award.

CIAA Tournament MVP

Kevin Williams, Virginia State

CIAA All-Tournament Team

Ray Anderson, Virginia Union

Ahmaad Wilson, Bowie State

Daryl Traynham, Livingstone

Kevin Williams, Virginia State

Ty Newman, Livingstone

Elijah Moore, Virginia State

Eric Dubose, Livingstone

Anthony Gaskins, Saint Augustine’s

Javon Moore, Virginia State

Joshua Dawson, Fayetteville State

CIAA Men’s Team Sportsmanship Award

Johnson C. Smith

Miss Winston-Salem State University Crowned Today as Food Lion’s Miss CIAA 2016

Barrett-1Miss Winston-Salem State University Crowned Today as Food Lion’s Miss CIAA 2016 GROCER ALSO AWARDS 1,000 IN THE NAME OF MISS FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY TO LOCAL FOOD BANK FOR HAVING MOST POPULAR ONLINE VOTE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Today, Food Lion awarded Miss Winston-Salem State University, Dontia Yavonne Barrett with its coveted 2016 Miss CIAA crown, along with a $1,250 scholarship at the McDonald’s/CIAA Super Saturday inside the Time Warner Cable Arena.

Barrett, 21, is a native of Durham, N.C. She is a senior majoring in psychology. Also, she has represented WSSU as Miss Freshman, Miss Sophomore, the Junior Class President, and was recently crowned Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Food Lion Miss CIAA competition winners are given scholarships based on their GPA, community and school involvement, biography, essay and online popular vote.

Food Lion also awarded its first-runner up distinction to Miss Virginia State University Lauren Papillion, who will receive a $750 scholarship. Miss Fayetteville State Jasmine Bogan won second runner up and a $500 scholarship.

In addition to Saturday’s crowning, Food Lion Feeds awarded $1,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina on behalf of Bogan for receiving the most popular online votes for her video platform to alleviate hunger in the local community. Bogan received more than 30,000 online votes.

The CIAA is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II athletic conference consisting mostly of historically African-American institutions of higher education.

About Food Lion
Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 65,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has committed to provide 500 million meals to individuals and families in need by the end of 2020. Food Lion is a company of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group For more information, visit www.foodlion.com.

HBCU Muslim Students to Host National Conference at Howard University

Washington, D.C.

HBCU Muslim Students Association Coalition (HBCU MSAC) is gearing up for its second national conference to be held from April 8-10, 2016 at Howard University.

c0b64489-3839-4e85-9265-a7cf51479b1f-large

This year’s conference plans to draw dozens of students from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Fisk University, Howard University, The Lincoln University-PA and North Carolina A&T State University to the nation’s capital for a weekend of networking, prayer and fun.

The conference will kick off Friday afternoon with prayer service at 1 p.m. in the Blackburn Center. Shadeed Muhammad, a popular imam with a large following among young, Black Muslim adults, will give the khutbah (sermon). A meet-and-greet game night for students and alumni will begin at 6 p.m.

Saturday will consist of workshops for Muslim students at HBCUs. Topics include career opportunities after graduation, transitional planning for MSA leadership and how to establish an MSA chapter on campus. An additional session for alumni is planned and will focus on effective ways to engage current students and support their efforts. The weekend event is free for students and MSA advisors. Admission for alumni and supporters is $20.

HBCU Muslim Students Association Coalition was founded in 2014 to provide safe spaces for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligations on campuses where the student body is overwhelmingly Christian. In addition, the coalition assists college Muslim organizations with hosting educational programs on campus to fight Islamophobia. To make a donation, please visit www.gofundme.com/hbcumsaconf16.

On The Yard Season 3 Is Finally Here!

The most awaited TV series in the black college community has finally arrived and it doesn’t disappoint.

Co-Directed and Co-produced by Perry White and Garrett Edgerson of DaEdge1Productions, ‘On The Yard’ brings the viewer all the latest news and story lines around Southern University, “I have some great content this season coming your way,” White told us via email, referring to what to expect in season 3 of the weekly YouTube TV series.

White also serves as Host for the series.

In the first episode of season 3, the folks over at ‘On The Yard’ highlights the Higher Education Rally at the Louisiana State Capitol, life on the yard, and more. You can check out the video above.