Scholars of the Culture: Wiley College Hip-Hop Conference ; March 21-22

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Wiley College seeks to establish the first annual conference at a Historically Black College that addresses hip-hop culture from an academic perspective. The aim is to facilitate student and attendee exposure to the history, art, rhetoric, and industry of hip-hop, and to increase participant awareness of the transformative possibilities and academic value of hip-hop. Through discussions of complex cultural issues that center on hip-hop, students will be encouraged to develop their skills of critical thinking and reflection by using the language that they are already familiar with as media consumers.

Scholars of the Culture is essential for successfully shaping Wiley College’s 21st century identity as a vibrant campus where students participate in critical contemporary dialog and become informed citizens who are influential in their communities. Scholars, graduate students, undergraduate students, and artists will participate in paper panels, Show and Proves, Cyphers, and creative performances.

As a Historically Black College, Wiley College is dedicated to educating and empowering its students, many of whom are the producers and consumers of hip-hop culture. The College, in fulfilling its basic purpose of providing a liberal arts education with a global focus, endeavors to provide an intellectually stimulating environment, promote student competencies in communication, and foster critical and analytical thinking. Scholars of the Culture responds to the College’s mission by demonstrating to students the educational and global importance of hip-hop culture.

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How an HBCU with 35 Students Keeps its Doors Open

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If historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are an endangered species, Morris Brown College could be closest to extinction.

Most buildings on this silent campus are boarded up and abandoned.

Before the school lost accreditation in 2003, a few thousand students were enrolled at Morris Brown. Almost overnight, most fled out of fear their degree would carry no weight. Today, there are just 35 students.

Joquala Walker is one of those students. The 26 year-old aspiring singer is the only student in a class called “Promotions in Recorded Music.”

When I ask her why she chose Morris Brown, she quickly responds “why not Morris Brown?” She says the school wants to help and deserves a chance just like any other.

Walker’s instructor is Makisha Funderburke, who wants to help so badly, she teaches without pay.

“I just think Morris Brown should be given a chance,” says Funderburke. “And it’s been done pretty well surviving 10 years. A lot of people are wondering ‘Why and how’?”

The “why” is easier to answer than the “how.”

Morris Brown has to survive.

If the school closes its doors, even for a short time, its land could go to nearby Clark-Atlanta University. That’s the school that originally donated the land.

“We are upholding a great tradition of former slaves, of people in the early 1900s [who] struggled to make sure this institution will remain open,” says Stanley Pritchett, Morris Brown’s president.

Pritchett says Morris Brown survives because its entire history is one of hardship and triumph.  He says the college has always been resourceful.

“A church member down in South Georgia told me they used to have a campaign called ‘Dollar Money.’ Everybody who came to the meeting brought a dollar for Morris Brown.”

But Morris Brown College needs $30 million to get out of debt. That’s about a million dollars for every current student.

Most would say it’s time to turn out the lights and let nearby HBCUs step in. Not alumnus Charles Barlow. When he started at Morris Brown, he brought with him a 550 on the SAT and read at a tenth grade level.

“But Morris Brown accepted me in, took me through a remedial reading program to teach me how to read—because if you can’t read, you can’t do college work—and I finished in four years in the top 10 percent of my class,” he says.

Barlow went on to become a top executive at Xerox for nearly two decades.

He says his story explains why Morris Brown must exit bankruptcy and rebuild.

But how?

“The biggest strength they have is their property,” says Mary Beth Gasman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. She led a graduate class that looked into options for saving the school. “And so the property is really the key to their livelihood and their success.”

Lots of folks have eyed the school’s land, which sits adjacent to the planned site of Atlanta’s new NFL stadium.

A bankruptcy judge has given the green light to sell off about 85 percent of the school’s property, despite past protests from students and alumni.

President Stanley Pritchett says with the debt gone, Morris Brown can focus on building back its academics, and hopefully bring in as many students as there used to be.

Hampton Lady Pirates Earn No. 12 Seed, Draw Michigan State in NCAA Tournament

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It would be entirely accurate to call David Six a happy man.

And why not? His Hampton University women’s basketball team, fresh off its unprecedented fifth straight MEAC Tournament crown, earned a No. 12 seed in the Stanford Region. The Lady Pirates will face No. 5 seed Michigan State on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. at 12:30 p.m.ncaa march madness 150w

The game, to be played in Carmichael Arena, will be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.

“We’re real happy [with a 12 seed]. We’re elated,” Six said. “I thought we were a 12, and it’s nice to see the NCAA did the right thing.”

It is not only the highest seed the Lady Pirates have ever earned, but it is also the highest seed ever for a MEAC team in the 64-team format – bettering the No. 13 seed the Lady Pirates received in 2011.

Hampton (28-4) has won its last 18 games after defeating Coppin State 50-47 on Saturday in the MEAC championship game. The Lady Pirates, who have won their last 49 games against conference foes, are making their fifth straight NCAA appearance and eighth overall.

The Lady Pirates are led by freshman guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas (Harrisburg, Pa.), the MEAC Rookie of the Year who is averaging 18.5 points per game. Senior forward Alyssa Bennett (Hampton, Va.) is a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MEAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

The First Team All-MEAC selection averaged 22.3 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in the MEAC Tournament.

Senior guard Nicole Hamilton (Hampton, Va.) was also a First Team All-MEAC selection after ranking second in the conference in both assists and assist-turnover ratio, and her 20-point performance on Saturday keyed the Lady Pirates’ victory.

No. 20/24 Michigan State (22-9) won the Big Ten regular-season championship this season after tying Penn State with a 13-3 mark in league play. The Spartans had their six-game winning streak snapped on March 8 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament, falling 86-58 to Nebraska.

Redshirt-freshman guard Aeiral Powers, a First Team All-Big Ten selection, leads a balance Michigan State attack, as four players are averaging double figures in scoring. Powers is averaging 13.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds a contest, while freshman guard Tori Jankoska and senior forward Annalise Pickrel are each pouring in 12.4 points per game.

Junior forward Becca Mills, shooting a team-best .506 from the floor, is averaging 10.1 points per game.

Pickrel was named Second Team All-Big Ten, while Mills, Jankoska, and senior guard Klarissa Bell each earned honorable mention accolades. Bell was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

Hampton and Michigan State have never met.

Sunday’s second game in Chapel Hill will pit No. 4 seed North Carolina against No. 13 seed UT-Martin. The winners of Sunday’s game will meet in the second round on Tuesday.

NCCU coach Shares Secret to Success as Eagles Head to NCAA Tourney

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24998352_BG1 Making the NCAA tournament is a lifelong dream for North Carolina Central University Coach LeVelle Moton, but the reality that his team is actually going to the big dance still hasn’t set in.

“It’s 100 miles per hour, but needless to say I’m exhausted,” he said. “But it is a good exhausted.”

The Eagles just won their first conference championship since joining Division I in 2011, beating Morgan State on Saturday 71-62 for the MEAC title.

“It was really emotional for me, because when you’re born into poverty and labeled an outcast, and you’re placed in the box,” he said, “all you have is your dreams.”

They are dreams Moton wasn’t sure would come true. He grew up in a fatherless home in the Raleigh projects and said the odds were stacked against him.

But he credits a lot of family support and prayers for the life he has now.

“I saw a vision beyond my circumstances, and I am extremely grateful for that,” he said. “Especially when it comes to life through the course of a championship.”

“It’s really about believing in who you are,” Moton said. “You really have to be your own best friend because so many people have dreams. The dream is free; it’s the journey that’s expensive.”

It’s a journey he is taking with his team to the NCAA tournament.

“We’re trying to go play a really good Iowa State team and try to play the best we can,” Moton said. “It’s going to be business as usual.”

N.C. Central plays Iowa State on Friday.

WNCN: News, Weather for Raleigh. Durham, Fayetteville

Howard University Dorm Fire Sends Three to Hospital

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1395225215000-howard-fire-kishhh Three people were transported to a hospital after a fire at a Howard University dorm early Wednesday morning.

According to D.C. police officials, the call came in at approximately 12:31 a.m. regarding a fire in a room on the 4th floor of 2601 16th St., which is Meridian Hill Hall.

We’re told two students and a security guard suffered smoke inhalation. Police say they were conscious and transported to a local hospital.

The nine-story building was evacuated until the scene was cleared. Everyone was allowed back inside and road closures were lifted at approximately 3:15 a.m.

When Fashion Comes Across Art: Christian Drye, Fashionably Late Presents “Greek Fashion Week”

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sgrho.jpgBy Tommy Meade Jr., HBCU Buzz

Black Greeks, get ready to wear your Sunday’s best.

With the intent to dispel the myth that blacks show lack of taste in selection of their dress, Christian Drye, a Central State University alumni and fashion designer, is certain that his latest endeavor will turn heads.

The independent fashion blogger and founder of the “movement” called Complex Heart wants to let you in on a little secret: blacks can be creative dressers.

Highlighting each member of the ‘Divine 9’ organizations for an entire business week and showcasing different styles of outfits and school spirit, Drye says his “Greek Fashion Week” will dismiss the perception that blacks are merely the pants sagging, baggy clothes wearing people that too often the media and Hollywood depicts the race as.

“To my knowledge this has never been done,” Drye said, whose biggest influence in fashion is rap artist Kanye West. “I want the world to see these organizations in a professional manner representing their brands. There are kids all over the world who need someone to look up to for various reasons.”

When asked how the concept came across, Drye said it came to him just as much as he came to it. “We had just finished up ‘sock week’ on my blog and I was still getting sock submissions from people. So I tried to come up with another ‘spirit week’ that could involve a lot of people,” he said. “There are a lot of fashion weeks in the world and I think Greeks deserve one as well.”

In his book “The Mis-Education of the Negro”, Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history week now month, said: “[Blacks] have the prettiest people in the world, when they dress in harmony with the many shades and colors with which we are so richly endowed.”

Inasmuch, Drye thinks likewise, and believes the best way to shed light on students and black fashion today is by targeting the Black Greek Lettered Organizations.

“Black Greeks were created to serve. These are our leaders made up of people who look like me, who study where I studied and striving to obtain the goal I was after, which is getting a degree,” Drye said. “They deserve to be highlighted for their service and dedication to humanity—they have a voice, and on campuses around the world they are looked to for everything.”

This is bigger than college campuses, said Drye. This is about “reaching out to the community and fulfilling their needs. The world needs clothes and creativity—that’s fashion!”

“As long as the outfit is nice, it will be showcased. Even if it’s 1000 outfits, they will be showcased,” he said.

The best outfit for each respected week will be featured on the front page of Christian Drye’s site, with special mention given to the best style as a whole for the sororities and the fraternities. The showcase is open to all Divine 9 members. Visit christiandrye.com for more information. 

Check out the schedule below for each BGLO week:

March 17th – 21st — Sigma Gamma Rho

March 24th – 28th — Delta Sigma Theta

March 31st – April 4th — Alpha Kappa Alpha

April 7th – 11th — Zeta Phi Beta

April 14th – 18th — Omega Psi Phi

April 21st – 25th — Kappa Alpha Psi

April 28th – May 2nd — Alpha Phi Alpha

May 5th – 9th — Phi Beta Sigma

May 12th- 16th — Iota Phi Theta

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Alabama State Rallies to Restore State Budget Cuts

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Alabama State UniversityMore than 200 members of the Hornet Nation rallied in front of the Alabama State House in support of Alabama State University and in opposition to a major cut to the University’s state appropriations.

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When freshman James Maninang traveled from Colorado to attend Alabama State University, he never thought he would be rallying in front of the Alabama State House. But after hearing that the Alabama Legislature was going to cut $10.8 million from ASU’s budget, he knew it would impact him personally.

“A lot of my friends are going to end up leaving ASU because tuition is going to rise,” Maninang said. “This $10.8 million cut is uncalled for, and it happened right after we get a new president who is finally starting to make change.”

Maninang was just one of more than 200 ASU students, faculty, staff and alumni that braved the cold and rainy weather to lobby the Legislature to restore $10 million that was cut from the University’s state appropriations. Many held signs that read “Save MyASU” and sang along with music by ASU’s Mighty Marching Hornets Band.

State Rep. John F. Knight Jr., several members of Alabama’s Legislative Black Caucus and ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd spoke to the crowd and encouraged them to keep fighting.

“We didn’t get to where we are today by being complacent. We didn’t get to where we are today by being afraid; so, we don’t have a problem standing up for our rights,” said Knight, who also is executive vice president and chief operating officer at ASU. “The Republican theme has been ‘We dare defend our rights!’ My response to that is ‘We will defend our rights!’ We had to do it all of our lives, and we will continue to do so.”

Boyd energized the crowd before they lined up to go into the State House, where the House of Representatives and Senate were working on the education budget for next fiscal year.

“Our message is clear, and we will not be silent. We will not be quiet. We will not allow you to do this to us. We will not roll over and play dead,” Boyd exclaimed “We are here to raise our voices and let our presence be felt and known that Alabama State has stood for 147 years, and we will continue to stand for many more years to come Let’s let them know we have no fear, and we will fight for our institution.”

Inside the State House, the Hornet Nation swarmed the legislative offices, speaking to state representatives and senators about the 25 percent cut from ASU’s state appropriations.

“I am going to go and try to talk to some house and senate members to try to understand why they are doing this cut and try to persuade them to not vote for this cut,” Maninang said as he entered the State House. “I just want to express that cutting the money is going to hurt the students who need the money and who need the programs that the money is funding.”

ASU’s Student Government Association President Sharod Campbell helped the students lead the charge inside the State House. He said it was important to let the representatives and senators know how the students feel about the budget cut.

“I believe we have made a lot of progress today,” Campbell said. “I think today was very positive, and we are moving in the right direction to get the $10.8 million added back to ASU’s budget.”

CSU Alum Gives $1 million Gift to Central State University

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CSU-donation Businessman, radio journalist and 1963 alumnus Josh Smith presented Central State University with a $1 million gift Tuesday.

The gift deepens a longstanding philanthropic relationship between Central State University and the Smith family. Smith was inducted into the 1887 Legacy Society in 2007 in recognition of a $250,000 insurance gift that was increased to $500,000 in 2013. That same year, he contributed $50,000 to WCSU-FM.

“Thanks to the generosity of Josh and Jackie Smith, the University will enhance its ongoing commitment to prepare innovative leaders for the future,” said Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, who is the president of Central State University.

“Jackie and I are pleased to continue our support of my beloved alma mater,” Smith said. “We look forward to empowering more students at Central State University to use their education to have a long-term positive impact on the world.”

Charles Whitehead’61 the current Central State University Foundation President stated “ this gift is magnificent, it will not only support the University in a tangible way, the size of the gift will inspire other alumni to give back to the alma mater.”

Central State University is a historically African American University located in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Delaware State University Seeks to Help Employees on Public Assistance

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l_dsu16x9During Joint Finance Committee hearings last month, Delaware State University President Dr. Harry Lee Williams said that his top priority for this fiscal year is pay raises for university employees.

The university and its union representatives will continue to push for higher wages, especially for the lowest-paid employees in the state. Williams has requested $2.2 million, a four percent raise increase for all DSU employees.

About 185 employees are making less than $35,000 a year, and according to Williams, some are even using public assistance.

“We even have some of our employees, and I’m ashamed to say this, who are receiving assistance though other agencies in terms of food stamps and things of that nature,” said Dr. Williams during the hearing last month.

Thousands of state employees on public assistance

DSU isn’t the only institution where employees rely on assistance: Of the 35,000 state employees, about 3,287 received some sort of public assistance last year, according to union officials.

While the exact number of DSU employees on assistance was unavailable, union officials said that its lowest paid employees include custodians, clerical workers and law enforcement officers. READ FULL

New Morehouse President Aims To Yield More Successful Black Men

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3-10-2014-2-52-48-PM The new president of Morehouse College appointed by President Barack Obama recently announced a variety of adjustments to help rejuvenate the making of “Morehouse men.” Dr. John Silvanus doesn’t necessarily mean he will be implementing a new program, but instead strengthening the historically black college in renewed efforts to educate and support young, African-American men to help them succeed.

“Only 4 percent of African-American children coming out of high school in America are college ready in a wide range of courses,” Wilson said. “86 percent of African-American males are behind grade-level in reading and math by fourth grade… this is a scandal. It’s a crisis.”

After stating that one in three African-American males born today face imprisonment, Wilson said the function of a “greater” Morehouse is to capture the imagination of grade-school boys to let them know that there is a place made especially for them if they work hard and persevere. Although the approach to smaller class sizes yields a bigger embrace, the act of shrinking numbers is not financially feasible. However, there are ways in which the college can make learning and living environments smaller to better touch the lives of their students on campus.

“I graduated from Morehouse and I got a really, really character-centric education here. I loved it,” he said. “I went to graduate school at Harvard, and I saw all these great buildings, all this great infrastructure, this great endowment. I concluded then that Morehouse needs exactly what Harvard has, but Harvard needs exactly what Morehouse has.”

By referring to a “stronger” and “greater” Morehouse, Wilson capitalizes on a larger endowment for the school, better pay for faculty, improved facilities and more scholarships.

Morehouse Receives $1 Million to Establish African Scholarship Program

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buffett0841-600x400Pictured above: Howard Buffet receives Morehouse sweatshirt from President John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79

Some of the world’s largest and deepest ecologically diverse freshwater masses give name to the Great Lakes Region of southeastern Africa. But years of conflict over those natural resources, violent ethnic tensions and other issues have led to the destabilization of the area.

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation is looking to Morehouse for help in developing a new breed of leadership for the region.

The Foundation has given Morehouse $1 million to establish the Rugari Scholarship Program to educate young men who live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and, Uganda. Eventually, the future Morehouse Men are expected to help lead the region forward.

“We’re working on peace and Morehouse has a legacy of peace,” Buffett said. “So we felt that what we wanted to do was build on that legacy. Plus, Julius Coles [executive director of the Andrew Young Center for Global Education] has this great program here and [Morehouse trustee] Ambassador Andrew Young is a very unique individual. So we felt like Morehouse had all of the components to hopefully contribute to some success.”

Selected by a Morehouse panel of faculty, staff and administrators, the students will come to Morehouse on full scholarships to focus on general education studies for their first two years and then a mix of political science, economics, sociology and history their final two years. They also will be strongly urged to minor in leadership studies. Read Full

Actress Phylicia Rashad celebrates Howard University’s 147th birthday

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rashad-e1394390514469 Hey isn’t that… Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad belting out her school’s alma mater at Howard University’s 90th Charter Day dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday. Rashad, and all her regal glory, was on hand to celebrate the university’s 147th birthday, which felt like a fancy version of Howard’s famous homecoming with a massive crowd of 1,700 barely able to sit still long enough for the four-courses. There were just too many people to say hi to or pose in a black-tie selfie with.
Whether announcing the night’s next alumni award recipient or telling “the owner of a Nissan with Pennsylvania plates” to move their car, Rashad, who served as the mistress of ceremonies, kept the crowd enamored with her every note. “I could listen to her talk all day,” whispered our tablemate in all seriousness. Before blowing out the candles Howard announced two major gifts totaling $8.9 million. Happy birthday, indeed. Referenced

Tuskegee Seeded No. 8 in NCAA Division II Tournament

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leon-douglas-2-7f551fda11549c9cAfter winning the the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in Birmingham this past Saturday, Tuskegee has found out who it will face in the tournament. The Golden Tigers (18-11) will face Florida Southern Saturday in the opening round of of the South Regional Saturday.

Ranked No. 16 in the nation, the Mocs (26-4) are the top-seeded team in the South regional.

“As a team, we are elated to represent Tuskegee University and the SIAC in this tournament,” Tuskegee coach Leon Douglas. “We are looking forward to it. It has been a few years since we’ve been in the tournament and we’ve been clawing our way to get back in. Hopefully we’ll go down there and represent our conference well.”

The South regional title game is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Check out the full NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament bracket here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online Network Highlights HBCU Experience, HBCUX

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AR_-_HBCUX_t580 Hakeema Mercurius entered Morgan State University (MSU) in Baltimore in 2010 with dreams of practicing law. Her plans quickly changed, however, upon taking a sociology course that opened her eyes to racial disparities in the criminal justice system and prompted her to pursue a career as a parole officer.

Mercurius said that she’s grown more socially conscious since starting her studies at the historically black university. She said that its Afrocentric curriculum along with the family-oriented campus culture inspired her to choose a career path that would allow her to give back to her community.

“Studying at a historically black college gives me a greater connection to my heritage,” said Mercurius, 21. “I get to network with like-minded people and sharpen my communication skills. Taking classes here showed me that I have to help my people,” said Mercurius, a junior who lives in Baltimore.

MSU stands among more than 100 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation that opened its doors to African Americans when they could not enroll in predominately white institutions. Despite carrying rich histories, many HBCUs have struggled in recent years to increase enrollment numbers, maintain financial solvency, and encourage alumni giving, raising questions about their relevance in an increasingly multicultural society.

That’s why two veteran television executives launched an online media outlet last month that features original content about HBCUs. They aim to rally support behind institutions on the brink of shutting down with programming that explores facets of campus life.

HBCUX, also known as HBCU Experience, provides around-the-clock sports, lifestyle, and educational programming about life at predominately black colleges. Curtis Symonds, co-founder and CEO of the Northeast-based company says it can bolster alumni giving and spark interest among prospective students.

“We’re rolling out a full network,” said Symonds, 58. “There’s no place that young people could see this information in one place. Doctors, lawyers and young professionals are sharing their stories [about their HBCU experiences],” said Symonds, former executive vice president of sales and marketing at Black Entertainment Television (BET), who lives in Fairfax, Va.

The launch of the network comes during a time when the Obama administration cut federal grants to the 105 historically black institutions by more than $7 million and imposed strict limits on lending for Federal PLUS loan applicants. Programs chronicle the activities of black fraternities and sororities and members of college bands. Students also give testimonials about their studies in documentaries filmed in college classrooms.

“This is programming that helps young people learn about the significance of historically black colleges,” said Symonds. “They think they can only get a quality education at [a school like] University of Maryland or Georgetown [University]. I’m trying to educate families, educators, and teachers about the strength of HBCUs,” said Symonds.

Symonds and his colleague Clint Evans developed the 24-hour network in 2010, establishing partnerships with The Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage in Northwest and the United Negro College Fund in Fairfax, Va. They opened offices in the District, Atlanta, and Chicago. A deal with college sports network ESNPU allows HBCUX to stream its programming on the website. University journalism programs across the country have also received calls for programming.

“All of the bright communications and journalism students can work with their department heads and showcase their work,” said Evans. “We’re about helping young people establish careers in the media business.”

Veteran sports newscaster Charlie Neal will provide coverage of games in all four HBCU conferences. This type of sports programming comes years after BET cancelled its live coverage of black college games. He said that the network can raise the profile of what he considers quality athletic programs that do not receive media coverage.

“HBCUs are not getting the exposure,” said Neal. “BET doesn’t showcase black athletics anymore. The number of HBCU sports teams [on television] has diminished as well as the conferences. There is a need [for HBCUX],” said Neal who lives in Mitchellville, Md.

Blacks Should be First Line of Defense for HBCUs

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(TriceEdneyWire.com) – This series on HBCUs prompted a two-hour long discussion on the Carl Nelson Show in Washington, D.C. (WOL-1450). As the invited guest, I had the opportunity to deal with the issue of whether we value HBCUs enough to help save them. On the very next day St. Augustine College, in Raleigh, NC, was said to be in dire financial straits and would shut down for a week. We have answered the “what” question; we have heard from the “so what?” crowd; we are now faced with the final question: “now what?”
Do we take responsibility for HBCUs, or do we allow them to flounder to the point of nonexistence? Do we leave them to the will and largess of government? Do we sit back and say, “somebody will fix the problem someday?” As I once heard a preacher say, “somebody is not in the phone book and someday is not on the calendar.”

Bill Cosby (Central State), Willie Gary (Shaw), Oprah Winfrey (Morehouse), and others have shown what an individual can do for an HBCU; imagine what our collective efforts could do.

Black people should be the first line of defense for Black schools. Yes, with all of their challenges, they are still our schools, and we must preserve them. If we contributed more, had better relationships with administrators, and promoted HBCUs more, they would be more accountable, responsible, responsive, and financially sound. Yes, they must be good stewards of their financial resources, but we can be partners in that stewardship.

We are quick to romanticize the past and celebrate schools like Wiley College in “The Great Debaters.” We like to visit HBCUs and watch our students “stomp the yard,” high-step in the marching bands, play football and basketball at the CIAA Tournament, and sing in the choirs. We love to see HBCU students perform in stage plays and in spoken word sessions; and those honorary degrees are great, too. Most of all, we love to see our children graduate, many of who would not have been able to were it not for an HBCU. Where is that same love for HBCUs when it comes to our giving back to them?
Well folks, this is what some would call a “kairos moment” for Black people. We can save our schools if we have the will to do so. We have the financial resources and we have the intellectual capacity to solve this lingering problem, or at least to be able to come to the rescue when necessary. Our abandoning HBCUs is tantamount to what we did to our Black-owned businesses back in the 1960s. You don’t have to look too far to see the results of that self-inflicted wound; take a stroll around your neighborhood and start counting the Black stores. Read More

SWAC Tournament Preview: Texas Southern looks to win automatic bid

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093cd0a2083ebadb2e74675096275c89-e1394466811327The SWAC tournament will include all ten teams, a somewhat surprising occurrence given the fact that four programs are ineligible for postseason play. While Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State may not be favorites to win the event, the same can’t be said of regular season champion Southern. The Jaguars won the regular season title by three games, and that will have to suffice as the reigning tournament champs can’t play in the NCAA tournament. Last season it was Texas Southern that won the league but couldn’t participate in postseason play, and now that they’re eligible Mike Davis’ team may be the favorite to win the auto bid.

(MORE: Browse through all of our conference tournament previews)

The Bracket

When: March 11 – 15

Where: Houston, Texas (Toyota Center)

Final: March 15, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Favorite: Southern (to win the event; ineligible for the NCAA tournament)

The Jaguars have been the SWAC’s best team all season long, and defense is a big reason why. In addition to leading the conference in defensive efficiency by a wide margin, Southern led the SWAC in field goal percentage defense (36.1%), three-point percentage defense (27.8%) and blocked shots (5.6 per game). Godfrey and Miller are the offensive leaders for a team that also finished second in field goal and three-point percentage. Solid offensively, it’s the spectacular defense that makes Southern the favorite in Houston.

And if they lose?: Texas Southern

Simply put, the Tigers have the SWAC’s best player in Aaric Murray. Murray’s averaging 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game against SWAC opponents, and you likely remember the 48 points he dropped on Temple in a non-conference game back in December. Senior wing D’Aris Scarver (14.5 ppg) and junior forward Jose Rodriguez (11.5 ppg) are solid supplementary pieces for the SWAC’s highest-scoring offense, and the Tigers are also the conference’s most efficient offense.

Sleepers:

  • Alabama State: The Hornets have the SWAC’s best distributor in Jamel Waters (6.2 apg), and the Hornets lead the SWAC in turnover margin.
  • Arkansas-Pine Bluff: The Golden Lions have won nine of their last 11 games, with one of the victories being a 64-58 win at Southern on February 15.

Studs: (three or four best players)

  • Aaric Murray, Texas Southern: Leads the SWAC in scoring and ranks third in rebounding, which has been quite the turnaround for the much-traveled big man.
  • Calvin Godfrey, Southern: Godfrey ranks in the top ten in scoring (10th), rebounding (2nd), field goal percentage (1st) and blocked shots (3rd).
  • Jamel Waters, Alabama State: Not only does Waters lead the SWAC in assists, he also leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio and is third in steals.

CBT Prediction: Texas Southern gets the automatic bid.