Hampton University alumna and food blogger Alex Hill is bringing her love for food to the screen as she hosts her own show on the Tastemade streaming channel called, “Spice Spice Baby.”
Hampton University alumna and food blogger Alex Hill is bringing her love for food to the screen as she hosts her own show on the Tastemade streaming channel called, “Spice Spice Baby.”
Hill is a self-taught cook with a passion for making food that’s filled with flavor, functional, and achievable.
She credits her mother for igniting her fire for food. “My passion for food started when I was younger from my mom as she was the best cook! She let me cook a recipe one weekend when I was around ten or eleven and food just stuck with me from then on, it was a way to bring people together.”
After deciding to go to a four-year school instead of culinary school, Hill attended Hampton University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing.
Combining her passion for marketing and public relations with her love of food, she started her food blog, Just Add Hot Sauce in 2017 as a creative outlet from her day job.
Hill said that it was during the pandemic in 2020 when “everyone was at home and had to cook for themselves,” that things really “took off” for her. In May 2021 decided to quit her job in marketing and pursue food full-time.
She is now an LA-based recipe developer & host of the new cooking show on Tastemade called “Spice Spice Baby,” where she transforms your usual mealtime routines into easy yet innovative recipes that will save you time, without compromising on taste.
Using her platform, Hill encourages and instills confidence in millennials to cook at home and build a community around food that is achievable. “I try to make cooking fun!” she said.
Hill said her cooking journey has not been without bumps in the road and imposter syndrome creeping up. “It has not always been a smooth road but I think that’s the beauty of the journey. It took time to figure out what exactly my mission was in the food space as well as figure out how to get there,” she said.
Despite originally wanting to go to culinary school, Hill looks back fondly on days spent at her HBCU, Hampton University. “Going to an HBCU was pivotal to becoming the woman I am today,” Hill said. “An HBCU just instills confidence in you like no other and the network at any HBCU is deep. It’s a built-in community/family that holds you down.”
Hill is continuing to film episodes of “Spice Spice Baby” and hopes that more seasons of the show are in her future, as well as a cookbook deal.
Her advice for others is to “be so delusional in your dreams that you become laser-focused and imposter syndrome will go through one ear and out the other.”
Semester at Sea (SAS) invites you to set sail on the world’s most unique floating college campus! Learning has never been this exciting as Semester at Sea’s passenger ship brings together students from all walks of life in a shipboard classroom setting and in 10+ countries around the globe.
Semester at Sea (SAS) invites you to set sail on the world’s most unique floating college campus! Learning has never been this exciting as Semester at Sea’s passenger ship brings together students from all walks of life in a shipboard classroom setting and in 10+ countries around the globe.
This one-of-a-kind study abroad program is the adventure of a lifetime, giving students a chance to travel to 10+ countries across 2-3 continents, earn 12-15 college credits, and make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Exclusive $20K Scholarship Opportunity for Fall 2024!
Students attending HBCUs who are interested in sailing on Semester at Sea’s Fall 2024 Voyage are encouraged to apply for our HBCU Research Fellowship. Up to 5 eligible students will each receive a $20,000 scholarship. Fellows will be required to participate in a seminar to present their research project idea, and write (with the support of our communications team) three (3) blog articles throughout their voyage so that we may follow the progress of the project. Learn more about this scholarship.
Why should you apply? Hear from current Fall 2023 voyager and HBCU Scholar, Phylicia, about her experience:
“You should apply if you just have a love for HBCUs, your HBCU or those around the world! Everybody should do Semester at Sea because it offers an experience– whether it be learning, travel, or just a new global perspective in a way that no other institution, externship, internship, or job can do. Semester at Sea is the perfect fit for that.”- Phylicia, NC A&T
Semester at Sea accepts applications year-round on a rolling basis and encourages traditional undergraduate college students to earn admission in the following five easy steps:
Apply Online and pay the non-refundable application fee of $75 to start the review process. **If you apply by Dec. 15, 2023 you can use this code to waive your application fee: HBCUBuzz
Get Accepted and Pay a $1,000 refundable deposit to reserve your cabin for the voyage. Your deposit is credited toward your program fees, and it is fully refundable up until the final payment deadline, usually around 90 days before your voyage begins.
Explore Funding Options. About 60% of voyagers receive some type of financial aid. You don’t necessarily need to qualify for financial aid from your home university to be eligible for a grant or scholarship from Semester at Sea.
Meet Your Shipmates and Start Packing. Start connecting with other future voyagers and SAS alumni on social media using #semesteratsea.
SAS is open to learners at all stages of life, including gap year students, and undergraduate students, recent college graduates who meet the admissions requirements. Non-student adults travelers aged 30+ can also experience SAS through its Lifelong Learning Program.
A teen is in critical condition after being shot outside a residence hall at Clark Atlanta University on Friday night, according to Atlanta police.
Police said it happened just before 11 p.m. on Oct. 20 outside Beckwith Hall, where they found the victim with a gunshot wound.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the victim was 18-years-old.
Clark Atlanta University Beckwith Hall
Police said that the victim was sitting in front of Beckwith Hall with his girlfriend when they were approached by a man who attempted to rob them. A dispute ensued between the victim and the gunman, at which point the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the victim before escaping.
The victim was rushed to Grady Hospital in critical condition.
According to Atlanta Police, the shooting suspect took off into a dark-colored vehicle parked on the city street.
Police are investigating the shooting and looking for the suspect as no arrest has yet been made.
CAU officials say the shooting victim was not a student and that the incident was not associated with the university’s homecoming.
Nearly 3,000 Morehouse College graduates’ student debt has been cleared thanks to the Debt Collective — a debtors union pushing to abolish all forms of debt.
Nearly 3,000 Morehouse College graduates’ student debt has been cleared thanks to the Debt Collective — a debtors union pushing to abolish all forms of debt.
On Monday, the Debt Collective announced it collaborated with the all-men’s HBCU to wipe out all outstanding account balances that were in collections for the fall 2022 term and prior.
According to the university, Morehouse transferred the remaining balances to the Rolling Jubilee Fund, the Debt Collective’s sister organization, eliminating $9.7 million for 2,777 former students as a “no-strings-attached gift.”
Credit: Morehouse College
“Our nation is defaulting on the promise of education when we burden communities, especially Black HBCU graduates, with crushing amounts of student debt,” said Braxton Brewington, spokesperson for the Debt Collective. “This nearly $10M of student debt cancellation will put thousands of Black folks in a better position to be able to save for retirement, purchase a home or start a small business. President Biden has yet to make good on his campaign promise to eliminate all student debt held by HBCU graduates. We’re doing our part, and it’s time Biden does his. Forty-five million Americans need this relief.”
According to research by the United Negro College Fund, students who attend HBCUs borrow at a far greater rate than their peers at other types of schools and are nearly three times as likely to borrow $40,000 or more.
The Legal Defense Fund found that in 2019, 86% of Black students used student loans to pay for their education, with an average of $39,500 taken out. Furthermore, in 2022, 57% of Black student loan borrowers had at least $25,000 of debt from their education, according to the Federal Reserve.
This is the second time the Debt Collective has aided Black students and alumni. Last year, the Collective erased nearly $2 million of debt held by about 500 students who attended Bennett College.
“Debt has proven itself to be one of the strongest deterrents in a prospective students’ decision to attend college and inhibitors in alumni’s socioeconomic success post-graduation,” David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College, said in a statement. “It is why our Morehouse’s $500 million capital campaign aims to position the College as a need-blind institution by 2030. Partners like the Debt Collective and Rolling Jubilee are making the investment to help level the financial playing field for our students and alumni, and we are all tremendously grateful for their vote of confidence through such a generous gift and financial relief.”
Shootings at three different historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have claimed the life of a promising student and injured seven people, tainting what was supposed to be a week of community as they celebrated their homecomings.
Students at Morgan State University and Bowie State University, two schools just 35 miles apart were injured in separate shootings days apart from each other during homecoming festivities, raising concerns for safety at HBCUs.
The wall will encircle 90 percent of the HBCU campus and “eliminate unfettered access,” university President David Wilson said during a campus town hall. Other possible security upgrades include installing more metal detectors in campus buildings, exploring weapons detection technology, increasing police patrols, and building additional security guard booths.
In light of the shooting at Morgan, Bowie State invited Morgan students to join their homecoming but theirs was also marred by gun violence.
That student was Jaylen Burns, an industrial technology major, student leader, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from Chicago. According to his father, he was shot while trying to break up a fight at the University Pointe Apartment Complex.
“He wasn’t a violent kid, he didn’t know anything about guns or fighting or gangs, you know, anything about that,” Jaylen’s father, Jason Burns told WLS in Chicago.
This all comes about a month after a white supremacist who killed three people in a racially motivated mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida was turned away from entering Edward Waters University prior to the attack.
According to Leslie Hall, Director of the HBCU Program for the Human Rights Campaign, many factors contribute to the rise of gun violence at HBCUs including, “systemic issues like economic disparities, limited educational opportunities, and scarce employment prospects disproportionately affect Black communities, creating an environment conducive to violence.” Hall said that the neighborhoods HBCUs are located in also contributes to the “cycle of violence” as many HBCUs are located impoverished areas.
“Furthermore, the easy availability of firearms in many urban areas exacerbates the problem. Research shows that areas with higher rates of gun ownership tend to have higher rates of gun violence,” Hall added.
Many are asking what can be done about gun violence on HBCU campuses. Hall says that HBCUs should strengthen campus security measures, implement violence prevention programs, and foster partnerships with local law enforcement agencies.
While many agree that security measures should be strengthened at HBCUs, some question how much security is too much.
A recent graduate from Morgan State, Raniya Holmes told the Washington Post that the issue is a “double-edged sword.”
“If you’re going to allow people to have guests over — because again, we’re college students; we’re not kids — … that freedom shouldn’t be taken away from us, but how can we do this smartly?” Holmes said. “I also know that police presence can be really intimidating for a lot of African Americans, so I’d really suggest if we are going to do that, make sure that we have police that are coming in that are competent.”
According to the Washington Post, Bowie State officials are considering new solutions such as facial recognition software or requiring visitors to register ahead of time for campus events. The news source said university leaders are also having conversations among themselves along with faculty, staff, and students about whether to limit access to the public campus.
“It’s a very challenging endeavor for any leader of a college campus,” Bowie State President, Aminta H. Breaux said. “The question we’re asking ourselves is, is there a better way that we can continue to respect and honor our tradition of homecoming, but then to recognize that we need to restrict in some way who comes onto our campus.”
Schools are continuing to navigate how to tackle safety concerns and gun violence. Still, Hall says HBCUs should first address the root cause suggesting that they collaborate with local governments, community organizations, and law enforcement to develop comprehensive solutions for violence prevention.
“By investing in community-based programs that provide educational and employment opportunities for at-risk individuals, HBCUs can help break the cycle of violence and provide alternatives for those most vulnerable,” said Hall.
Paul H. Dean, president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrator echoed this statement in an interview with the Washington Post, saying that college leaders should work collaboratively with students, employees, local officials, and the communities surrounding the campus to find the right balance between safety and access.
“You have to have that human element,” Dean said. “You have to meet with your community. Your community has to be able to trust you.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs made a surprise appearance at Howard University’s Yardfest over the weekend to make good on his $1 million pledge to the university.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs made a surprise appearance at Howard University’s Yardfest over the weekend to make good on his $1 million pledge to the university.
Before Combs presented the check to Dr. Ben Vinson III, president of Howard University, he took to the stage to perform a medley of his greatest hits.
“As someone who attended Howard University and values the transformative experience of historically Black colleges, it remains crucial that we strive to protect and uphold their legacy,” Combs stated.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyo4ntVL9FW/
The donation is part of the promise Combs made during the 2022 BET Awards to donate to HBCUs Howard and Jackson State University.
“This donation to Howard is not just a financial contribution; it’s also a reaffirmation of our commitment to a cultural institution that has touched countless lives. It’s about ensuring that HBCUs continue to receive the support they rightfully deserve,” said Combs.
President Vinson expressed his gratitude for the generous donation.
“This is such a tremendously meaningful gift to Howard University, and we are deeply grateful. Since his days here as a student, Sean Combs has always credited Howard for helping him become the groundbreaking entertainer and entrepreneur that he has become. His gift will have a profound impact on our students, paving the way for future leaders. We are honored to have Sean Combs as a part of our Bison family,” said President Vinson.
ESPN’s popular sports talk show “First Take” starring Stephen A. Smith and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe is set to broadcast a show at their respective HBCU alma maters, Winston-Salem State University and Savannah State University.
ESPN’s popular sports talk show “First Take” starring Stephen A. Smith and Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe is set to broadcast a show at their respective HBCU alma maters, Winston-Salem State University and Savannah State University.
Smith, who graduated from Winston-Salem State, asked Sharpe if he’d like to do the show from his alma mater, to which he responded “I’m not good with that, I’m great with that.”
“This might be the best news because it’s an opportunity for me and an opportunity for everyone else to see where I matriculated, where I earned my degree from — Savannah State University,” Sharpe said.
Sharpe credited his professors who had an influence on him and said he hoped they could make it to attend the broadcast.
“I want people to see that these people had a hand in Shannon Sharpe becoming who I became… For me to only be on ‘First Take’ for a month and have something like this — for you to put something like this in motion. Words don’t do it proper justice for what this means to me, for one of Savannah State’s own to come back on a platform like ‘First Take’ and for everyone to see what I was able to become. It all started at Savannah State almost 40 years ago, I’m humbled beyond humbled.”
The Savannah Morning News reports that the broadcast at Savannah State will be on Nov. 6, and the Winston-Salem State broadcast will be the following day on Nov. 7.
Non-profit organization Whole & Seen makes giving back fun while bringing HBCU Culture to Los Angeles with its highly anticipated formal fundraising event LA Homecoming.
Non-profit organization Whole & Seen makes giving back fun while bringing HBCU Culture to Los Angeles with its highly anticipated formal fundraising event LA Homecoming.
LA Homecoming will raise funds for HBCU scholarships to help support Black youth’s college education.
This can’t-miss event encompasses Whole & Seen’s mission to promote wholeness and unity within the Black community through mentorship, empowering content, and cultural experiences.
LA Homecoming will take place this Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Whole & Seen’s Downtown Los Angeles Venue.
This year’s theme is “All White Soiree”, with the attire being All White, Dress to Impress. Entertainers Serayah and Terayle Hill will be joining the party as hosts with a special performance by iconic hip-hop trio Travis Porter and actress, singer, and media personality Jazmine.
Tickets include an open bar and food and are on sale now!
Click here to secure your ticket and use this promo code for a discount: HBCUBUZZ.
You can also make a donation directly to the cause by clicking here.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is launching a new Public Service Program in partnership with HBCUs, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia.
The new program, set to start next year, will create a pipeline for graduating seniors at the two HBCUs to pursue a career in public service.
“We want the best and the brightest, the people who are passionate about our community, to work at DC Government. The HBCU Public Service Program will keep talent in DC and bring young leaders into DC Government,” said Bowser.
The program will be open for one year to graduating seniors who are earning a bachelor’s degree. D.C. government agencies participating in the program will convert existing and due-to-hire full-time positions into apprenticeship positions for 25 apprentices that will begin in June 2024.
Participants in the program will also be able to take a professional development course at their universities that will be led by the District Department of Employment Services (DOES). After they successfully finish the program, participants will be eligible for a promotion within the D.C. government. All seniors participating in the program must be D.C. residents while in the program.
“We know that people, including many of our university students, come to DC and stay in DC because they want to change the world. We want people to know that they can change the world, one person, one program, and one community at a time, in DC Government,” Bowser said.
Tennessee State University head football coach Eddie George is calling for more fan support following the team’s 24-17 homecoming win against Norfolk State on Saturday.
Tennessee State University head football coach Eddie George is calling for more fan support following the team’s 24-17 homecoming win against Norfolk State on Saturday.
The Tigers are 4-2 heading into their next game on Saturday against Lincoln University in the third home game of the season.
“We have the chance to go to 5-2, we have the chance to have a winning record and a winning season and the people who are interested in watching us play will come out and support us and the people who aren’t then so be it,” George told The Tennessean. “Some people may not agree with me being the hire here and that’s fine. I’m OK with that. But it’s not me that you’re not supporting; it’s these kids. These kids who get up at 4 o’clock in the morning and bust their tails to study, to practice, and give the fans something to be excited about.”
According to the Tennessean, TSU has played in front of an average of 23,907 fans in all games this season. However, in their two home games, the average attendance was 8,632.
This year’s homecoming game garnered 13,395 fans which is 9,256 fewer fans than came out to last year’s homecoming against Bethune-Cookman.
“What I find interesting is that there was almost 30,000 fans (tailgating) outside of Nissan at homecoming while we were playing the game and a lot of them never came into the stadium,” George said. “Some people might not find football appealing. It might be more for the social atmosphere. I told my team we may be playing in front of empty bleachers the last three games.”
According to YardBarker, last year’s attendance dipped from an average of 16,892 fans during the first two home games to an average of 10,680 during the last two home games, a decrease of roughly 36.8 percent. “If that trend continues, Tennessee State would have an average attendance of 5,458 for its final home games this season, far less than George hopes,” the news source said.
Senior quarterback Draylen Ellis, who scored the winning touchdown during the homecoming game said that having the fan’s support would make a great impact.
“We had the fans there at the beginning of the game and all the way up to halftime and then they left,” Ellis said. “We need their support all four quarters. We need that energy the entire game. We bring our own support but when guys can look up in the stands and know that we have a bunch of fans and alumni supporting us it means the world to us.”
Hear from Leslie Hall, Founder of HBCU OutLoud Day, Bowie State University alum and current Ph.D. student at Howard University, to learn more about HBCU OutLoud Day, a national day of action raising awareness about Black LGBTQ+ students at HBCUs.
To learn more, read the message from Leslie Hall, Founder of HBCU OutLoud Day, an alum of Bowie State University, and current Ph.D. student at Howard University, below:
As the Director of the HRC HBCU Program, I am thrilled to share the importance of “HBCU Out Loud Day” and its impact on fostering safe spaces for Black queer students on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) campuses. This initiative, created by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF), holds significant value as it aims to celebrate the progress made by LGBTQ+ trailblazers and inspire the next generation of queer leaders. By dedicating a specific day within LGBTQ+ History Month, HBCU Out Loud Day acknowledges the unique challenges faced by Black queer students and emphasizes the importance of creating an environment that affirms their identities.
HBCU Out Loud Day serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering safe spaces for Black queer students on HBCU campuses. These safe spaces provide crucial support, acceptance, and resources that empower students to explore their identities freely. By promoting inclusivity and understanding, HBCUs can create an environment where all students feel valued and respected, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Participating HBCUs play a pivotal role in HBCU Out Loud Day by organizing LGBTQ+ focused campus initiatives. These initiatives aim to increase awareness and understanding of the Black queer college experience, both within the HBCU community and beyond. Through workshops, panel discussions, and educational programs, students, faculty, and staff engage in meaningful conversations about LGBTQ+ issues, allyship, and the importance of intersectionality. These initiatives foster an environment that encourages dialogue, education, and growth.
HBCU Out Loud Day also serves as a platform to empower Black queer students. By highlighting the accomplishments and experiences of LGBTQ+ trailblazers, we inspire the next generation of queer leaders. This initiative encourages Black queer students to embrace their identities, pursue their passions, and become advocates for change. HBCUs can offer mentorship programs, leadership opportunities, and networking events to support these students in their personal and professional journeys.
In conclusion, HBCU Out Loud Day is a celebration of progress, acceptance, and empowerment within the Black queer community on HBCU campuses. By dedicating a day to recognize the unique experiences and challenges faced by Black queer students, we strive to build a more inclusive and supportive educational environment. Through increased awareness, fostering safe spaces, and empowering future leaders, HBCUs can continue to make remarkable strides in creating a better tomorrow for all. Let us join together in celebrating HBCU Out Loud Day and ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a month-long celebration that observes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history. In honor of this month, we are shining a light on the Black LGBTQ+ people who have made boundless contributions in several arenas. Here are 4 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Who Went to HBCUs and 4 Who Didn’t!
October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a month-long celebration that observes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history. In honor of this month, we are shining a light on the Black LGBTQ+ people who have made boundless contributions in several arenas. Here are 4 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Who Went to HBCUs and 4 Who Didn’t!
Bayard Rustin – Wilberforce University & Cheney University
Bayard Rustin was a human rights activist known for his work during the Civil Rights Movement. He was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest advisors and a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. In the 1980s, Rustin became a part of the LGBTQ+ movement and an advocate for AIDS education, playing a pivotal role in bringing it to the attention of the NAACP. In 2013, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2020, Gov. Gavin Newson pardoned Rustin for his 1953 arrest when he was arrested for a “moral cause” which led to his outing to the public. Although criticism and discrimination over his sexual orientation resulted in Rustin taking a less public role in the Civil Rights Movement, he was still a hugely influential figure during the movement.
Barbara Jordan -Texas Southern University
Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator, civil rights leader, lawmaker, and the first LGBTQ+ woman in Congress. She was also the first African American elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, and the first woman and first African American elected to Congress from Texas in 1972. Additionally, she became the first black female to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 1976. One of Jordan’s most famous acts in Congress was the 15-minute televised speech she gave to the members of the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment hearings, on July 25, 1974. According to the U.S. National Archives, the speech is considered to be one of the “greatest speeches in 20th-century American history and a decisive part of swaying public opinion in favor of impeachment.” Jordan was the recipient of several honors and recognitions including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. During her time as a state senator, she met her partner of nearly 30 years, Nancy Earl. While Jordan was open about her sexual orientation with those close to her, she kept her relationship out of the public eye.
Pauli Murray – Howard University
Pauli Murray was a poet, lawyer, writer, teacher, civil rights activist, and priest whose legal arguments were used in landmark Supreme Court decisions outlawing racism and sexism. Murray graduated top of her class at Howard and was the only woman. She is the first African American to earn a J.S.D. from Yale Law School and a co-founder of the National Organization for Women. In 1977, Murray became the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest. Murray will soon become the first Black queer person to appear on U.S. currency as she will be featured on a quarter in the next round of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program. Murray wrote about gender identity and sexuality throughout most of her life. According to the Pauli Murray Center, “Murray actively used the phrase ‘he/she personality,’ during the early years of their life. Later in journals, essays, letters, and autobiographical works, Pauli employed ‘she/her/hers’ pronouns.” In her journals, Murray wondered if she was “one of nature’s experiments; a girl who should have been a boy.” Although denied, Murray requested testosterone injections and hormone therapy and consulted doctors in her belief that she may have been intersex and had undescended testis. Gender studies scholars now acknowledge that if Murray were living today, she might have identified as a transgender man.
Laphonza Butler – Jackson State University
Laphonza Butler made history when she was sworn into the Senate in October 2023 as the first openly lesbian Black senator to serve in Congress, and the first openly LGBTQ senator to represent California. She will also be the third Black woman to ever serve in the Senate. Butler was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill late California senator Dianne Feinstein’s seat for the remainder of the term through 2024. She and her wife, Neneki, have a daughter named Nylah.
Andrea Jenkins
Andrea Jenkins made history in 2017 as the first African American openly trans woman to be elected to public office in the United States. Jenkins made history again in January 2022, when she was elected as the first transgender official in the U.S. to lead a city council. Now serving as Minneapolis City Council President, she is also a writer, performance artist, poet, and transgender activist.
Stormé DeLarverie
Credit: The New York Times
Stormé DeLarverie was a gay rights activist and drag performer, rumored to have thrown the first punch at the Stonewall Uprising in New York City in 1969. Before her participation in Stonewall, DeLarverie spent the ’50s and ’60s as the only “male impersonator” in the Jewel Box Revue, the period’s only racially integrated drag troupe. Later in life, she served as a security guard at the neighborhood’s gay bars, calling herself the “guardian of the lesbians in The Village.” She patrolled the streets of Greenwich Village with a gun on her hip protecting young queer women at all costs.
Ritchie Torres
In 2020, Ritchie Torres won his seat in New York’s 15th Congressional District, becoming one of the first gay Black members of Congress. Prior to his election, Torres served as the youngest member of the New York City Council. He is currently one of the nine co-chairs of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, and Freshman Crescendo Representative.
Mondaire Jones
Jones joined Torres as one of the first two openly LGBTQ+ Black members of Congress in 2020 when he was elected to represent New York’s 17th Congressional District in the House. During his time as a U.S. representative, he championed civil rights, voting rights, democracy, and Supreme Court reform. In 2023, Rep. Nancy Pelosi appointed former Congressman Mondaire Jones as a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Classes were canceled Monday at Jackson State University after a student was shot and killed Sunday evening at the University Pointe Apartment Complex.
Classes were canceled Monday at Jackson State University after a student was shot and killed Sunday evening at the University Pointe Apartment Complex.
According to the university, Jaylen Burns, who was an industrial technology major from Chicago, was taken to a hospital from campus after the shooting.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jaylen’s family, friends, and all those who knew him,” the university said in a statement. “He was an ambitious and bright young man, who believed in being of service as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and president of the C100 Chapter at JSU, an affiliate of the 100 Black Men of America. We grieve the tragic loss of his life due to this senseless act of violence.”
Jackson Police Department is assisting campus police in the investigation to apprehend the person of interest. According to Jackson, Mississippi ABC affiliate WAPT, officers worked throughout the night and Monday morning scouring the apartment complex looking for scenes.
The university said that additional security has been deployed to ensure the safety of the campus community and urged everyone to carry their JSU Identification at all times.
President Elayne Hayes-Anthony encouraged faculty, staff, and students in need of grief support to contact the Latasha Norman Center for Counseling Services at 601-979-0374 or email latashanormancenter@jsums.edu.
Baltimore police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection to a mass shooting that injured five at Morgan State University during the school’s homecoming week.
Baltimore police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection to a mass shooting that injured five at Morgan State University during the school’s homecoming week.
The teenager was taken into custody on Thursday and faces charges of multiple counts of attempted murder police said.
Police also said that a warrant has been issued for another suspect, Jovan Williams, 18. He is considered to be armed and dangerous and anyone with information is asked to call 911.
Baltimore Police Department
“Our job is to make sure that we go out and bring those people in and hold them accountable, and now, we’ll be handing them off to the state’s attorney and criminal justice system,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said Friday during a neighborhood community walk in northwest Baltimore. “There’s one more person to get, and we will get that person as well.”
“BPD has been working tirelessly on the investigation into this incident and are grateful for the many partners that assisted us in identifying and capturing one of our suspects,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley said in a release. “We will not rest until Williams is in custody. While this arrest cannot undo the damage and trauma caused that day, it is my hope that it can bring some peace and justice to the victims, the Morgan community and our city.”
Authorities are offering a reward of up to $9,000 for tips leading to an arrest and charges. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 410-396-2444 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7LOCKUP.
A new law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom will allow community college students in the state who transfer to an HBCU a one-time grant of up to $5,000.
A new law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom will allow community college students in the state who transfer to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) a one-time grant of up to $5,000.
The bill, titled Assembly Bill 1400 was authored by Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan. According to EdSource, it was moved because there are no HBCUs in California so students wanting to attend an HBCU would have to go out of state and could lose access to state aid.
A statement from the California Student Aid Commission said that Assembly Bill 1400, would “create a California-to-HBCU-to-California pipeline that would benefit not only our students, but the entire state.”
The bill will reallocate money from the state’s College Access Tax Credit Fund to fund the grants. According to EdSource, the commission said that due to federal tax changes, there has been a significant decrease in revenue, and the program no longer meets the demand of its intended target, low-income students. The commission says that by repurposing the funds, the program now provides “more meaningful and impactful support” for a small number of students.
According to Bryan, only 53 students are enrolled in 39 HBCUs in the 2021-2022 school year. While the transfers are small, the number is expected to rise with the allocation of the grant.
To be eligible for the funds, students must indicate their intent to return to California upon graduation, Insight Into Diversity reports.
“AB 1400 creatively redirects funds to provide support to California’s students looking to transfer to an HBCU and bring their talents back to California,” Marlene Garcia, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, said in a statement.
Sports history is being made as NBA G League teams the Austin Spurs and the Texas Legends prepare to face off in the Thrivent HBCU Classic at Paul Quinn College, making it the first time a G League game will be played at a HBCU.
Sports history is being made as NBA G League teams the Austin Spurs and the Texas Legends prepare to face off in the Thrivent HBCU Classic at Paul Quinn College, making it the first time a G League game will be played at a historically black college or university (HBCU).
The game will take place on Nov. 4th at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, TX at 4 p.m.
“The event is multi-purpose,” said Legends President Malcolm Farmer. “We’re looking forward to getting our fans a preview of the season while showcasing Paul Quinn’s top-notch facilities, campus, and staff. We get to draw attention to the talent in HBCUs, especially here locally, promote these teams on our stage, and introduce our fans to PQC and ways they can get involved in the Quinnite Nation.”
The new court design for Paul Quinn University (Credit: Roberto Hernandez/ESPN)
In addition to the Austin-Legends game, there will be a game featuring the Paul Quinn women’s basketball team who will play against Texas Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m.
Attendees can purchase tickets at the door or stream the event live via Urban Edge Networks’ HBCU+ app.
