President Joe Biden uttered more stupid comments — and the rest of us can certainly learn something from it: This time, while with First Lady Jill Biden, he had visited Bowie State University on the eve of the election Monday evening, November 7, campaigning for Wes Moore and other Maryland candidates on the ballot in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
According to Fox News, the leader of the free world told Bowie State students who attended the rally the unthinkable: Despite not having the same endowments, they were “just as bright” as students who attended predominantly white institutions.
“Look, talking about my historic commitment to HBCUs that includes $5.8 billion I put in the budget for HBCUs. You know why? HBCUs don’t have the endowments that others have. But guess what, you’re just as smart, you’re just as bright, you’re just as good as any college in America. And that money, that money is to build laboratories and other things for the future that you need to have access to,” Biden said.
Several social media users criticized Biden for his comment, calling it another example of him making a racial gaffe, including conservative author Jason Howerton, who asked, “The way this man treats black people––like little children––is so da*n offensive. Why say this about [sic] an HBCU? Just as smart as who? What are you trying to say with this nonsense?”
Howerton, of course, is correct. Besides, it’s not Biden’s first racial gaffe. For example, infamously patronizing Black voters, he declared, “I tell you, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for Trump or me, then you ain’t Black” during his 2020 presidential campaign.
Then, during the 2020 primary, “poor kids are just as bright and talented as White kids” was, what Biden thought to be, and like YoungBloodz, “Presidential.”
Of course, HBCU students are as bright as PWI students. Biden is the only person saying otherwise. His comments earlier this month show that Biden’s handlers should be working hard to instill within him the proverb less is more.
For your convenience, I have listed below some facts regarding the nation’s 101, which are the last cultural jewels that Black people have left in this country.
HBCUs produce almost 20 percent of all Black graduates, enrolling 10 percent of all Black students. The above is despite these schools makeup only 3 percent of American colleges, per UNCF.
Compared to non-HBCU, the cost of attendance at an HBCU is 28 percent more affordable.
“A whopping 25% of African American graduates with STEM degrees come from HBCUs. Eight HBCUs were among the top 20 institutions to award the most science and engineering bachelor’s degrees to Black graduates from 2008-2012.” [UNCF]
“An HBCU graduate can earn an additional $927,000 in their lifetime, which is 56% more than they could expect without their HBCU degrees or certificates. From start to finish, an HBCU education is a setup for success.” [UNCF]
Tennessee State University’sAristocrat of Bands is living up to the school’s motto “Excellence Is Our Habit” as they have officially been nominated for two Grammys.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Aristocrat of Bands has been nominated for a Grammy for their album The Urban Hymnal in the Best Roots Gospel Album category.
They received a second Grammy nomination for their collaboration on a spoken word single with artist J Ivey.
The 10-track album is filled with organic sounds that were created on the TSU campus and features gospel music trailblazers such as Jekalyn Carr, Fred Hammond, and Kierra Sheard.
The Aristocrat of Bands is the first collegiate band in history to earn a Grammy nomination.
Dr. Reginald McDonald, director of bands, said the nominations are a huge accomplishment for the university.
“This is a tremendous day in the history of our beloved Tennessee State University,” Dr. McDonald said in a news release.
“This is not just a band accolade, but a university-wide accomplishment. I personally appreciate our President Dr. Glenda Glover’s vision for our university.”
Dr. Reginald McDonald, Director of Bands at TSU
The Grammys will take place on February 5, 2023, at Cypto.com arena in Los Angeles.
On Monday, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that one person is believed to be responsible for a majority of the bomb threats made to HBCUs earlier this year.
On Monday, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that one person is believed to be responsible for a majority of thebomb threatsmade to HBCUs earlier this year.
Wray said that the bomb threats were linked to a sole unidentified juvenile who has been prosecuted as a minor by state authorities.
“We’ve recently — with respect to the first big tranche of the threats — the investigation has identified an underage, a juvenile subject. And because of the federal limitations on charging juveniles with federal crimes, we have worked with state prosecutors to ensure that that individual is charged under various other state offenses, which will ensure some level of restrictions and monitoring and disruption of his criminal behavior,” Wray told lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee.
The surge in bomb threats started on Jan. 5, when Howard University and seven other historically Black institutions were targeted. By February, 17 different HBCUs had received threats, The Hill reports.
The FBI said the bomb threats had been made in phone calls, emails, instant messages, and anonymous online posts.
Federal investigators initially identified six “tech savvy” juveniles as persons of interest in the case back in February. According to USA Today, this prompted a wide-ranging inquiry involving at least 30 of the FBI’s 56 field offices, but later linked the communications to one person.
Wray said the suspect in custody is being investigated for one string of calls, but they are still investigating other threatening calls made to HBCUs.
USA Today reports that the investigation is continuing into two other tranches of threat streams: one involving 19 racially-motived communications between Feb. 8 and March 31, that have since been linked to Internet addresses abroad.
“Since that big tranche that we believe that individual was responsible for, there have been two other tranches. And we’re very actively investigating those, but there’s not much I can say on those ongoing active investigations, those other investigations, at this time” Wray said.
Entrepreneurs, they get things done. The world needs innovative forward-thinkers like entrepreneurs who turn their visions into reality. Not only do they inspire others to reach their goals and bet on themselves but they supply a need, create new markets, and can employ a community. It’s not easy running a business, especially while you’re still in school, but HBCUs students across the nation are following their passion and supplying a need on campus and in the world.
Today is National Entrepreneurs’ Day and we’re highlighting a few HBCU student entrepreneurs who are making waves on their campus and beyond. We asked you to tag an on-campus student entrepreneur on our Instagram post and we picked a few bosses operating in different fields to shout out. Here are 7 HBCU student entrepreneurs to look out for!
Devin Faulkner
Devin Faulkner is a student entrepreneur at Prairie View A&M University with a booming clothing line called Black History University. Faulkner has been featured on FOX, CBS, and Canvas Rebel for his clothing brand. He told Canvas Rebel that he has always used graphic design as an outlet for expression and in 2020 he picked up his computer to design graphics about how he felt about Black History Month, ultimately ending up designing sweatshirts that had a powerful message behind them. “I came up with the idea of Black History University because we will never stop learning Black History,” Faulkner told FOX News. “So I put that on a sweatshirt, and people are loving it.” His clothing features images of prominent black figures like Ruth J. Simmons, Maya Angelou, Malcolm X, and Carter G. Woodson. Falkner says his mission is to spread awareness of Black History & HBCUs and in doing so, create a community of like-minded individuals. According to his website, all proceeds go towards supporting his higher education, as well as the Black History University Scholarship Fund.
Rhani Kahn
Rhani Kahn is a senior majoring in Engineering Management Technology at Southern University A&M College and the CEO of Trap Kustomz, a customized corset and shoe business. Khan founded her business in April 2021, finding inspiration from never being able to find the pieces she pictured in her head in stores. “I have always had a passion for fashion and being different with anything I create,” Khan said. Trap Kustomz makes fully customized corsets for women and customized shoes as well to accommodate all genders. Khan describes Trap Kustomz line as “a one-stop shop for customization.” She incorporates bling, patches, glitter, multiple fabrics, and more into her designs. She plans to incorporate digital art into her designs and hopes to collab with other black-owned designers or celebrities in the future.
Lanaya Thorne
Lanaya Thorne is a junior elementary education major at Winston-Salem University and is the CEO of the baking business, NayasPastries. Thorne started her business during her freshman year at WSSU after seeing a gap in the market on campus for a sweets business. She has been baking since she was a little girl and really began expanding her business during her winter break in 2020. She credits her family, friends, and former teachers for being her support system, giving her constructive criticism on prices and the presentation of her work. Her menu includes cupcakes, dessert cups, cakesicles, cake hearts, and honey bun cakes. She has gone from selling sweets in her freshman dorm to having people who live an hour away come shop, hosting her own pop-up shop for black-owned businesses, and assembling a group of brand ambassadors to help bring awareness to her business. She hopes to expand NayasPastries and eventually open her own bakery one day.
Nick Jonas
Nicholas Jonas is a 4th-year business administration student at Florida A&M University and the owner of StretchLifeVisuals, LLC. Jonas specializes in photography and videography and has been in this industry for seven years now. He is a visual storyteller capturing moments from graduations to engagements, headshots, and more creative work. “Growing up I have always been a storyteller and an outlandish thinker. I would always create outrageous tales and visualize crazy pictures to tell to my family members and peers. That’s what I believe photography and video should be about, telling stories. Video and photo is nothing but bringing the visualization of the craft to life, giving one a better sense of understanding,” Jonas says on his website. Jonas shares his knowledge on his Instagram, giving out helpful photography and videography tips to his followers. He is also currently a videographer for FAMU’s athletic department and has shot and recorded for NIKE, Tim Tebow, DC YoungFly, Chico Bean, and many more celebrity brands and influencers. The sky is the limit for Jonas.
Asia Angelica Jackson
Asia Angelica Jackson is a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University and is the founder of Anjelic Hair Care, an all-natural handmade hair & skincare brand. Jackson founded Anjelic Hair Care in 2019 as a response to the countless skin and hair products marketed to women of color that contain harmful and toxic ingredients. Anjelic Hair Care focuses on incorporating organic and natural ingredients to ensure that the products are safe for the hair and skin and are shelf-stable. Their products include Jamaican Black Castor oil in its purest form, Multipurpose Flaxseed Butter, a daily moisturizer for the hair and skin, and African Black Soap. Jackson plans on taking the next step of partnering with investors and moving from e-commerce to retail stores.
Deshay Cunningham
Deshay Cunningham is a junior computer engineering major at North Carolina A&T State University, and the founder of Girl Tech Geek, a brand that provides education, resources, and a community for females in technology. “The goal is to simplify complex computer science concepts to help women become successful in their journey,” Cunningham says. She was inspired to create the brand after tutoring for a third-party company and realized there was a high demand for computer science tutors but the quality of good tutors and teachers was hard to find. “After a few students, I decided I didn’t want any limitations of any company on how I can help students, so I cut the middle man,” Cunningham said. “I realized they needed more than a tutor.” Cunningham now does tech coaching through her business while maintaining the priority of graduating with a full-time offer as a Software Engineer. She wants to use her business to change the narrative for people of color in tech and encourage women to pursue degrees in Computer Science and related fields. “Girl Tech Geek will be the vehicle to provide those women with the tools that I wish I had my freshman year in college at an HBCU,” Cunningham said.
Tamaya Nicole Harris
Tamaya Nicole Harris is a freshman majoring in business with a minor in marketing, at Alabama A&M University with two businesses under her belt already. She is the owner of the beauty line Janai Nicole Beauty and has a poster printing business called Frames By Classy. “I have always been into beauty products and making others look beautiful by enhancing their natural features. I feel it is important to always look and feel your best and a big part of that is the beauty products you use,” she said. Harris’s assortment of lip glosses is the signature item of Janai Nicole Beauty, which includes glosses in all colors and varieties. She also sells lip scrubs, body butters, and body scrubs. Her poster printing business, Frames By Classy offers personalized poster collages comprised of an assortment of photos for her customers. “This allows me to tap into my creative side while creating memorable gifts for others to present to their loved ones,” Harris said. She has hosted her own vendor events showcasing not only her business but also spotlighting other young entrepreneurs in her area. She hopes to continue to expand both of her businesses and to establish multiple locations throughout the country where her products can be purchased.
Morehouse College is the first college to teach courses in the digital world of the metaverse.
According to Forbes, the metaverse is used to describe a combination of the virtual reality and mixed reality worlds accessed through a browser or headset, which allows people to have real time interactions and experiences across distance.
“The metaverse is what I call the world’s greatest playground. But besides that, what it really is, is the next iteration of the web,” said Muhsinah Morris, Ph.D., virtual reality program manager for Morehouse College.
Channel 2 Action News reporter, Dave Huddleston toured the digital version of the Morehouse College campus was able to see how students can study history in the Metaverse. Morris took Huddleston on a tour of a slave ship in the metaverse and was able to go below deck to see and hear what the conditions were like.
“And I think that people do want to know the history of us as Americans because we all have made significant contributions to this fabric of America. … To expand the story that we’re telling, to build confidence and understandings around how we’re all connected because we have a shared history in this country,” said Monique Earl Lewis, Ph.D., chair of Morehouse College’s Africana Studies and History Department.
Students Tahj Henry Jackson and Sid King told WSB-TV that learning in the metaverse gives them a deeper understanding of the past and future.
“It’s a whole new experience and you’re meeting and experiencing things first-hand, such as the Underground Railroad,” Jackson said.
“We can see that anything can happen, right?” King said.
Students at Morehouse are being equipped with the skills needed for the virtual future.
The Pew Research Center said by 2040, 54% of technology experts believe the metaverse will be a regular part of daily life for half a billion people.
“They need to know how to use it regardless of what field they’re in, regardless of whether they can code or not,” Morris said.
According to Citi, the metaverse economy could be worth $13 trillion by 2030.
As technology continues to change our world, Morehouse is working to make sure students keep up so they can have the best opportunities after college.
“They can create. They can produce. They can market. They can create social events. They can create a place of belonging in the community,” Morris said. “The future looks a lot like young people being able to come together from countries all over the world in one singular space.”
On Saturday, September 10, HBCU students and alumni experienced an upscale fine dining experience at the annual Conversations at the Chef’s Table event.
On Saturday, September 10, HBCU students and alumni experienced an upscale fine dining experience at the annual Conversations at the Chef’s Tableevent.
Starting in 2019, Conversations at the Chef’s Table is a curated dining experience designed to bring diverse groups of people together to connect and build meaningful relationships through food.
This year it took place at Two Lions Vineyards in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and was reserved for HBCU students and alumni. In collaboration with Capital One, participants were able to share advice, stories, and laughs at this year’s event which was described as higher learning meets fine dining.
Creator and Founder of Conversations at the Chef’s Table, Temiyayo “Tayo” Ola
The mastermind behind this event is the Creator and Founder of Conversations at the Chef’s Table,Temiyayo “Tayo” Ola, an experienced chef with the mission of bringing people together through food.
Ola says that it was important to him to expose HBCU students to an environment that is not always made available to them.
“Not a lot of people get this kind of opportunity to be in rooms, fine dining at that, and on a high scale,” Ola said.
“It’s about showing HBCU students that there’s so much more out there outside of what we are always exposed to. when you think about America, they always try to limit exposure for black individuals.”
– Temiyayo “Tayo” Ola
Although Ola did not attend an HBCU himself, he has long been connected to them through his sister and friends attending one. He says the highlight of dinner was seeing the HBCU pride each alumnus and student had for their university. “Seeing it from an outsider’s perspective, seeing truthfully what their HBCU experience meant really means a lot. I think it’s a beautiful thing how we can elevate HBCUs outside the norm of what we see” Ola noted.
Bringing people together through candid and genuine conversations is what Conversations at the Chef’s Table is all about.
Ola says that he started this dinner with the intention of finding new ways to bring people together through food and also to highlight black and minority chefs. Two of these chefs include Thomas Squire, the founder and owner of Thomas Time Catering, and Chef Tommi A. Vincent, who both prepared the food for the event. Ola is using his platform to help them gain exposure and further their opportunities.
Ola has spent over twelve years building his platform in the culinary space. The self-taught chef has been featured in major programs and publications like Forbes, Black Enterprise, Good Morning America, and the Food Network. Cooking has opened doors for Ola in many aspects of his life including a position at Kenneth Cole as a content editor as well as his current role as a producer at HBO Max.
With so many opportunities Ola’s been afforded, he’s ready to start helping others and giving back.
“It’s very important for me to be a representation and inspire those around me because the world and society try to limit black voices and black cuisine and just black talent,” Ola said. “They try to downgrade us but it feels like it’s a calling for me to continue to strive to show that like, hey, if I could do it, let me help you do it.”
In light of the second “Black Panther” film, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” coming to theaters, we are honoring the man who brought the character to life and left his profound impact on cinema forever. Here are 10 facts about the actor and Howard alum, Chadwick Boseman!
Chadwick Boseman was an impactful actor and proud Howard University alum, who made his mark in Hollywood by portraying legendary Black figures in his films. While playing real-life legends like Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, and the fictional superhero, Black Panther, Boseman became a legend himself. He was the first Black superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, finally giving Black children everywhere a hero who looked like them to look up to. What he did for Black representation in media, all while remaining kind, graceful and humble, can never be replaced or duplicated.
When he passed away in August 2020 from a silent battle with colon cancer, it shocked and saddened the world but he left behind a legacy that continues to be honored. It was honoring his legacy that served as a driving force for director Ryan Coogler when creating the second installment of Black Panther, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which comes to theaters November 11.
His Legacy Lives On in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
The new film follows the people of Wakanda fighting to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. Coogler said that the movie will honor Boseman and that he tried to channel him while making the film. Danai Guirira, who plays Okoye in “Black Panther” spoke about feeling Boseman’s presence while filming in an interview with Billboard saying, “We did with our full hearts, our full effort and really seeking to honor our brother.” “We can just hope and pray that it’s received that way and that people have an experience with it as a result of that,” Guirira added.
In light of the release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” we continue to honor Chadwick Boseman’s legacy and the impact he made on the world with his 43 years of life. Here are 10 interesting facts about the actor and Howard alum.
He Worked as a Drama Teacher in Harlem
After graduating from Howard in 2000, Chadwick moved to Brooklyn where he studied at the Digital Film Academy in Manhattan. To support himself, he worked as a drama teacher at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem for the Junior Scholars Program. One of his former students, AshleyAnn Richardson, credits Chadwick for encouraging her to pursue a career in writing. “I didn’t really care for theater,” Richardson said. “I was a big writer and I wrote a poem and I didn’t want to read it, and he had another girl read it, and she actually performed my poem for me, and he was like, ‘You need to continue writing!’ And it’s so funny he said that, because from there on, I went into writing.”
He Came From a Large but Tight-Knit Family
Chadwick grew up in a religious home as the youngest of three brothers. His mother was a nurse and his father worked for an agricultural conglomerate and did upholstery work on the side. Chadwick never had any children of his own but he had a large extended family. In an interview with Mr. Porter, he said, “When my grandmother died, she left 115 grandkids and great-grandkids. That was just one side.” Boseman’s parents had a combined 25 siblings, with roots in Anderson, South Carolina going back generations and hundreds of family members. (New York Times) When Boseman had a new film, the family would buy out theaters across the country to celebrate the premiere. After Boseman’s death, hundreds of family members came together to honor his life. (Esquire) Chadwick also revealed that his family is from the Yoruba people, one of Nigeria’s largest tribes, and the Limba, who come from Sierra Leone, during a 2018 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Family was always on Chadwick’s mind. His brother, Derrick Boseman told Esquire that as Chadwick recovered from a 16-hour surgery in March 2020 he spent days writing and editing a 25-page manifesto for his family which he called “the Grocery List.” “It was based off of what he felt was orders from God on how we needed to eat and be prepared during the pandemic. And it was foods that he suggested that we all purchase, that he was willing to, and he did, send money to family members who maybe didn’t have the means to be prepared during the pandemic,” Derrick says. “And he spent days, and days and days writing this thing, and editing it, and making phone calls to family members, and emailing it out to everybody so that everybody had it in their hands, so that everybody could be prepared for that season when people were buying up everything off of the shelves … Family was the most important thing to him.” Derrick said to the world he was Chadwick but to his family, he was always just “Chad.” “Chadwick is his given name, but it’s like Chadwick was the Hollywood person. But Chad never changed. He was always humble.”
Basketball Was One of His First Passions
As a teenager, Boseman played on an Anderson, SC-based Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team that qualified for a national tournament in 1993. He spoke about his basketball experience on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2019, sharing that he once went head-to-head with NBA superstar, Kevin Garnett in the AAU. His former coach, Marion Tarrant said that he remembers Chadwick as someone with “a very humble spirit” who helped with team chemistry. “I think he enjoyed basketball, but it was just something to do … he wasn’t one of those guys who would live it, sleep it, dream about it,” Tarrant said of Chadwick. Although he never pursued basketball professionally, he never stopped loving or supporting the sport. In 2015, he participated in the NBA All-Star Celebrity game and was a frequent attendee of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. In the 2018 contest, a moment between him and Miami Heat Player, Victor Oladipo went viral when he handed Oladipo a Black Panther mask before doing the “Wakanda Forever” gesture. He also was a judge for the contest in 2020, just months before his passing.
He Was Angela Bassett’s Student Guide at Howard Years Before Black Panther Fame
Angela Bassett recalled first meeting Chadwick years ago at Howard in a touching Instagram tribute after he passed. She revealed that Chadwick was the student assigned to escort her around the university when she received her honorary doctorate. She said that Chadwick reminded her of this encounter during the premiere party for Black Panther. He also briefly spoke about this on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” in 2018. “During my graduation actually, Angela Bassett received the honorary doctorate — she plays my mother in ‘Black Panther’ — so it’s sort of a full circle,” he said.
He Originally Wanted to Be a Director
Earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing at Howard University, Chadwick originally set out to be a writer and director. Initially, he began studying acting to learn how to relate to actors. It wasn’t until he took an acting workshop taught by legendary actress Phylicia Rashad, that he decided to begin a career in acting. She encouraged him to audition for a summer acting program at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford, England, and asked Denzel Washington to help fund him. Chadwick wrote his first play in high school after one of his basketball teammates was shot and killed. He responded by writing and staging a play called “Crossroads,” igniting his calling to become a storyteller.
According to TheaterMania.com, He immersed himself in the hip-hop theater scene, working with Howard classmate Kamilah Forbes to create the play with music “Rhyme Deferred,” which toured the United States and appears in the Hip Hop Theatre Anthology “The Fire This Time.” He wrote and directed the play “Hieroglyphic Graffiti,” a hip-hop-infused, modern telling of an ancient myth. He also directed plays such as “Dutchman,” “The Colored Museum,” “Wine in the Wilderness,” “Indian Summer,” and more. His most well-known play is called “Deep Azure,” a hip-hop theater production that follows the aftermath of a black policeman shooting dead a black student out of prejudiced panic. The play went on to become a regular in the line-up of the Congo Square Theater Company in Chicago and earned him a 2006 Jeff Award nomination for Best New Play. Chadwick also won the Best Short Film award at the Hollywood Black Film Festival in 2008 for his short film called “Blood Over A Broken Pawn,” which he wrote and directed.
He Did Not Have to Audition for the Role of Black Panther
According to the Marvel casting director, Sarah Halley Finn, the decision to cast Chadwick as Black Panther was “unanimous.” She revealed in an interview with Vulture, that Chadwick auditioned for a very different role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that of Drax from “The Guardians of the Galaxy.” Finn said that he read for the role of Drax as if he were a king, and his compassion, strength, and vulnerability left an impression on her. Instead of conducting the usual extensive search and seeing thousands of people for a role, Chadwick was immediately chosen for the role of Black Panther. “My team at Marvel had seen his body of work and knew his ability to channel this kind of dignity, this grace, this elegance, this regalness with humility and humor and intelligence,” Finn said. Chadwick was offered the role over the phone by Marvel Universe President, Kevin Feige.
He Fought to Portray an Authentic Accent for His Role as Black Panther
Originally Marvel wanted Chadwick’s Black Panther character King T’challa to have a British or American accent but he wasn’t going for it. In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter in 2018, Chadwick said that Marvel felt like an African accent might be too much for an audience to take, or that they might not understand it through the whole movie, but Chadwick pushed for it. “It felt to me like a deal breaker,” he said. “I was like, ‘No, this is such an important factor that if we lose this right now, what else are we gonna throw away for the sake of making people feel comfortable? … Once we decided to do it, we went for it.” He also told the Los Angeles Times in 2016 that he wanted the movie to feel real and refused to speak in a European or American accent because it would imply that Wakanda had been colonized. Chadwick worked with a dialect coach to produce his Black Panther accent based in the Xhosa language. He also did research for his role in Capetown and was given the Xhosa name Mxolisi, which means “peacemaker,” by a street musician.
He Made SAG Awards History
In February 2021 Chadwick made Screen Actors Guild Awards history when he became the first person ever to receive four nominations in a single year in the film categories. He was nominated for his lead performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” his supporting role in “Da 5 Bloods,” and for his work in both films in the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category. He posthumously won the Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and his wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, accepted the honor on his behalf. During her speech, she shared a moving quote by Chadwick saying, “If you see the world unbalanced, be a crusader that pushes heavily on the seesaw of the mind.”
He Was a Philanthropist
Chadwick knew the importance of helping people and was a selfless giver. Even though he was undergoing his own personal battle with cancer he made time to frequently visit St. Jude’s and other childhood cancer treatment centers to surprise young fans. According to the National Outreach Director for St. Jude, Chadwick said he was “happy to help take their mind off of what they’re going through” when making the trip to Memphis from Atlanta after filming “Avengers: Endgame” to surprise a young cancer patient in 2018. According to The Joseph Maley Foundation, he donated $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem to pay for children to see the “Black Panther” for free. He also gave back to his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina, and bought 312 underprivileged children tickets to see “Black Panther.”
While filming “21 Bridges” he donated money from his own paycheck to boost his female co-star, Sienna Miller’s salary to the number she asked for, as he believed it was what she ‘deserved to be paid’. In April 2020, in honor of Jackie Robinson day, he helped raise $4.2 million worth of PPE equipment for hospitals serving Black communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even at the end of his life, he was thinking about others, as “Black Panther” producer, Nate Moore explained in an interview with People, that they had been working together to send a young fan gifts through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He revealed that his last text from Chadwick read “It broke me, man. But we need to do that for them. People deserve abundant life, special moments. They’ve been through hell battling disease.” he wrote. “If we were able to ease their suffering and bring joy for a moment… then we made a difference in his life.”
He Was a Man of Faith
Chadwick grew up in a Christian household and carried his faith into adulthood, often professing his beliefs. His childhood pastor, Pastor Samuel Neely said even with all his success, he still saw Chadwick as the same person who grew up in the church. “When I see him, it’s almost like seeing my own child; he’s still Chad,” Neely told WHNS-TV. “He did a lot of positive things within the church and within the community. With him singing in the choir, with him working the youth group, he always was doing something, always helping out, always serving. That was his personality.” In 2019, he honored Denzel Washington with the AFI Life Achievement Award. When presenting the award he quoted Ephesians 3:20 to the actor, “May God bless you exceedingly and abundantly more for what’s in store than He ever has before.” He also referenced the Bible during his Howard commencement speech in 2018. “Sometimes, you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose God has predestined inside of you. God says in Jeremiah, ‘I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future,’” he told the graduating class.
Even after he got sick he never stopped believing in God. His brother Derrick, who is a pastor, said that Chadwick never complained or blamed God for his sickness. “I mean, we would have prayer sessions, family prayer. And he would always say, Hallelujah. Hallelujah.” So he always praised God, even through his illness and his sickness. That never ended.” In an interview with New York Times Paster Boseman recalled his last conversation with his brother the day before he died. He said that Chadwick told him “Man, I’m in the last quarter, and I need you to get me out the game.” Pastor Boseman realized his brother was tired and ready to go. After their last conversation, he changed his prayer from ‘God heal him, God save him,’ to ‘God let your will be done.’ “And the next day he passed away,” he said.
Students at Spelman and Morehouse College received a special treat this homecoming as HBO Max and Team Epiphany partnered to present a two-pronged homecoming activation on campus to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Scene in Black.
Students at Spelman and Morehouse College received a special treat this homecoming as HBO Max and Team Epiphany partnered to present a two-pronged homecoming activation on campus to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Scene in Black.
Scene in Black was launched last year by HBO Max as a social-first audience initiative that focuses on connecting HBO and HBO Max’s Black talent, creatives, and fans. The initiative seeks to celebrate Black creators and audiences alike while also amplifying Black stories and talent by increasing Black representation in HBO Max programming.
The homecoming activation at Spelman and Morehouse was an extension of Scene in Black’s mission and kicked off Spelman’s Market Friday on October 21. The Scene in Black custom tent housed an exclusive portrait studio where students were able to receive headshots from renowned photographer and Morehouse alum, Cam Kirk. Over 150 guests were able to get their portraits taken by Kirk.
To end the day, Scene in Black surprised ten lucky students with a care package. The gift included a pair of AirPod Max headphones, a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Suite, and a $100 gift card to the Spelman College bookstore.
The festivities carried into Saturday, October 22, with a tailgate at Morehouse College. Scene in Black set up four custom-branded tents with complimentary food and beverages for guests. The tent was certainly a hot spot for tailgate-goers as it featured DJ Abe Hyde and DJ Supreme, as well as a beautiful floral photo op. Throughout the day HBCU Buzz was there to capture everyone’s homecoming drip and the best fits of the day. Many notable guests stopped by the tent including, Angelina Jolie, Sam Jay, DJ Domo, Scottie Beam, and Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins.
The bodies of three American friends were found in an Airbnb they rented in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead after apparent carbon monoxide poisoning, Mexico City prosecutors said.
The bodies of three American friends were found in an Airbnb they rented in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead after apparent carbon monoxide poisoning, Mexico City prosecutors said.
Hampton University graduate Jordan Marshall, 28 was vacationing with friends Kandace Florence, 28, and Courtez Hall, 33, at a rental in a residential complex in the La Rosita neighborhood when they were found dead on Oct. 30, according to the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City, which investigated the deaths.
WAVY reported that on Oct. 30, Florence told her boyfriend over the phone that she was not feeling well and was beginning to feel sick. The call dropped and he was unable to get Florence back on the line so he called the Airbnb host to do a welfare check. When the authorities arrived they found Florence, Marshall, and Hall dead.
(L-R) Jordan Marshall, Kandace Florence, and Courtez Hall. Credit: PEOPLE MAGAZINE
According to ABC News, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office confirmed that investigators discovered a failure in the apartment’s gas boiler, which released a gas smell as well as carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas.
The three are remembered by their loving families.
Jordan Marshall, Credit: Daily Mail
Marshall received his Bachelor’s in Political Science from Hampton University in 2015 and his Master’s Degree in Secondary Social Studies in 2020. He was a 12th-grade English teacher at Rosenwald Collegiate High School in New Orleans and loved to travel, said his mother, Jennifer Marshall.
“In his short 28 years, we can draw comfort from the fact he did travel and he did live a very, very full life,” she told NBC News.
Marshall’s sister, Jasmine Marshall, told DailyMail.com that he was very passionate about teaching and loved his students.
“You don’t see a lot of black male teachers. So that’s one thing that I am just so happy he thought mostly black boys and girls,” she said. “Just being that representation for them I think was just wonderful. He was a great mentor for them. Someone they could look up to. Just very passionate about making a difference in their lives and that’s what we’re mostly proud of.”
Marshall’s funeral is set for Friday, his family says.
Jordan formed a friendship with Hall after moving to New Orleans and knew Florence since they were in high school together in Virginia Beach. Jennifer Marshall said Jordan and Florence were best friends.
Kandace Florence, Credit: Daily Mail
Florence’s mother, FreidaFlorence, told WAVY her daughter started a candle business called Glo Through It in 2020. Each candle features an affirmation, affirmations that are now helping the family get through this terrible tragedy.
“She said don’t go through it, glow through it,” her mother Freida says. “We are just glowing through her candles through it, just knowing that our healing is coming.”
“She was a dreamer, ‘dreamer’ meaning she wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people,” Freida said of her daughter.
The family plans to hold a candlelight vigil on what would have been her 29th birthday Thursday, Nov. 10.
The Make(HER) Collective — a group of local women makers and business owners from the Hampton Roads area — is now seeking donations via GoFundMe to establish The Kandace Florence Memorial Scholarship and help Florence’s family with funeral expenses.
“We can’t imagine our community without her, and we know the world had big things in store for her,” the group said. “But not because she was given it — because she worked tirelessly for it. While still prioritizing self-love, rest, fun, and family.”
Courtez Hall, Credit: Daily Mail
According to DailyMail.com, Hall was a Georgia native and taught seventh-grade history at KIPP Morial School. He had been teaching for just one year and had taken a liking to his new profession after previously working for Aetna and Target.
“Not only did the staff love him, all the students loved him as well. And he was just a great person all around. He loved teaching,” Hall’s sister, Tamieeka Hall, told DailyMail.com.
His mother Ceola Hall, described her son as a “joyous child” to WDSU. “He loved me, he loved his family. He loved to make everyone laugh” she said.
The families have been in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico but are still searching for answers.
“The Mexican police were not very forthcoming with information,” Jennifer Marshall said according to WTKR. “Also, the language barrier was incredibly difficult as well.”
According to WAVY, Jennifer Marshall says they spent hours in a Mexico City police station waiting for a translator to show up. The U.S. embassy was also closed when they arrived and they were unable to get into the Airbnb to get Jordan’s things.
Airbnb told Marshall’s mom that their belongings had been passed on to the authorities while the incident is under investigation.
Florence’s oldest brother, Chad, and her sister-in-law, Amy Green, said they had a similar experience. “We thought that going to the embassy first would aid us in that regard, but they didn’t have translators that could accompany us to the various places like the forensics office or police station,” Green said.
“We should’ve never had to go through that type of leg work to realize that our baby passed away in a foreign country,” said Kelvin Florence, Kandace’s father. “Nobody even took the effort to notify us — a letter, a phone call, nothing.
Airbnb said it has suspended the listing and canceled coming reservations as it investigates.
“This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones as they face this heavy loss,” an Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. “Our priority now is to provide support to those affected while the authorities investigate what happened and we are available to cooperate with the investigation in any way we can.”
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said it was “closely monitoring” the investigation into the deaths of three U.S. citizens in the country.
“We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” it said in a statement earlier this week. “Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have nothing further to add at this time.”
An HBCU homecoming is best described as a giant family reunion, with students and alumni all coming together to celebrate their pride and joy for their beloved institutions. This year was no different, as school spirit was on ten with everyone participating in homecoming favorites like tailgating, the pep rally, the parade, the big game, the step show, and of course the various parties throughout the week. There truly is nothing like an HBCU homecoming, and all the excitement and Black joy that comes with it.
Although the best time of the year has come and gone, that doesn’t mean the celebration has to stop. With some schools seeing their first homecoming in two years since the pandemic, this year has certainly been one for the books. From Drake surprising everyone and performing at Spelhouse, to North Carolina A&T’s self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Homecoming on Earth,’ there were so many memorable moments this season. With so many moments to choose from, we want to know who you think takes the top spot for best homecoming?
Which HBCU will win this year?
Looks like the people have spoken.
North Carolina A&T State University
It looks like they don’t call North Carolina A&T’s homecoming the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth” for nothing as it’s taken the top spot this year. This was the first time in two years that homecoming returned without any COVID restrictions and Aggie pride was in full effect. They started the week off with a beautiful Mardi Gras-themed Coronation for Miss and Mister A&T. The homecoming football game and concert were both sold out as alum and students packed the stadium. The Aggies successfully won the game after a historic 18-point comeback and the halftime show featured a surprise appearance from Chloe Bailey, who performed alongside the Golden Delight dancers. The homecoming concert featured electrifying performances by Chloe Bailey, Glorilla, Lil Baby, and Nardo Wick. The week closed out with the gospel concert featuring Tye Tribbett, Le’Andria Johnson, and the N.C. A&T Gospel Choir featuring Victor Solomon.
North Carolina Central University
NCCU’s “The Ultimate Homecoming Experience” is the runner-up for top homecoming this year. The Ultimate Gospel Concert kicked off the week of events, with a powerful night of praise and worship featuring Grammy-nominated artists Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Kierra Sheard. The week continued with Miss and Mister NCCU Royal Coronation, The Ultimate Talent show, Drag Show, and an old-school greek stroll off. At the all-class reunion dinner, The Class of 1972 presented a check for $283,629 to the school and were inducted into the Society of Golden Eagles during the Founders Day Convocation. They finished up the week with the homecoming game where the Eagles took the big win from Howard with a score of 50-21.
Tuskegee University
Coming in third place is Tuskegee, who celebrated their homecoming in person for the first time in nearly two years, with the fitting theme, “The Golden Tigers Returning to TU in 2022.” The week-long series of events started with the annual Gospel Explosion on Sunday and ended with the homecoming convocation, where TU alum and mayor of Jackson, Mississippi Chokwe Antar Lumumba served as the Grand Marshal and speaker. The week consisted of exciting events like the AUX Cord Wars Live, the Rave Revue Fashion Show, the Block Party, and the Alumni Affairs Black Party. The week was amplified by The Tuskegee Golden Tigers winning the homecoming game against the Miles College Golden Bears.
Prairie View A&M University
Prairie View hosted its first fully in-person homecoming since 2019 this year, with the theme “Back in Stride Again.” The week was full of exciting events, starting with the Gospel Fest, headlined by award-winning singer Brian Courtney Wilson. Other exciting events included Kicks & Conversations, the Silent Headphone Party, the first Super Hump Day in three years, and the Royal Coronation. During the week, PVAMU took over 97.9 The Box for three hours and crowned President Ruth J. Simmons as the first *and only* Honorary Miss Prairie View A&M University. The sold-out homecoming concert included performances by Mariah the Scientist and Young Nudy, and the Panthers came out victorious in the big game against Bethune-Cookman, with a score of 58-48.
Howard University
Howard’s homecoming theme this year was “The Meccaverse,” which “celebrated the multiverse that is Howard University while honoring the many sons and daughters who have come to the Mecca for training and matriculate as superheroes.” This year was entirely in person, shifting from the virtual celebrations of the past two years. Students, alumni, staff, and visitors packed out the campus for several entertaining events, including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, the Greek Life Step Show, the Homecoming Day of Service, Lavender Reception, and the iconic Yard Fest Concert. The week was complete with the Bison’s win against the Delaware State Hornets with a score of 35 -17.
Shelly Omilâdè “Omi” Bell is a multitalented serial entrepreneur, disruption strategist, and nonprofit executive, taking the world by storm as CEO of Black Girl Ventures, a nonprofit social enterprise that helps provide female founders of color with access to social and financial capital.
Bringing VC funding to black and women-owned firms across the globe.
Shelly Omilâdè “Omi” Bell is a multitalented serial entrepreneur, disruption strategist, and nonprofit executive, taking the world by storm as CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV), a nonprofit social enterprise that helps provide female founders of color with access to social and financial capital.
Bell founded BGV in 2016, with the intention of addressing the challenges Black and Brown women face in accessing social and financial capital to grow their businesses. “I created it in response to the news that Black women were starting businesses at six times the national average yet receiving less the 1% of venture capital,” Bell said.
To fulfill the goal of accelerating 100,000 Black and Brown women entrepreneurs and closing the funding gap they experience, BGV has implemented three programs: BGV Pitch, Change Agent Fellowship, and BGV NextGen.
The BGV Pitch is a live crowdfunded pitch competition, in which the audience votes with their dollars for the founders that they like best, and in turn, the founders are granted that capital back. The Change Agent Fellowship is a nine-month leadership skills development program created specifically to expand the capacity of early-stage entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to strengthen the ecosystems of Black and Brown women founders. Lastly, the BGV NextGen program services the next generation of Black and Brown entrepreneurs attending HBCUs through access to capital, training, mentoring, and new networks.
Influencing HBCU students specifically through the BGV NextGen program is a matter close to Bell’s heart as she is a proud HBCU alum herself. She graduated from North Carolina A&T (NCAT) with a degree in Computer Science in 2003. Bell says that her time at NCAT helped shape her into the businesswoman she is today.
“The sense of belonging that gets created when you are at an HBCU, you carry that in your heart,” Bell said. “Even though there may not be a sense of belonging in the corporate environment…because I went to an HBCU and had the experience of learning, growing, and developing around people who look like me, I carry the sense of belonging with me and in turn, through efforts like Black Girl Ventures, create a sense of belonging for other people.”
Creating a sense of belonging for people is something Bell has been able to do through BGV and beyond. She has worked as a K-12 educator, a patent examiner, a spoken word artist, and is one of the eight original Google Digital Coaches. She is also a mother of three, an inspirational speaker, a computer scientist, and the host of “A Dose of Disruption,” an interactive podcast experience for creatives, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.
Bell has been named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business by Entrepreneur Magazine and was acknowledged as a Rising Brand Star by Adweek. She also has trained over 5,000 entrepreneurs, held over 300 events for empowering leaders, managed multi-million dollar contracts, and scaled over 100 businesses.
With such an impressive career path and taking on so many different hats, Bell says that she has gotten better at juggling it all, and has created a sense of harmony that allows her to explore all her passions. Her advice to women looking to do the same is to “make the move.”
“Our intuition, our own gut feelings, our own judgment is one of the best things we have. It’s a superpower,” she said. “Trust your gut, trust yourself, and make the move.”
As for the future of Black Girl Ventures, Bell says she plans to expand the organization globally to create a “massive level of sisterhood that nobody has ever seen before.”
Yesterday, the Energy Department announced that it will award $30 million in federal grants to several HBCUs as well as to a college that primarily serves Native American students in the Pacific Northwest.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will award $30 million in federal grants to several HBCUs as well as to a college that primarily serves Native American students in the Pacific Northwest.
The grants are part of the department’s Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP), which is designed to assist students specializing in STEM fields.
“Leveraging the full potential of America’s best and brightest means including students from every pocket of the nation, and of all races and ethnicities,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement announcing the award.
Of the $30 million in federal grants, $25 million will go to HBCUs.
The grants are part of the $56 million allocated to the Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program in the 2022 budget that passed Congress in March. That budget allows the Department of Energy to further its mission of building a highly skilled and diverse workforce from roughly 700 Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) while removing inequitable barriers to advancement and development opportunities.
“With today’s investments, DOE is following through with our previously announced commitments to MSIs to remove barriers and unlock opportunities for millions of Americans—inspiring the next generation of science and technology leaders and positioning America to lead the world in the industries of the future, from artificial intelligence and clean energy to quantum computing and advanced engineering,” said Granholm.
President Joe Biden visited Bowie State University on Monday for a Democratic rally to deliver a final message to Maryland voters to choose Wes Moore for governor ahead of midterm elections.
President Joe Biden visited Bowie State University on Monday for a Democratic rally to deliver a final message to Maryland voters to choose Wes Moore for governor.
This comes after Biden’s recent appearance at another HBCU, Delaware State University in late October. There, he promoted his student debt relief plan and urged students to vote in the midterm elections.
This time, Biden was accompanied by Maryland governor nominee Wes Moore, first lady Jill Biden, and Senator Chirs Van Hollen.
BOWIE, MD – NOVEMBER 07: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore (L) raises arms with President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) during a campaign rally at Bowie State University on November 7, 2022 in Bowie, Maryland. Moore faces Republican state Rep. Dan Cox in tomorrow’s general election. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
Biden began his speech by commenting on his commitment to HBCUs, remarking on the $5.8 billion he put in the budget for HBCUs.
“Do you know why? HBCUs don’t have the endowments others have, but guess what? You’re just as smart. You’re just as bright. You’re just as good as any college in America. And that money — that money is to build laboratories and other things for the future that you need to have access to,” Biden said.
The president stated that “one of the great ways to honor HBCUs is to vote.”
Before a crowd of about 1,700, Biden urged the public to vote for Wes Moore for Maryland governor, stating that “Wes knows what patriotism means,” highlighting the combat veteran’s record as an Army captain who served in Afghanistan.
Students at Bowie State University filled the stands at an Election Eve rally featuring President Joe Biden (D). Photo by Danielle E. Gaines.
Biden also criticized Moore’s Republican opponent, Del. Dan Cox, calling him an “election denier,” and unpatriotic for not speaking out against the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. “You can’t only love your country when you win,” Biden said.
Moore delivered similar remarks before the president took the stage as he vowed not to allow Maryland “to become a state where deciding to honor the results [of an election] depends on what the results are.”
First Lady Jill Biden, who works as a college professor at Northern Virginia Community College, introduced Moore. “I always feel most at home on a college campus,” she said.
She encouraged everyone to get out and vote. “This election is too important to sit out,” she said. “I am asking you to put voting on your top of the to-do list.”
The president spoke highly of Moore calling him the “real deal” before the potential voters.
“Wes is a leader who will build Maryland and leave no one behind and I believe that,” President Biden said.
Moore said a few items serve as reminders of what his administration would preserve: a woman’s right to choose, implementation of free prekindergarten, and honor of election results.
“In these uncertain times, I promise you this one thing: Maryland will lead,” Moore said. “This is our time, Maryland. This is our time.”
The National Bankers Community Alliance (NBCA), which is powered by the National Bankers Association (NBA), has recently created an advanced new financial wellness pilot program to ensure that minority communities are actively developing healthy financial habits.
The racial wealth gap as it exists now is debilitating for minority families across the country. Systematic racism, disparities in income, education, and more in the United States contribute to why minority families have far less wealth on average than White families. However, the widening gap may soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new initiative.
The National Bankers Community Alliance (NBCA), which is powered by the National Bankers Association(NBA), has recently created an advanced new financial wellness pilot program to ensure that minority communities are actively developing healthy financial habits. Aptly named Our Money Matters (OMM), the pilot program will include a curriculum based on artificial intelligence. A whopping thirteen of the NBA’s member Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) will be participating in the inaugural program. Together, they will be able to collaborate and learn about healthy finance behaviors, engage in mainstream banking, and more. The MDIs will even be able to take advantage of in-person counseling.
“Our partnership with the National Bankers Community Alliance is a mutual commitment to further promote the importance of financial wellness and financial confidence for America’s underserved communities,” said Sharon Kent, the Our Money Matters Program Director. “This is an opportunity to significantly improve the financial health of minority communities and younger consumers to close the racial wealth gap.”
The need for the program can not be overstated. The Federal Reserve recently reported that while 12% of White households are unbanked or underbanked, it’s far worse for minorities. It’s been estimated that the rates are 40% for Black households and 30% for Hispanic households. According to recent reports by the Federal Reserve, 40% of Black households and 30% of Hispanic households are unbanked or underbanked, compared to 12% of white households. To be fully “banked” means that they have a bank account and have not needed to utilize any alternative financial services within 12 months such as check cashing, payday loans or advances, pawn shop loans, or tax refund advances. “Underbanking” is a sign that the available banking services these communities have are insufficient in meeting their financial needs and essentially push them towards the use of those financial services.
The OMM program has been a concerted effort. The NBCA is partnering with the HBCU Community Development Action Coalition (CDAC), and the program is powered by a $500,00 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. It will also partner with iGrad, which is serving as the technology team behind OMM’s platform to provide AI technology like a customized financial wellness website, and a way to reward consumers for improved financial behaviors!
“For 95 years, members of the National Bankers Association have worked hard to strengthen the financial health of minority communities,” said Nicole Elam, President, and CEO of the National Bankers Association and Executive Director of the National Bankers Community Alliance. “As banking and financial services evolve, customers have a greater need for innovation and for information to help them manage their finances. NBCA and HBCU CDAC share common interests in the promotion, advancement, and well-being of underserved communities and the advancement of wealth creation through actionable financial wellness training.”
To learn more about how the Our Money Matters (OMM) pilot program supports NBCA’s Financial Wellness pillar towards providing training, programs, and services to underserved households, click here.
The music studio, located on the ground floor of Kean Hall, is accessible to members of the Men’s Initiative campus program and is fully loaded with quality equipment to engineer, record music, and produce beats.
David Nyenwe, a TSU freshman majoring in business administration who produces music told the TSU News Service, that the studio feels like a “safe haven.” “A lot of people are better at music than they think, they just need the resources. So, supplying a studio for people to use, will help shed light on the talent that’s at the school,” Nyenwe said.
The studio was funded by TSU alum, artist, and music producer Aaron ‘DUBBA-AA’ Lockhart. He said he wanted to give students a space that he didn’t have when attending TSU.
“I want to give the students the opportunities that they should be having on a college campus. We need something on our campus for us, by us.”
– TSU alum, artist, and music producer Aaron ‘DUBBA-AA’ Lockhart
Joshua Akhidenor, a sophomore majoring in business, is grateful to have a place on campus where he can further develop his skills.
“I feel like I belong in here,” Akhidenor told the TSU News Service. “It (the studio) helps me visualize who I can become. I came to college and took advantage of the networking opportunity.
Joshua Akhidenor said he looks forward to breaking into the music industry and one day creating his own record label to find artist from HBCUs.
As of right now, the music studio is exclusively open to members of TSU’s Men’s Initiative program, which currently has more than 100 members.
The Men’s Initiative program is designed to help African American/Black Male students succeed each semester as they continue their studies towards graduation. This program uses a strategic and collaborative approach that integrates the experience both insideand outside the classroom.
Dr. Andre Bean, director of the Men’s Initiative and interim assistant dean of student activities, said the music studio is a part of the program’s mission to “find new and innovative ways to engage the Black male students that are enrolled in higher education.”
“And this space is open and available to our Men’s Initiative guys … to create beats and have an opportunity to tinker and toy with things of their interest,” Dr. Bean said.
According to Dr. Bean, the university hopes to one day open another studio on a larger scale that will be accessible to all students at TSU.
Bowie State University is now the first HBCU in Maryland to offer a degree program for individuals incarcerated at a state correctional facility.
Through the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Bowie State is offering an educational program that will allow incarcerated citizens at Maryland’s Jessup Correctional Institution to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and an optional Entrepreneurship Certificate.
According to the university, Bowie State’s prison education program builds on its designation as a Second Chance Pell Grant awardee, which allows incarcerated individuals the opportunity to receive Pell Grants to participate in college and university educational programs. Incarcerated students who apply and are accepted into the university will have all fees and tuition covered by the Pell Grants.
“The university’s prison education program is embedded in our Restorative Justice and Practices Institute which enables us the opportunity to inject the principles of restoration, reconciliation, harms and needs, and empowerment into the curriculum,” said Dr. Charles Adams, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Bowie State.
“We want to inspire each individual in the program to strive for personal and educational freedom while they embrace the journey of becoming whole again.”
– Dr. Charles Adams, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Bowie State.
All courses will be offered at the Jessup Correctional Institute and participants must meet certain requirements.
To participate in the program, incarcerated citizens must have graduated from high school or successfully completed their GED.
The university reports that the first cohort of seven students began courses this week and range in age from the early twenties to over 50. They will take four courses each semester while pursuing their degrees in sociology with the goal of securing jobs or continuing their education after they are released from prison.
A bachelor’s degree in sociology requires 120 credits that focuses on a liberal arts education. The sociology undergraduate degree prepares students for leadership and responsibility in government, and the private sector and equips them for success in graduate school and life.
“HBCUs must be involved in educating incarcerated citizens because approximately 70% of Maryland’s inmates are people of color”
– Dr. Charles Adams, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Bowie State.
“Offering a prison education program rooted in restorative justice/practices is innovative and could prove to be beneficial to incarcerated citizens as well as the community they will ultimately return to when they are released from Jessup,” said Dr. Adams.
The University of Baltimore is the only other institution in the University System of Maryland to offer a four-year degree program to incarcerated citizens. According to the Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform, “too often prisoners complete a period of incarceration without addressing their educational needs. Education behind bars reduces recidivism. Maryland could be using education more extensively and effectively to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, to improve the lives of formerly incarcerated persons and their family members, and to build the human capital of Maryland residents.”
