Despite the current climate, the demand, necessity and support of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is felt like never before.
In 2016, Ashley Christopher launched HBCU Week as an initiative to fund scholarships and provide opportunities for students interested in attending an HBCU. Today, the organization has awarded more than $121 million to students, helping to further Christopher’s goal of not only empowering the next generation of HBCU students but also reducing student debt along the way.
When Blavity asked Christopher what the most rewarding part of the journey thus far as the weekend’s festivities kicked off in Wilmington, Delaware, last month, she said, “The relationships we’ve formed with corporate entities to underwrite very significant scholarship dollars.”
Christopher continued, “Since 2017, we’ve been able to raise and award more than $121 million in scholarships, largely in part to companies who believe in our mission. I know what the world and the climate looks like today, so it may be a little more difficult to find people who align, but we’ve been blessed to be able to find companies that are doubling down on their commitment,” adding, “I’ve been blessed to be able to be involved in brokering a $40-million partnership with the American Chemistry Council, so 1,000 students each will get $40,000 to study STEM at an HBCU, and we have given more than 650 of those scholarships out today.”
Along with that scholarship, another newly launched fund includes the Arts and Entertainment Scholarship, which is now live on the HBCU Week website. To commemorate the introduction of the latter for students interested in exploring the vast opportunities available within the arts and entertainment scope, Christopher invited a few notable HBCU graduates, advocates and a current student to showcase to attendees what lies ahead for them in the future.
HBCU pride from Lance Gross and Laila Pruitt
Actor Lance Gross is a proud graduate of Howard University, and Laila Pruitt, known for her role on BMF, is currently a student at the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU, known as “The Mecca.”
“When I came to my HBCU, I was able to see — I was just opened up to this world of all these kinds of Black people, like the Awkward Black Girl does exist in all these different forms, and Black nerds, and Black culinary artists, and Black theater people, and Black athletes,” Pratt said when asked to give a pointer to eager students who might be on the fence about attending an HBCU.” She added, “It’s amazing, amazing, and you will find your tribe there.”
As a part of the legacy of actors like the late Chadwick Boseman, Taraji P. Henson, Anthony Anderson and others, Gross is a proud Bison and noted his excitement for being in attendance at an event intended to celebrate all that HBCUs have to offer the world.
“It’s a beautiful legacy,” he told Blavity. He added that when he started as a first-year student at Howard, “I was just super inspired by the people that walked the same halls that I was walking, you know? And now I’m one of those people for somebody else, you know what I mean? It’s just a blessing. I’m fortunate.”
The importance of HBCU culture and advocacy
Rapper Juvenile, whose classic “Back That Azz Up” has served as a homecoming staple at HBCUs across the nation for years, and singer K. Michelle, a proud Florida A&M University alum, headlined performances as part of HBCU Week. Juvie mentioned he doesn’t take the impact his 1999 song still has lightly.
“I leave it up to the parents, man — the mamas, the grandmothers, they’re the ones that really carry this on, teaching the kids,” he told Blavity backstage at the concert.
“Every time they have a major event, like a family reunion or something like this, they back it up, they shake it up. And, you know, without them, none of this is possible,” adding, “I definitely give it to them and definitely the man upstairs and the man upstairs.”
“This is definitely a blessing,” he concluded.
Although actor Gail Bean didn’t attend an HBCU, she’s a massive advocate for the institutions and uses her platform to constantly push the importance of education, something she says has been instilled in her since the beginning.
“I want to give all the praise to God, but definitely my mother, who is a retired teacher. She taught high school science forever, so she really instilled that in me. I thought I was going to graduate high school and move to LA to pursue an acting career, and she really instilled like, ‘No, you need to continue your education. There’s so much you need to learn,’ and even though I’m no longer in school, I got my degree, but I’m still always learning,” Bean said.
She added, “I tell people all the time, like, do your research, do your due diligence, and I think that’s very important. And a lot of times, especially in the climate, they don’t tell us that as Black people; they just want us to take the information that’s given to us and not do the actual research to educate ourselves and find true wisdom, and really learn the truth and spread the truth. I’m a full believer in each one, teach one, so I really try to instill that in others. I know there are people watching me, and I have a responsibility to let them know, ‘Look, you are no different than me. You can be as smart, if not smarter. Don’t look at me and have me as the goal post.'”
Bean continued, “I feel like Black students, Black youth in particular, they don’t get poured into enough, right? There’s so many things that deplete them, right? Whether it’s social media and the bullying, whether it’s seeing people, kids get hung or killed for no reason, whether it’s body dysmorphia or comparing themselves, you know, comparison is the thief of joy. So, we need more of our community and our village. We, as Black people, have a duty and a responsibility to pour back into our youth and let them know you are beautiful, you are smart, you can do it. Here’s some resources. Let me expose you to certain things and opportunities that you didn’t know about so you can discover joys and passions.”
Along with the concert and VIP reception, HBCU Week featured its annual college fair, where students could speak with HBCU faculty, staff and advisers, with some even receiving on-the-spot admissions. Additionally, the team held its inaugural Stroll-Off Competition, featuring various Divine Nine organizations that competed before a panel of judges on who had the best stroll.