HBCUS

The Second Annual HBCU Culture Fest Returns to L.A. 

On Friday, Sept. 15, Obama Boulevard lit up with drums, shouts and fanfare as North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) Sound Machine Marching Band made their way to the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex.  

Blake to Produce Faith Film About Fisk Jubilee Singers

The Fisk Jubilee Singers made a lasting mark on American history by overcoming hurdles of racism and oppression to emerge victorious and beloved throughout the country. Producer Stephen Ashley Blake tells their story in his film, “Steal Away,” which traces the evolution of the heralded African American ensemble.

Robert F. Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Frank Baker and William Pickard Top List of Black Donors to HBCUs 

A recent Washington Post story found that Black Americans donate a higher share of their wealth than their white counterparts – to the tune of around $11 billion each year. Given their cultural and educational importance to the Black community, HBCUs are the repository of much of these donations with a number of household names – and some you may not know – making big-dollar contributions to these institutions.  

The Impact of COVID-19 on HBCUs and Black Students

In March 2020, when college campuses across the country closed and sent students home, many HBCUs continued to house hundreds of students who did not have homes to return to. Groups of students were stuck on campus without the funds to pay for transportation back to their home cities. This challenge was a byproduct of several students losing the jobs they used to help fund their education, along with loss of family income. Many students became both food and housing insecure without the critical resources that HBCUs often provide.

Earl Aims to Transform Lives in L.A. by Tackling Racism in Government

Monique Earl, senior assistant general manager and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, aims to fulfill her vision of transforming lives by “unraveling institutional racism and discrimination in our government institutions.”

100 Days of Biden-Harris

I see the $6 trillion price tag on the Biden legislation as more of an investment than simple spending. A better-educated workforce earns more money, pays more taxes. A healthier workforce means less absenteeism, more efficiency, and productivity. Quality childcare means more women in the workforce —millions of women left in the wake of COVID. The investment makes sense to build our labor force back better.

Loni Love: ‘We have Becky, but Ain’t Nothing Wrong with Keshia’

A proud alumnus of the Historically Black Prairie View A&M University, and a celebrated member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Love stopped by the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s morning news program, “Let It Be Known,” to discuss her career, the Deltas, and her latest book, “I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To: True Life Lessons.”

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Signs Bill sending $577 Million to State’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities  

March 24, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) signed legislation that funnels $577 million to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU). The federal implementation comes after 15 years of litigation involving organizations in favor of HBCUs; proposing that the State assist with the inadequate gaps in funding.