Campus News - Page 561

WCU Digitizes 1980s African-American Oral History Collection

By Rex Hodge CULLOWHEE, North Carolina (WLOS) — Recordings of local African-Americans made in the 1980s have been upgraded at Western Carolina University. University leaders want the collection preserved so they can better teach race relations. The recordings at Hunter Library at WCU have now been transferred from analog to digital to preserve them, keeping the memories of African-Americans mainly in the early part of the 20th century. Recordings include information about everything from serving in word wars to sharecropping to the importance of church and family. “They talked about racial things that happened to them, both positive and negative,”

Southern University Launches Black Business Growth Initiative

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In an effort to invigorate the Black business community, Southern University will launch the Deep South Economic Mobility Collaborative (DSMEC). Partnered with the Hope Enterprise Corporation with up to $130 million from Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses, DSEMC will support Black entrepreneurs in the Deep South. Seven cities and eight additional HBCUs will join. “Southern University is excited to partner with national leaders to advance small business opportunities for Black entrepreneurs in our community,” said Ray Belton, Southern University president-chancellor. “As an anchor institution, and with the support of Hope and Goldman Sachs, we are poised to assist thousands of Black

HBCU Students to Design Ghana’s Africa Innovation City

In 2020, Atlanta-based African Diaspora Nation met with representatives from the Akwamu state in Ghana. They agreed to secure land for the HBCU Africa Innovation City Project. The initiative will challenge participants from the African Diaspora to develop a conceptual design for a S.T.E.A.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Art, Math) hub. Things have accelerated rapidly since that first meeting. Students will submit designs for Innovation City by the registration deadline of May 31. The unbuilt metropolis is envisioned as an anchor for the African Renaissance and a hub for the African Diaspora. If ambitious, the potential is limitless. One of

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Twenty Pearls Documentary Debuts

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The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has released its documentary film, TWENTY PEARLS, which chronicles the organization’s story. Narrated by Phylicia Rashād, TWENTY PEARLS journeys through the sorority’s 113-year-history. In 1908, only 40 years after the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, nine Black college women enrolled at Howard University, where they organized a sisterhood. Today, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has grown to more than 300,000 members internationally, greatly impacting American history. Through narration, interviews and archival assets, TWENTY PEARLS shows how Alpha Kappa Alpha played a role in the Harlem Renaissance, World War II, NASA, Civil Rights, Women’s Rights and

Spelman College Sees Record 11,000 Applicants Amid Pandemic

Despite the pandemic, Atlanta’s Spelman College had 11,000 applicants this year, the highest in its 140-year history. The 20 percent increase over the 2020-2021 pool is greatly encouraging, coming amid the chaos of shutdowns and virtual learning. Spelman’s gold standard as a higher education institution for Black women has seen an upward applicant trend since 2014. COVID-19 could have changed that, but it didn’t, proving young Black women are as eager as ever to attend. “The increased interest is a testament to the College’s reputation of graduating Black women with a competitive edge” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D., Spelman’s president.

FAMU Grad Yewande Addie Advances Racial Justice Research

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Florida A&M University (FAMU) journalism graduate Yewande O. Addie is making issues of racial equity and justice in academia a key element of her research. Addie is a doctoral student at the University of Florida (UF) College of Journalism and Communications (CJC). Addie and CJC associate professor of journalism, Bernell Tripp, are recipients of the ‘Research 2020: Advancing Racial Justice Through Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access at the University of Florida’ grant. Their research proposal, “The Recruitment and Retention of Black Faculty at UF,” is one of 14 chosen from 45 applications to receive funding from the UF Racial Justice

Project Tassels: Terrence J Boosts HBCU Financial Literacy”

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First Boulevard announced that Academy Award-nominated executive producer, actor, author and entertainment reporter, Terrence J, will be its new Strategic Advisor of the digital neobank. Together they have launched Project Tassels: 1,000 students, 1,000 degrees, 1,000 new outlooks on life. Terrence J will also spearhead the Financial Education initiative to promote financial literacy among HBCU students through a video series created by First Boulevard in which Terrence J will educate HBCU students about credit scores, student loans, credit cards, life off-campus and the importance of budgeting and savings. The goal of Project Tassels is to help 1,000 Black students reclaim

HBCUs Boost STEM Programs Through U.S. Army Partnerships

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a significant opportunity to develop their STEM programs while boosting national defense. In February the U.S. Army hosted a virtual conference centered on stronger research ties with HBCUs. 48 of the 101 HBCUs registered, a good sign. It will be mutually beneficial. Historically, the military has reaped great benefits from Black soldiers. Research-wise, however, HBCUs have been largely untapped while defense funding has bolstered STEM departments elsewhere for generations. This is changing. Including acting Secretary of the Army John E. Whitley, Army officers detailed several opportunities. These include faculty immersion, a prize competition

HBCU Alumni Lead the Rise of Black-Owned Fashion Brands

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Spike Lee’s 2000 movie “Bamboozled” scorched white-owned fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger for targeting Black markets. Black fashion responded. Led by HBCU alumni, that response is now flourishing. Black designers have dovetailed a sense for flair with an urge to promote HBCUs. Support Black Colleges puts that right in its name. “A lot of people don’t talk about HBCUs, especially big businesses,” said Corey Arvinger, co-founder of Support Black Colleges, to CBS News. “They don’t want to highlight something they don’t know about. That’s where we come in.” HBCU apparel was featured in 90’s sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Milton H. Jones Jr. Becomes First Black UNCF Board Chair

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Milton H. Jones Jr. is making history as the first Black man to be elected as chair of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Board of Directors. Jones succeeds William F. Stasior Sr., retired Chairman and CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, who served as UNCF’s Chair for 11 years. A business and civic leader, Jones held several senior executive positions throughout his 32-year career at Bank of America. He is also a founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners Holding Company LLC, an Atlanta-based private investment and consulting firm specializing in providing income for small and mid-level businesses. As a founding member,

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