We are sending our kudos to Missy Elliott as she was recently recognized by Norfolk State University.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are one of the strongest forces in Black culture. Originally created due to Black students being shut out of white academic spaces, these institutions not only educated young adults, but also served as a space for community, networking and instilling cultural pride at a time when being Black in America was significantly harder than it is today. Today, there are 107 HBCUs scattered across the US , with over 228,000 students enrolled in them. Most people are aware of the longstanding schools like Howard University, Spelman College , Morehouse College, and Tuskegee University, but there are countless more across the North and South . And while these schools focus on their academics, the student body also enjoys the social aspect. From homecoming celebrations to a rich Divine Nine community, there’s plenty to do to connect with fellow HBCU students, alumni, and faculty. The school year may be technically over for most colleges right...

Tones of Melanin Founder Ashley Jones transformed a side hustle into disrupting the collegiate apparel industry. While attending Norfolk State University, the Virginia Beach native designed for every organization on the campus. However, she noticed there was a void in HBCU fashion. Coming from grandparents who owned one of the first Black-owned beauty supply companies in her hometown, Jones embarked on her own entrepreneurial journey by launching Tones of Melanin.

In 2021, producer-turned-entrepreneur Pharrell made the news because of his decision to open up private schools for low-income students. The Virginia native has frequently spoken up for those without a voice and has given back to his community as well. “If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” he said about his investment. “We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight.” Since that time, Pharrell and his vision continue to be impactful. According to WAVY-TV, other companies have helped take up his cause with the Virginia school system, as well. In February 2022, Virginia Natural Gas made a huge donation to the schools — to the tune of $100,000 — with the proceeds going to fund healthy food options as part of the “Nourish Youth” initiative. “We support programs that enrich the...

Pharrell Williams welcomed nearly 400 new alumni at Norfolk State University as the commencement speaker during the university fall ceremony. “I didn’t attend Norfolk State, but I was always present,” Williams said, according to The Virginian-Pilot. “The pull of the green and the gold is strong. I am honored to have made this part of my work, my story and still today, I can’t wait to see how far you amazing, impressive graduates of Norfolk State … how far you’ll go.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Norfolk State University 🔰 (@norfolkstateuniversity) During Pharrell Williams’ speech, he shared many gems with students. The acclaimed producer encouraged students to put their dollars toward local businesses prioritizing their needs and to embrace language that empowers people of color. “We are the emerging majority,” Williams said, according to The Virginian-Pilot. “Don’t wait until Election Day. Vote with your wallets today, tomorrow and the next day. Does the business...

A quarter of Black graduates with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees come from Historically Black Colleges And Universities (HBCUs), the United Negro College Fund reported. Overall, HBCUs graduate 20 percent of all Black undergraduate students, and over the years, HBCUs have invested more resources into grooming the brightest Black STEM leaders. Black and white students embark on earning STEM degrees at the same rate. Still, The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) found that Black students studying engineering earned only 4.2 percent of bachelor’s degrees in 2012 compared to 68.1 percent of white students. Overall, recent research shows that Black graduates account for only seven percent of STEM degrees. The lack of resources for Black STEM students starts at the K-12 education level. The U.S. Department of Education found that only 50 percent of public schools serving Black students in the U.S. offer calculus, and about 63 percent offer...

The endorsements are rolling in for student-athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCU Buzz reports that Johnson C. Smith Univesity’s (JCSU) Ky’Wuan Dukes just landed himself a revolutionary deal with Bojangles. The move allows him to join the ranks of HBCU athletes like Hercy Miller who AfroTech reports recently secured a $2 million deal thanks to the move made by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to allow college athletes to make a profit from their name and likeness. “It’s already hard for us as it is,” said Dukes in reference to being an HBCU student-athlete. “I’m glad we get that rule because… we are able to promote ourselves for marketing and be introduced to things we’ve never really seen.” He also explains how the new rule is a huge turning point for those athletes who struggle to make ends meet while their schools have been able to receive all of the profit off of their hard work.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by...

Grammy award-winning super-producer Pharrell Williams is always finding new ways to give back to his community, and now his latest project is focusing on youth in his home state. According to The Virginian-Pilot, Williams recently called out the unjust public school system in Virginia and revealed his own master plan to open a group of small private schools for students from low-income families. Pharrell strongly believes the state’s public school system needs to be refined in a way that doesn’t allow it to turn its back on underprivileged students. Now he’s using his nonprofit organization to pay it forward and get all students the education they deserve. “If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” he said in a news release. “We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight.” The new...