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Amazon Key Is Some, Like, Extra-White Shit
In the 16 years that I’ve lived in the Washington, D.C., area, I’ve witnessed it go from Chocolate City to Latte City. Sure, the blackness for which the city is known is still present symbolically, but ain’t nothin’ but white folks at the Brixton, living in the Ellington and hangin’ at Marvin on every other…
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Deon Cole’s Apology to the Black Race Is the Blackest Thing That Ever Happened This Week
Deon Cole had something in his heart that he needed to get out. See, he came to Atlanta during Spelhouse and Clark Atlanta homecoming this past weekend (it really was, or felt like, every damn school in the metro Atlanta area’s homecoming this weekend) and came to a very stark but important realization. To quote…
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10 Most Common Statements Heard the Monday After an HBCU Homecoming Weekend
For me, the 2017 homecoming season has reached its conclusion. Samesies for several other schools that celebrated their homecoming this past weekend, like Howard, Hampton and our homecoming co-defendants at Morehouse, Spelman College. Lots of other schools will be celebrating into the next few weeks as we all reminisce on days yonder or, for current…
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Biddle, Brayboy and Bojangles: We Love Thee, Smith
There are but two yearly events that matter to Johnson C. Smith University alumni: homecoming and the CIAA weekend. We know, the “real world” ain’t all black, but it DAMN sure feels good to be fully immersed in peak onyx for a weekend (that’s blackness, not the strip club). So as we all hydrate, stretch…
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Spelman College: ‘We’ll Ever Faithful Be’
At the age of 3, I’m not sure if I knew about college or Georgia, but I knew that my dad had returned from his business trip “down South” with a new shirt for me with S-P-E-L-M-A-N on the front, and I definitely knew how to throw my hands up to the Los Angeles sun…
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The Accidental Bulldog at Bowie State University
I ended up at the great Bowie State University by accident. I was headed to Morgan State University on a full scholarship but received a letter over that summer informing me that, because of budgeting issues, they would not be able to honor my scholarship. As you can imagine, those were fighting words! But I…
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Watch: VSB and The Root Present the Battle of the HBCUs for VSB HBCU Week!
What’s the fun of celebrating HBCUs if we don’t have a little head-to-head action regarding who has the best homecoming, football team and more? No fun is what. Luckily, we’re fun as shit around here, so where more than two are gathered in the name of HBCUs, let there be shenanigans. With the help of…
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To a School for Greater Service, 1 That We Adore: Tennessee State University
The school year begins in August with freshmen moving into Wilson and Watson halls on the gorgeous campus of Tennessee State University in Nashville. The Aristocrat of Bands is preparing for another year representing as one of the baddest bands in the land, and the sound of “TSU Funk” fills the air. Student Government Association…
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Oh, North Carolina A&T, How I Love Thee
Oh Ayantee, how I love thee. I love you because you loved me when I arrived not remembering that both my grandparents attended Ayantee when it was A&T College, not University, and that I was standing on the backs and prayers of my ancestors and that my mother worked there as well. Not remembering who…
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Florida A&M University: Activism Since Day 1
I marched a hole in my shoes the first time. It was 2006. His name was Martin Lee Anderson and he was 14 and had been sent to boot camp in Panama City, Fla. He had stolen his grandmother’s car. She sent him to be redirected. Instead, he was killed. Seven guards. One nurse. Eight…
