It has been six years since I experienced my first day of school at Grambling State University, and I can still feel the atmosphere of the band marching through the campus and people hanging out on the yard with their newest outfits on ready to see what this school year would bring. Questions of did you get your fee sheet yet? (means you are cleared financially to go to school), or where are you from?, were some of the conversation starters, that started life long friendships. Man, I really miss my HBCU days, they were some of the best years of my entire life and I would not trade them for the world.
Recently I have be thinking about where HBCUs are as an industry and it saddens me a little about some of the struggles they are experiencing, but I have this overpowering feeling that I am going to be able to make a difference. I am not sure how it is going to happen, but I know that I will be a part of the change. Right now I am not a member of my alumni association, and I am an un-informed HBCU alumnus. Although I am not a member and I have limited knowledge, I have a heart and true passion for HBCUs. I am telling you my status as an alumnus because I believe that there are a lot of us who fall into this category, and I hope this blog acts as an avenue that brings great conversation, honest feedback that will provoke action, a resource for prospective students and their families, and window of opportunity for HBCU faculty, staff, and administrators to communicate with their alumni on how they can strengthen and build a relationship with us.
As a reader I hope that you will join me on this journey of positively impacting the HBCU industry. If you are down for the journey post a memory you have about your first day of school at your HBCU.
