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Tag: Southern University

  • Who’s BAD? FAMU’s Marching 100, Southern’s Human Jukebox & Jackson State’s Sonic Boom Of The South Honor His Moonwalking Majesty Ahead Of ‘Michael’ Premiere

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    Shamone, Now!

    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    There are movie promo campaigns, and then there’s the already-iconic Michael promo campaign which brought together the baddest bands in the Land to honor the King of Pop while commemorating Black History Month ahead of the buzzy biopic‘s release this Spring.

    Lionsgate's HBCU Band x Michael collab asset
    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    Renowned for their precision, showmanship, and dazzling musical prowess, FAMU‘s Marching 100, Southern University‘s Human Jukebox, and Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South shined in cinematic videos featuring each band performing timeless classic “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” with their signature sound.

    Lionsgate's HBCU Band x Michael collab asset
    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    Check out the must-see videos below:

    In the viral videos trending across social media, the bands can be seen embodying Michael Jackson’s pop culture transcendence with slick nods, clever homages, and moonwalks as part of the Michael Celebrates: Legacy, Artistry, Culture series that honors the enduring relationship between the HBCU community and Michael’s timeless music.

    Lionsgate's HBCU Band x Michael collab asset
    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    Now, communities around the world are invited to join the celebration with their own performances of “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” by posting their own video on social media using the hashtags #MichaelLegacy and #MichaelMovie.

    Lionsgate's HBCU Band x Michael collab asset
    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    “For Michael’s fans everywhere, his legacy of performance and artistry is enduring. That legacy lives powerfully within HBCU communities, where music, movement, and excellence have long been expressions of culture, pride, and identity,” said Briana McElroy, Head of Digital Marketing for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

    “This initiative is deeply personal to me — I grew up listening to these bands, who represent Black excellence, community, and creativity. Partnering with these HBCUs is about honoring that legacy while creating space for the next generation to lead, perform, and inspire.”

    Lionsgate's HBCU Band x Michael collab asset
    Source: Lionsgate Pictures

    In Michael, audiences will experience the beloved icon’s journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world,” per the official synopsis.

    Check out the trailer below:

    With mounting hype across the globe, Michael moonwalks into theaters April 24!

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    Alex Ford

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  • Diageo’s Head Of Community Engagement & Partnerships Dr. Danielle Robinson Redefines Homecoming Experience With ‘Show Your HBCU Spirit’ Initiative [Exclusive]

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    Source: Diageo

    Behind every culture-shifting brand campaign, is a dynamic visionary like Dr. Danielle Robinson, Head of Community Engagement and Partnerships at Diageo, who elevated Homecoming season with the famed brand’s ‘Show Your HBCU Spirit’ initiative.

    “We started off in 2021 with a $12.7 million dollar donation to 28 HBCUs and wanted to really stay engaged with our schools and the alumni audience by engaging around moments of celebration like Homecomings and Anniversaries,” said Robinson, an award-winning advocate for community-empowerment.

    “It was really when I started to engage and understand the neglect of the HBCU community from a Governmental perspective as well as a corporate perspective, that I thought this was a way for us to engage and make a difference.

    Rooted in authenticity, the impactful initiative celebrates HBCU culture while building community, powering Homecoming/Classic activations, providing scholarships to support future leaders, and fostering essential programs like Learning Skills For Life.

    Diageo x Show Your HBCU Spirit campaign

    Source: Diageo/Hyyer Creative

    “The Learning Skills for Life program is one of our flagship community programs globally,” said Robinson. “I lead it here for North America, and have been doing it for 12 years. It’s a program that specializes in training people in underemployed communities in bartending, hospitality, and entrepreneurship.

    “We operate in 10 cities and have in-person programs so it’s free, free, free for anybody who wants to get a foundation in bartending. The online and in-person classes that we do face to face range from 5 days to 3 weeks and you can be a bar back or a full-on bartender when you graduate.

    We graduated 8,000 students in North America since we started–280,000 globally and partner with duty-free companies, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Marriott Hilton.

    Our students are working everywhere. I’ve had students on Bar Rescue. It’s phenomenal.”

    Diageo x Show Your HBCU Spirit campaign

    Source: Diageo/Hyyer Creative

    With permanent endowments at 28 HBCUs and minority-serving Institutions, Diageo extended its winning streak with stops at the buzziest Homecomings, including SpelHouse, North Carolina A&T’s ‘GHOE,’ and Howard University’s star-studded Off The Yard Festival.

    To honor the legacy and pride of “The Mecca,” the trend-conscious brand brought out viral comedian Desi Banks and emerging Hip-Hop star Lady London to celebrate the enduring spirit of Howard University.

    Diageo x Howard Homecoming 2025

    Source: Diageo/Hyyer Creative

    Diageo x Show Your HBCU Spirit campaign

    Source: Diageo/Hyyer Creative

    Diageo x Show Your HBCU Spirit campaign

    Source: Diageo/Hyyer Creative

    Building on the momentum from Homecoming SZN ’25, Diageo announced its return to the legendary Bayou Classic between Grambling State and Southern University on Nov. 28-29 in New Orleans.

    As tens of thousands gather for the storied spectacle, the brand (which serves as the Classic’s official spirits partner) will spotlight inclusivity, community impact, and legacy through alumni storytelling and student engagement via the Learning Skills for Life program.

    “New Orleans is amazing during the Bayou Classic–300,000 people descending on the city,” said Robinson. “You know, the dome, all the parties, the celebrations in the streets, you could just walk up and start dancing in the middle of the sidewalks.”

    While there’s certainly an emphasis on promoting a good time, especially when enjoying spirits from its robust portfolio (over 200 brands!), it’s clear that safety is also a major priority for Diageo.

    “I want [students] to leave [our events] with a message of responsible consumption and that sometimes the best decision is not to consume at all,” said Robinson.

    So we have our ‘Cheers To Choice’ program, which is about low, mid, and no options, which means we have mocktails on the menu, we have low alc options on the menu, so you have some choices.

    And sometimes you might just want a mocktail, or you could have a fantastic cocktail from some of our brands-so they have many choices.

    [And we want them to] make sure they’re thinking about how they get home after an evening–our ‘Take a Minute, Make a Plan’ program addresses that. But just understanding that alcohol needs to be used in a responsible way.”

    For more info about Diageo’s HBCU-focused campaigns, click here.

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    Alex Ford

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  • String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

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    The Democratic National Committee and several historically Black colleges and universities have been forced to evacuate or have locked down after receiving threats the day after far-right pundit Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event on a Utah campus.

    Capitol Police responded to a “potential security concern” at the DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, which was deemed to be a non-credible bomb threat.

    “This afternoon, there was a bomb threat to DNC HQ that was determined to not be credible by the U.S. Capitol Police,” a DNC spokesperson told Axios. “Out of an abundance of caution, Capitol Police is conducting an interior sweep of the building. As DNC Chair Ken Martin has said, political violence in every form has no place in our country. We are grateful to the U.S. Capitol Police and DNC building security for responding quickly and professionally.”

    Meanwhile, several HBCUs went under lockdown Thursday, including Alabama State University, Virginia State University, Hampton University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman Univeristy, and Clark Atlanta University, according to local news outlets.

    Alabama State announced it would be suspending all campus activities on Thursday after a “terroristic threat” was directed at the campus. Police have since issued an all clear, though campus will remain closed. Southern University has also been cleared, but activities will main canceled throughout the weekend.

    Shelter-in-place warnings have been lofted at Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University, the Atlanta Police Department told Atlanta News First. Spelman officials told the outlet that while no threats have been made toward the college, due to their proximity to other universities facing threats they have “increased security presence across campus.”

    Virginia State “remains on lockdown as we continue to prioritize the safety of our students, faculty, and staff,” it said in a statement, adding that “VSU Police, in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today.”

    Hampton University also canceled classes for Thursday and Friday, saying in a statement, “Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately.”

    The Daytona Beach Police Department said in a statement that it is “actively investigating a reported threat directed at Bethune-Cookman University” and that “the campus has been placed on lockdown while officers work to ensure the safety of the students and staff.”

    While law enforcement has not confirmed what motivated the threats, they come one day after Kirk, the anti-LGBTQ+ commentator who founded Turning Point USA, died after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Despite no suspects or motivations being known, conservatives online have blamed “the left” for Kirk’s murder and vowed revenge.

    Democratic Rep. Troy Carter of Louisiana, where Southern University is located, strongly condemned the threats against Black institutions in a statement posted to social media, saying that “HBCUs are pillars of excellence, resilience, and progress. They have nurtured leaders, broken down barriers, and carried forward the torch of justice and equality in America. Any threat against them is a threat against us all.”

    “I am calling on the full weight of the federal government — including the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI — to utilize every available resource to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible,” Carter said. “These attacks cannot be tolerated, minimized, or ignored. They must be met with swift and decisive action.”

    This article originally appeared on Advocate: String of bomb threats force evacuations at HBCUs & DNC HQ after Charlie Kirk shooting

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  • AUC schools lift shelter-in-place after targeted ‘terroristic threats’ made to HBCUs

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    Morehouse-James Hall, which was built in 1901 and last renovated in 1979. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

    Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. initiated a lockdown or shelter-in-place order on Thursday morning after receiving potential threats made against the universities. As of Thursday afternoon, those schools included Virginia State University, Hampton University, Alabama State University, Southern University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Georgia HBCUs Morehouse College, Spelman College, Morris-Brown, and Clark Atlanta University. 

    Spelman, Morris-Brown, and Morehouse announced their lockdowns after Clark Atlanta received a direct threat. Out of precaution and due to their close proximity, the schools initiated their own lockdowns and increased security presence around campus. The shelter-in-place for Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta has since been lifted. 

    In a statement made by Clark Atlanta to The Atlanta Voice through text, the university said:

    “We were addressing a situation on campus that requires a shelter-in-place notice as a precautionary measure. That shelter-in-place mandate has been lifted.

    We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the campus community.  Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Our priority is the safety of all students, faculty and staff.” 

    Schools advised faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place and avoid the campus. Southern University in Louisiana, Virginia State, and Hampton University have canceled Thursday and/or Friday classes, disrupting the academic year less than a month in. These threats come on the day of remembrance for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a day after American right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event. 

    In several social media posts, officials urge students to remain alert and report anything suspicious. CAU campus police, in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department, are actively investigating threats made to the campus. 

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    Laura Nwogu

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  • James A. Washington, 73, a champion of black press and journalism, passes away

    James A. Washington, 73, a champion of black press and journalism, passes away

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    James A. Washington was 73. Photo Provided by The Atlanta Voice

    James Washington, the president and general manager of The Atlanta Voice, a longtime advocate of the Black press, and the 2019 National Association of Black Journalist Legacy Award winner passed away surrounded by family and loved ones on Tuesday, April 2 2024.

    He was 73.

    For over four decades Washington had been involved in nearly every level of the communications field. From his time as the publisher of The Dallas Weekly, a Black-owned and operated publication, to his work as the public relations manager for the Dallas Ballet, Washington had always been a strong representation of Black excellence and intelligence. 

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    Donnell Suggs

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