>> This program was made possible in part by: STEM City USA, bridging the digital gap for millions of underserved through community and education, an immersive digital world that provides personal and professional development tools and resources.

Details at stemcityusa.com.

* >> We are Bowie State University, the first HBCU in the state of Maryland.

>> Welcome to!

>> HBCU week!

>> Welcome to Maryland Public Television.

You are watching a special presentation Intro to HBCU Week.

In this special we are bringing you an exclusive sneak peek into the daily line up for HBCU week Monday through Sunday.

In addition to looking at our illustrious stories and films throughout the Monday through Sunday programming, we will witness the fullness of what the HBCU experience is all about from the campus of Bowie State University.

>> Bemo Brown: Welcome to HBCU week.

I'm Bemo.

I am your college culture correspondent.

Today we are here at Bowie State University to get a firsthand look at what it means to be an HBCU student.

In addition, we'll give you sneak peeks on all the programming that's coming up for HBCU week.

So come on.

Let's take a trip.

>> Bring it up!

Bring it up!

* * Yeah * Go, go Yeah * * Here we go, go * Yeah * * Here we go, go Pick it up!

* * pick it up!

>> Bemo Brown: Welcome back to Intro to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my man Wu at Bowie State University.

Let me ask you some questions.

>> Yes, sir, talk to me.

>> Why did you choose Bowie State?

What makes this so special?

>> Why did I choose Bowie State?

I would say it has to be since I stepped on Bowie state campus for the first time, I said this was home.

Felt like I walked into my mother's house.

That's how I felt.

Interacting with people, inter-acting with faculty, staff I knew.

I said this is for me.

Bowie State actually accepted me last out of all colleges, and I said, you know what?

That was a sign from the Lord.

Maybe you saved the best for last, you know.

>> The last accepted, first in your heart.

>> Yes, sir, yes, sir, yes, sir.

>> You're coming from Mississippi, right?

>> Yes, sir.

>> So what makes -- in the communications department.

>> Yes, sir.

>> So what makes the communications department at this HBCU different than any other education experience that you have had?

>> I would say it has to be the one-on-one with the professors, the one-on-one attention that you get from faculty, but this is your season now.

I need you to win.

And prop you up >> Exactly.

They're catapulting us from the next level.

What's what I like, not only with the comm major but every other department on campus.

>> Let's talk about the letters.

>> Let's do it.

>> Let's talk about it.

You're an alpha >> Yes, sir.

>> First of the -- >> The oldest in the -- [Indecipherable] >> What is your responsibility to the entire student life on campus?

>> Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

That's a simple question but a complex answer.

I would say my -- my role is to not only inspire the next leaders, not only on this campus but worldwide.

Across not only in our community but, you know, to implore other communities, hey, look at what we're doing.

We're starting something that won't end.

It's only going to continue to transcend, yes, sir.

>> Speaking of which.

>> Welcome to the FunCk.

Right here we on sacred land right now.

>> I'm going to ask permission.

Watch out >> I got my man locked in.

It's FunCk'd out at Bowie State University.

This is the FunCk table.

It's the oldest table on the FunCk plot here wins about the '70s, '80s.

Once I see this, you know you're home.

so it's like I had to put this in the backdrop just to show the history, the culture, and the connection I had not only to Bowie State but this sacred piece of land right here Yes, sir.

>> I love it.

I want to appreciate you for your time.

I want to thank wall y'all for watching HBCU week.

We'll be right.

>> Peace.

>> Let's check out the line-up From X p.m. to 11:00 p.m. we will be featuring The Calvin Tyler Story.

6 hour plus made us gold and all the difference.

Enjoy, ladies and gentlemen.

>> Helping poor and disadvantaged children, especially those in the City of his youth, is something that Tyler has pursued with a quiet but unrelenting passion.

In 2002, he turned his attention to Morgan State University, the hometown school he never forgot.

>> CALVIN TYLER: Tina and I really appreciate all of the remarks, all of the comments, all of the recognition, but in some ways, we feel a little bit uncomfortable being recognized for doing what's right.

Tina and I have had over the years a great deal of financial success by investing in the stock market, but I'm here to tell the Tyler Scholars that no investment we've ever made means more to us than our investment in you.

[Applause] When you're blessed, and we've been blessed, you should try to find a way to give back and help others.

And that's what Tina and I have tried to do for the last 20 years.

Tyler Scholars, whatever you decide to do, don't be afraid to move outside your comfort zone to take on new and different challenges.

Be bold and be brave.

>> MICHELLE OBAMA: Let me tell you, it is an honor to be here at North Carolina A&T, a true honor.

Uh, you all have such a proud tradition here in Greensboro.

>> DR. TERESA STYLES: W.E.B.

DuBois recognizes, in a short amount of time, the significance of North Carolina A&M.

So much so that he comes to Greensboro, he takes pictures of what's going on on campus.

And one photo that he takes is of the biology lab, which shows that A&M had young men and young women.

>> DR. JILLIAN DAVIS MORGAN: Without, I think, the confidence, and as mom likes to call it, "the bulldog tenacity" that we developed here at A&T, I don't know that I would've been able to stand confidently in those rooms.

* >> SHEILA PETERS, PH.D: So many African American males that enter college know as many, if not more, from their community that ended up in juvenile, never had opportunity, are dead, all kinds things >> DR. PETERS: (to students) If a 10- or 11-year-old says, "I don't like math," what can you do?

>> DR. PETERS: To make it out of that community means that you're resilient, means that you were able to hold on to some things academically.

And so it's helping them understand that my resilience that got me out there was the first step.

"I'm gonna use that same resilience to push through college.

Nobody's gonna hold my hand, nobody's gonna say, 'Because you're an African-America male,' that you got it easy."

But teaching them to take it to the next level, 'cause they can change the world with that resilience.

>> KRISHAUN BRANCH: The expectation for me here, from the outside view is, like, very huge on my shoulders.

Because I see that I have some very huge shoes to fill.

And if I don't fill them shoes, I'm gonna let a lot of people down.

And I don't want to do that.

I deal with the pressure day by day.

I try not to think about all of that.

I just try to think about completing this mission and accomplishing and getting my four-year degree and going back and showing you can make it out of Englewood doing some of the things I did and still be successful.

>> TEACHER: Now, what would non-sister chromatids be there for?

>> ROBERT HENDERSON: Coming to Lake Forest, it was like, "Wow, okay."

>> TEACHER: All of these cell divisions... >> ROBERT: Being one of the black kids in a biology or chemistry class, while the rest is white.

>> TEACHER: These are bone marrow cells, I believe, being replaced -- to replace ones that have either gone somewhere else or just are... >> ROBERT: You look around the classroom, there's only probably a total of four black students in there.

And probably three of them is females and one of them is a dude.

>> TEACHER: Most of the cells you're looking at are not gonna have a whole lot going on.

>> ROBERT: We can attend, but like I say, my goal is to someday be a doctor.

And I'm not gonna back down.

>> Bemo Brown: Hey, y'all welcome back for >> Why did you choose Bowie state as your illustrious -- as your university?

>> I have to say the community.

And really this is the only HBCU in Maryland that has an amazing fashion design program.

>> Really?

>> Yes.

>> Okay.

Okay.

Is there something specific about the intersection of HBCU and fashion, something special that you learned in that intersection?

>> You know, there's not many HBCUs that have fashion design programs, but here there's such a small community that when we do get together, we create some really amazing things, so just bouncing off ideas from each other, just makes something amazing.

>> You think about your legacy Here at Bowie What do you want to leave behind?

>> Well, I'd have to say first I want to leave behind my brand, my -- >> Show it off now.

Show it off.

Go ahead.

>> We've got JRenee designs right here.

JRenee designs by me.

>> That's right, that's right.

>> And also just to let students know that if they can't find an outlet or something here, they can make one for themselves.

>> Really?

>> There's always opportunities to make something for yourself here, and if you can't find it, you ask people.

You ask around, who can you go to be like, I want to do this.

I don't see it here.

Let's make it happen.

>> Right.

Any hidden tricks on who to talk To to to make it happen?

>> It's I'd start with my professors They always know everybody.

You know what I'm saying?

>> Everybody, prophecies.

>> Talk to people.

Don't be shy.

Just talk to people.

That's it.

You've got to end.

>> Thank you, Jocelyn, aka JRenee.

>> AKA JRenee.

Process ofy got it >> Y'all got the designs.

>> You got it.

>> You got the designs.

>> For the people at home, check out what we have for you for the rest of HBCU week.

Let's take a look at what the Some of the best of what HBCU education is all about on Tuesday's programming From 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature a legacy of opportunity, the history of Dole ware State University, back in time, Langston University and Shaw rising.

>> Life in Delaware over a century ago had its struggles.

It took energy and perseverance for one to get by.

But for some it demanded even more, made harder by history, and the particular circumstances and times they were born into, yet there were also opportunities such as one created in 1891, one that over time has brought about remarkable changes, initially for those for whom it was first given, then gradually for all Delawareans and now for the global community.

Its history now spans 125 years, proud legacies of learning, growth and change, but at its Core is one at its hounding, one it continues to offer today, a legacy of opportunity.

[soft music] >> on a a hill north of Guthrie stands a school like no other in the state, created in response to Jim Crow and segregation, this college has struggled through severe legal, economic and political restrictions.

In the face of opposition, Langston University has given generations of students a step up to a better life.

>> Langston practically built the African American middle class.

The university proved that it could take students that were not able to qualify for a major State University and take those same students, and with the right wraparound programs, make them into productive citizens that could go on and do great things.

>> Founded in 1897 as Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University, the college has produced poet laureates and sports legends, civil rights leaders, doctors, engineers, and thousands of teachers.

>> It's graduation day at Shaw University.

150 years after it was founded to teach freed slaves to read And right, the seeds Sown here by Henry Martin Tupper are still bearing fruit.

>> Shaw!

>> but given the broad range of options in higher education today, some question the ongoing need for historically black colleges and universities.

>> We need HBCUs because there are still underrepresented people who need education.

They may not have had the money.

They may not have had the grades.

They may not have had the family support.

But Shaw provides and other HBCUs provide that opportunity that leg up to level the playing field and maintain opportunity for all.

>> If there is an antidote to racism in this nation, it is education, and that is why it is so important that we invest in it and we invest in institutions that have proven track records in serving the best interests of their students and of their communities despite whatever difficulties they face.

If you even for a moment just removed blackness from these institutions, I don't think that anyone would argue about their separately.

Validity.

What we're basically arguing about is should race matter, and fortunately or unfortunately, It still does.

The way in which it matters here matters best and matters most, I'd like to believe, in order for America to live up to its creed and to be the nation that It has aspired to be.

>> We need them because of the outstanding service that they have rendered to a significant population that has been ignored, and until racism is removed in our society, there will still be a need to have institutions that push for justice and equality.

>> BSU.

>> BSU!

>> BSU.

>> BSU!

>> Ah ah ah Bowie.

>> Ah ah ah Bowie!

>> Ah ah ah Bowie.

>> Ah ah ah Bowie.

Ah.

Ah!

Bowie.

>> Ah, ah, ah!

Bowie.

>> Ah, ah, ah!

Bowie.

>> Bemo Brown: Hey, y'all, welcome back to HBCU week.

I'm right here with my good friend Nylasia right here at Bowie State.

Let me ask you a couple questions.

>> Okay.

>> Why the illustrious Bowie State?

Why the flame?

>> Oh, man.

It has been a dream of mine since high school to attend a HBCU and why not start with the illustrious Bowie State university in Bowie, Maryland.

Why not.

>> Why not.

>> What makes Bowie illustrious?

>> Oh, my.

We have so much to offer, whether it's culture, love, pride.

Our BSU pride is insane right now, whether it comes to move a freshman, anything like that.

Homecoming week.

We've got it.

we're here with it.

Do you understand?

>> It feels like you're the person to know on campus.

So what are like your activity.

What do you do right now?

>> I am in SGA.

I serve as the marketing Director.

I also serve as the social media director for the nawps, new student orientation leader Hispanic lot more to name.

A loot >> New student orientation leader.

>> That's right.

>> All right.

Real quick, three things you need to know as a freshman at Bowie State, number one.

>> As a freshman you need to know when we say our chants and Your pride, you need to come with it We say it loud and we say it proud.

Two, another thing you need to know.

When it's time to step out and show out, we are there, no Matter what school or anything else with it.

Number three, show love to everybody we are all here together and we are one big HBCU family.

>> That's what's up.

That's what's up.

We want to thank you now, lady, and we appreciate you.

We've got more coming up on HBCU week.

Stay tuned.

Music is blasting on Wednesday, y'all.

check out aftero blew, a year in the life Walk together, children, the 150th anniversary of the jubilee singers, and the Morgan choir, a joyful celebration.

Enjoy Wednesday's line-up, y'all.

* [jazz music] * >> The appreciation that people in other countries have for our music is really pretty amazing, and we are losing that legacy of jazz as being our music, our art form, and it's the foundation of all contemporary art forms , R&B, scowl, gospel, pop, you name it And so for us, us as African Americans and for Howard as an HBCU, it's important that we are directly still connected to this art form that is feeding all These other contemporary styles of music, and it's our music, so, you know, we should be at the top where the level of performance is concerned.

There are a lot of schools, a lot of schools throughout the U.S. and throughout the world that are teaching jazz, so many of them but so few of the HBCUs actually have jazz programs.

Something is just not quite right about that.

You know, this is our music.

Sometimes people have that conversation about appropriation.

No one is taking the music from us.

We're giving it away.

>> In my generation, two slaves chained together, one has their left foot chained to the right foot of the other.

Then they have to walk together.

Unity.

>> It's important to know what our people went through in order to truly appreciate where we are today, even though there's still more road to walk.

* >> The music has been consistent.

Whatever has been about it, it has been consistent.

And no matter where they go, they get extraordinary accolades for their performance.

>> I'm just so happy that he taught me so much.

>> Dr. Carter has very high expectations.

He's an excellent motivator.

>> He loves it.

I mean, he could direct all day long I've been with him when people get in at like 8:00 in the morning, and that's what he does all day.

* [Applause] * * >> Bemo Brown: Hello again, and welcome back to Intro to HBCU week.

I'm here with my man Anthony right here at Bowie State.

What's going on, man.

>> I'm good.

How are you?

>> I'm freight, I'm greet.

Student athlete That's why we're in gym.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Tell me what sport do you play.

>> I play men's basketball here at Bowie State and I love it.

It's a great experience, couldn't ask for anything better.

>> Oh, yeah?

>> Yeah.

>> What makes Bowie State different than any other basketball program?

>> Well, of course, Bowie State is the HBU, the first HBCU in Maryland.

My parents went to an HBCU My brother went to an HBCU.

I couldn't not go to an HBCU.

>> I hear that genetic pride.

So I heard -- I heard Dr. Breaux was responsible for bringing the CIAA to Baltimore.

>> Yes.

>> You played in the tournament before?

>> I did.

She did a phenomenal job bringing it to Baltimore.

I mean, for the first time it being in Baltimore, it was an outstanding showing, great atmosphere Loved it.

It was a great interference.

>> What does it mean to play in the CIAA from your perspective?

>> It means a lot.

The CIAA conference, I think we have one of the best tournaments out of any conference, to be honest, including D-1, so it's a great, great atmosphere.

A great tournament.

I love.

>> It so you're oat basketball >> So you're on the basketball team >> Yeah.

>> Tell me about the legacy that you want to leave behind here at Bowie.

>> Well, my coach preaches a lot about wanting guys to graduate, come back when we have open gyms and things like that, so I want to leave a legacy of being one of the best players he had or putting up a banner, you know, having a ring, certain things like that, so I want to be able to leave here, when I leave here, I want to be able to come back and have history up in the banners where I can show history.

>> Graduation is on your mind.

>> Right, definitely.

>> You're not just playing to play.

>> Definitely want to graduate, get my Bachelor's, definitely.

>> This is my man Anthony.

Anthony, thank you for your time.

>> No problem.

>> And make sure y'all check check out what we have going on for HBCU week.

>> You want to dunk on me real fast?

>> >> Bemo Brown: Thursday's line-up is a celebration expwai travel down memory lane, y'all Let's check out conversation for change, HBCU awakening and revival, as well as foot soldiers, class of 1964.

>> Welcome to conversation for change.

Our national conversation awakening, HBCU reckoning and revival about the history, culture and significance of historically black colleges and universities.

I'm Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead, the host of today with Dr. Kaye, on Morgan State University's WEA8, 88.9 FM and a proud graduate of an bhub, Lincoln university in Pennsylvania.

>> And I'm Jered Carter, Sr. founding effort HBCU digest and a graduate of another HBCU, Morgan State University.

Tonight we're looking at HBCUs through the eyes of the people who power them, and we'll be joined by students, alumni and leaders from around the country who will discuss what HBCUs mean to them, our community and our nation.

>> Most historically black colleges and universities were established after 1865.

Today there are 101 HBCUs.

HBCUs comprise 9% of four-year institutions.

>> That's right, and HBCUs Enroll 24% of all black graduates receiving bachelors' degrees.

Help HBCU graduate 46% black women who earned degrees in STEM disciplines between 1995 and 2004.

15 HBCU engineering schools confer most engineering degrees award annually to African American students.

And as America continues to grapple with issues of race, diversity, equity and inclusion, HBCUs across the country founded primarily in the mid-Atlantic and southern sates in mid-1800s are experiencing a renewed surge of interest and support from the media and philanthropic community.

>> However, the story of HBCUs is really one of resilience.

Despite experiencing systemic underfunding and opposition, HBCUs have always found a way to both stand in the midst of the moment and rise to meet the moment, and they have produced graduates who have changed Are changing and will change the landscape of America.

>> Let's check out WHUR FM 96.3 host autumn joy who recently talked with her listeners about HBCU experience >> Let me know why it was so important for you to go to an HBCU.

Rodney, which HBCU did you go To?

>> Morgan State University.

>> All right, MSU.

Oh really quickly talk about the importance are attending an HBCU.

>> It's, you know, getting an education, you can get it anywhere, but it's the life experiences that you also gain when you go no an HBCU that I think is very important.

>> There was a move to desegregate Downtown Atlanta.

>> They hated us.

I did not go to a Woolworth.

>> Walgreens, rich's.

>> and get a hotdog And I couldn't understand that hatred.

You were telling me that I Wasn't good enough.

See, we had people like Lester Maddox with his axe Handle.

And we had to be brave To sit next to you.

Chasing people.

Listen, I really was a foot Soldier, but what I will never Forget is arriving at Rich's.

>> I had my little sign.

And forming a picket line on one side of the street, and on the other side of the street, Athat was the Ku Klux Klan.

I was afraid.

I was terrified when I went to the Woolworth.

>> WOMAN: We do not intend to wait placidly for those rights which are already legally and morally ours to be meted out to us one at a time.

Today's youth will not sit by submissively, while being denied all of the rights, privileges, and joys of life.

We want to state clearly and unequivocally that we cannot tolerate, in a nation professing democracy and among people professing Christianity, the discriminatory conditions under which the Negro is living today in Atlanta, Georgia, supposedly one of the most progressive cities in the South.

>> Brenda Frese: Friday is here and let's take a look at both innovation and history.

From 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. you will I do not be watching a "State Circle" special, innovative programs at mountain's HBCUs.

Breaking ground, a story of HBCU football and the NFL And George Washington Carver, an uncommon life.

Let Friday's education begin.

>> Connecting Marylanders to their government.

This is "State Circle."

>> Professor Kevin Kornegay is the director Morgan State University's center for cybersecurity assurance and policy which sponsors the summer program with a grant from NSA.

The program's goal -- >> To expose them to the basics of IOT.

>> This past May the program graduated its first four Ph.D.s.

Among them now Dr. Ottilie Toussaint.

>> I always wanted to do like cybersecurity because I have a background in computer science and networking before you actually came to Morgan, and when I came here I actually met Dr. Kornegay.

He works with cybersecurity and applied for it and he helped me.

I'm very grateful for that.>> >> The primary focus of the program is in graduate work, but there are opportunities for Morgan undergrads as well.

>> Within the program we offer a track cybersecurity courses.

It's about five or six courses that -- where students complete those courses.

They get an NSA certified certificate in cybersecurity.

>> Kornegay says students from Morgan's program are in demand.

>> They have a unique skill set that is -- and we fill a gap that the other universities in the DMV area in the cyber areas don't have, which is hardware security >> ANNOUNCER: Look at him go.

It's Cooper again!

(cheering) >> NARRATOR: In a nation where Representation has been a defining challenge, where African American males make up just 6% of the population, they are the 70% majority within the National Football League.

>> ANNOUNCER: Peterson.

Oh, he's got that and more.

Adrian Peterson, goodbye!

(Crowd cheers) >> NARRATOR: But it wasn't Always so.

For decades, after the league's founding in 1920, black players were virtually non-existent on NFL rosters.

>> ANNOUNCER: And it'll take Almost everybody in the stadium To knock him down.

>> NARRATOR: While the NFL Initially showed little interest, this wealth of talent will thrive, elsewhere.

(Crowd cheering, music gets Louder) >> ANNOUNCER: He works to the 35 all the way down to the 45 yard line of the Rams.

Rambles into the end zone for The tally.

ANNOUNCER 2: One-handed catch.

ANNOUNCER 3: For enshrinement Into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

DOUG WILLIAMS: When you see the Georgias, the Oklahomas, the Alabamas of today, yesteryear them guys would have been going to Historically Black College because that's the only place they could have went.

>> MEL BLOUNT: You know, back in the '60S, during the civil rights movement, you were in a different environment.

Uh, there was not only intimidation, but there was language being used and racial slurs and things like that.

But you didn't have that at These HBC schools because everybody was there trying to grow and nurture each other.

JERRY RICE: You know, I joke around with so many of my fellow teammates, you know, like Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott.

They went to major schools.

They had so much.

I remember we didn't have that Much at Mississippi Valley State University.

>> MEL BLOUNT: HBCUs are more Important now than ever.

DOUG WILLIAMS: A lot of people don't think that they prevalent, that -- that we need them, but, Um, we needed them back then, we need them today.

>> MEL BLOUNT: In other words, the black professors and the black teachers in these Universities, they are mentors.

They -- they care about these students because they have the same history.

JERRY RICE: I think it prepared Me for, uh, you know, moving on to the NFL and -- and really being successful.

>> He was a man of many talents.

>> He was more than just a scientist.

He was an artist.

He was an educator.

He was a humanitarian.

And he did so much to help others.

>> He was very creative.

And he had a childlike wonderment about life.

>> He was a musician.

He was a geologist.

He was a poet.

He was a Bible discolor.

That's a renaissance man.

A Bible scholar.

That's a renaissance man.

>> George Washington Carver was a man of hope.

>> Bemo Brown: Oh, man.

Oh, man, that was great, right?

Now that you have had a small taste of HBCU culture, let's take to it our host Tetiana Anderson as she has a special conversation with Bowie State's president, Dr. Breaux.

* >> Welcome to HBCU week.

I'm your host Tetiana Anderson Here at Bowie State university and I'm joined by president Aminta Breaux.

Dr. Breaux, I want to start by taking a look back.

If you had to describe the past five years in one word, what would it be and why?

>> Oh, I definitely would say it's been transformational.

We have transformed as an institution.

Everyone here on the campus has transformed as we've gone through especially the last two and a half years, so much uncertainty caused by the pandemic but even before that.

We were working on our strategic plan entitled raising to Racing to excellence, and we were transforming to meet the needs of the students today, so it's been an exciting time, and the word that comes to the forefront of my mind is transformational.

>> And you talked about meeting the needs of students today, but I'm wondering about the past.

Put in context the historical situation of HBCUs for everybody.

>> Well, Bowie State university was found in 1865 and many of our bhufsz have been around for over 150 year's.

We've been the anchors of our communities, part of the economic engine of this country.

Our graduates have gone on to do amazing, amazing achievements.

When you look at the history of HBCUs, you have to recognize that we make up just about 3% of the colleges and universities in the country, yet we produce about 20% African American graduates overall.

25% African Americans in the STEM areas.

And we've contributed greatly to so many areas from the medical profession to about 70% of our graduates have gone on to become judges, so we have this long and rich history that is integrated into the fabric of our country.

>> Since you took over as president in 2017, you've been responsible for a lot of growth, a lot of physical growth.

We're actually sitting in the ELCC which is a product of your work.

Talk about the structural development and the innovation that is been taking place on campus.

>> Well, we're sitting in the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community in opened just in the last year and a half, and we're very excited about all that it offers to our students.

What it is designed to do is the bridge learning environments from the classroom into the real world.

Students here can live and they can study and they can work all in the same building.

Part of this facility is a residential hall.

It's home to 557 students who call this home.

But at any given time if they have the latest idea or innovative thought about how to move forward on a new product or a new business, they can use these facilities to help encourage and support those innovative ideas from ideation To creation, andee so it's a very unique building because it does bridge these learning environments to support learning wherever it may happen.

And it came from the idea that learning is happening from the classroom and outside the classroom, on your way to the classroom.

He's that's how we want students to think in order to meet the needs of the workplace today or if they find that they need to create a new business or a product, they have the wherewithal to do that.

>> I'm interested in the importance of increasing funding when it comes to some of the specific programs like the Student Freedom Initiative that you have developed here and how important that is to do just what you balked ever tbawksd, keep students excited about learning.

>> Well, here I have to recognize that I cannot do this alone.

It takes a team on this campus, in our community supporting our learners on their journey to success, and we owe so much to Robert Smith who started up the Student Freedom Initiative in recognition that financial resources remains the number one obstacle to our student population achieving success and reaching their goals.

SFI is designed to provide an alternative funding source for our students instead of just having them take out the loans and go further in debt, it affords them an opportunity to embark on internships along the way, to ensure that they are encouraged to continue on their Journeyy and go into the workforce but then reach back and bring somebody behind them.

So they are able to pay off their debt commensurate with their ability to earn an income that allows them to do that.

So it's a very unique way of looking at affordability for our college experience, and I applaud his efforts and his leadership in forgiving debt at one of our other HBCUs and making sure he took care of that class at Morehouse College but also thinking about, well, if I can do that, how can I inspire and support the next generation.

What more can I do?

So we applaud his efforts and his leadership.

>> Your push to remove the barrier of student debt is incredibly important when it comes to our ability to build generational wealth.

>> Yes.

>> And I'm wondering how that fits into your calculation.

>> It's the high level of our priorities, is growing well, making sure students have the wherewithal to afford to come here, but knowing how to manage their resources, but you hit on something that's more, even more important, and that is growing generational wealth, not just stopping with this generation but saying, what more can I do to reach back and bring someone forward, leaving this place better than the way you found it, and we start that messaging from day one with our students in our BSU for Life Campaign.

that's a focus on messaging to the students, making sure they understand Bowie State University didn't just pop up out of nowhere.

It is here because of generations before, alumni, friends of the university, who saw fit to support and saw value in what we were doing.

And we talk about one of our legacy donors, Nelson Wells, who was a former slave, and he saved up his funds upon his death, he bequeathed over $2,000 to the university to ensure that this institution is here today.

so if he could do that at that time, I look at my students when I greet them, and I will do this at convocation once again when we welcome them officially, and say, if we he could do to that, what can you do to leave an impact and a lasting legacy here at BSU?

So we owe a lot to those who came before and those who support us today.

I mentioned Robert Smith but we owe a lot to Mackenzie Scott.

She gave us the largest gift, unrestricted, and said, I entrust that to Bowie State University to utilize $25 million in the way that you see fit.

We have taken the majority of those funds and put it to our endowment, to grow our endowment for generations to come.

So we're very much focused on generational wealth, helping our students grow generational wealth, but this institution to preserve the lasting legacy.

>> So the students here have been up to some incredible things.

What are some things that stand out for you?

>> We've been fortunate to have new partnerships come to Bowie State University.

We are partnering with organizations such as adobe, Laika Studios which is a stop animation studio on the west coast, A&E Networks has come to internships, the Maguire Foundation, Strada Education Network.

what this does for us is to afford new opportunities for our students, and one of though examples is also Target that started an HBCU competition where one of our students was one of three selected for his award-winning T-shirt design that sold in and actually sold out in Target stores, and it's right behind you, and it is has an amazing, amazing design, and so I'm going give a shameless plug here to Sharone Townsend for his wonderful T-shirt design that sells in Target.

we also have a Broadway Tony award-winner in Myles Frost who is in a lead role as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical.

If you haven't seen that yet, I'm going give a plug there too.

I've seen it.

It's amazing, and he's amazing in it.

We have another example with one of our students who was on the Shark Tank a couple of years ago and won $300,000 from Mark Cuban for her veggie burger design, so we wish Danita all the great success for what she's doing with the latest and greatest veggie burger that's out there.

These are just some of the examples our young entrepreneurs who are out there leading the way and being nnovative and creative in their thinking and bringing their amazing talents to bear in their various disciplines.

>> I love a veggie burger.

>> Oh, this one's a good one.

You have to get it.

>> I'm going to it.

We'll get to the information.

>> Thanks for a tuning in to HBCU week.

I'm Tetiana Anderson.

Now come join us on campus of Bowie State University.

>> No pressure.

>> Dr. Breaux.

>> I don't know when I signed up for scratching.

I don't remember to that being in the script.

* >> And where are we standing outside?

>> This is the Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing.

It's home to state-of-the-art laboratories, smart classrooms, amazing equipment inside here for our nursing simulation lab that allows us to prepare nurses in a real world type of experience.

Part of it is set up like a hospital.

Another part like a doctor's office.

And they're able to develop all types of scenarios on the robotic mannequins that are in here, and it's just an amazing setting that allows students to get as close to that real world experience as possible.

>> Hands-on, practical.

>> Hands-on.

>> And that's, of course, such an in-demand profession right now.

>> It is.

There's a huge shortage of nurses.

And some have left the profession, and with so much that has happened with the pandemic, so we're very pleased that we can increase the pipeline going into the workforce in the medical profession.

>> BEMO BROWN: Hey, everybody.

It's still HBCU week.

I'm here with my man Frank.

Hey, Frank, how you doing man?

>> Good man.

How doing?

>> I'm great.

I'm great.

I'm here.

Tell me about your HBCU Experience here at Bowie >> Oh, man.

My HBCU experience here at Bowie has been phenomenal.

I've been here probably a year and a half now, and it's something that you just can't beat.

The diversity here, the inclusion that everyone brings to you.

>> Hold on.

Time out.

Time-out.

You say there's diversity an at an HBCU?

>> It's crazy.

>> Talk about it, man, because I think people think black is just one thing.

>> No, it's not.

You see so many people from so many of places.

You see people from across the world.

You see people from France.

You meet so many different people from so many different backgrounds, it's always a great thing to hear.

>> I take it that you're in the nursing program.

>> Oh, yes.

That's why we're here.

>> Also a little birdie told me the nursing school, this building is one of the new joints.

>> It one of the new joints.

>> How does that feel?

>> It feels phenomenal to be in a place where they have invested into to make people better nurses in general.

Like the place here alone is just phenomenal.

Like we get the real life experience even though we're not in the hospital, and you just can't beat that.

>> You don't say.

>> Crazy.

>> Okay, okay.

So we're in the nursing program.

>> Yeah.

>> All right.

I know you want to leave a legacy here at Bowie, so what's something that you want to leave behind?

>> What I want to leave behind mostly is men can do nursing as well.

I feel like a lot of men don't really want to get into nursing because they feel it's more of a woman position, job, but I want people more to know that men -- I love nursing.

This is, I feel like, my place in life.

Like I really enjoy being here.

I really enjoy doing this.

I feel like a lot of other black men like myself should also come in and experience this and they will probably enjoy it as well.

>> Okay.

Are there any secrets you want to give to the future male nurses and future nurses in general that might bring them here to Bowie or an HBCU in general?

>> Definitely talk to the people in the nursing program.

That's one.

To gain experience, to know what you're looking for.

Also talk to your nursing Professors as well.

They give you insight on things that will, you know, stell you what you need for next semester, things to keep you ahead of the game, and keeping ahead of the game in the nursing program is always something you want to do.

>> I'll tell you one thing, sitting here, man, it does look like a hospital.

Exactly uncomfortable.

>> A little bit.

A little bit.

>> Thank you, Frank.

We appreciate your time, man.

We'll be right back with more Intro to HBCU Week.

>> Bemo Brown: Let's check out Saturday's monster line-up, folks.

It's a day of sports, y'all.

Happy Saturday.

>> An age old sport, a longstanding divide, and an underdog team with nothing to lose.

>> We viewed the Lacrosse team as being part and parcel of the frontline struggle for liberation in America.

>> If you level the playing field, I can do everything you can do.

>> An all-black squad become champions in an all-white sport.

>> Now that's amazing.

>> In the Morgan Lacrosse story.

* [crowd cheering.

[.

* JAMES WASHBURN: We've been a program that's been setting the standard for a long time and we're just going to keep moving the bar up.

CHILD: First home game.

turn it up.

[unclear chanting] BAND MEMBER 1: Hey, man!

BAND MEMBER 2: How does my hair look, man?

[unclear] DR. KENNETH RUFF: Here at North Carolina A&T, we're kind of different than other HBCU bands.

Our number one concern is that we entertain the crowd.

* It is a challenge and so we do have students that come who have never had this experience at all.

* CLARENCE FISHER: I think that's one of the things that a lot of our students who come to A&T and march in the band, they come from small towns and communities and they've just, you know, and they played in the band but they weren't very special.

And they came to A&T and all of a sudden they became a part of this big, nationally known organization.

And so that's the thing that I, that I think about all the time is that, uh, it's just becoming -- getting in an organization and blossoming out.

(crowd screams) JAMES WASHBURN: Game one is done.

Game one is done.

We finally had our first game.

All the hard work from July to now, it's all out there.

It's only up from here.

* >> Black coaching can be categorized into two dynamic situations.

On one side we have our formal institutions.

These are the institutions that were created to house what would become black culture.

7 For example, the HBCU that is my alma mater, Howard University, but I want to talk about something more fun.

I want to talk about the Informal side, the combination Of American oppressive systems plus the resilient attitude of Formerly enslaved Africans combining to create something beautiful.

What is that beautiful thing?

It's the reason why we are here at my alma mater.

It is the reason why we are going to celebrate the HBCU style marching band.

So today at Howard University we're going to get a firsthand experience how students are still celebrating this HBCU marching style, and on the other hand we're going to see a film from the Blue and Gold marching Machine down in North Carolina A&T.

So whether it's the trombones in the back, whether it's the sousaphones cranking in the front, whether it's the dancers Or even the guy talking trash in the booth, these are the sounds of the game.

>> There was a time in this country when there was segregation.

>> In order to get a quality education, the HBCUs were started.

>> There are so many black college football players who had great pro careers so there was a wealth of talent in these schools.

>> We're going to have a museum honoring historical black college football players right here in Canton.

>> There's wonderful stories to tell.

>> Good afternoon, everybody, and welcome into the MPT sports desk.

I'm Jim Hunter joined by my co-host Mark Gray.

Over the next 30 minutes we're going to set up a day of sports programming right here on MPT.

>> BEMO BROWN: Last but not least, in case you missed anything Monday through Saturday on HBCU week, you lucked out because we've got a day of full of encore programming.

Check out Afro Blue: A Year In The Life, Walk Together Children: 150th anniversary of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, The Morgan choir: A Joyful Celebration, and last but not least, the Calvin Tyler story.

Thank y'all for tuning in to HBCU week.

Man, what a time.

We've had a special conversation with Bowie State president Dr. Breaux.

We've seen a firsthand experience of what it means to be a Bowie State Bulldog, and we've also had some special previews of what you can expect for HBCU week.

I have been your college cultural correspondent, Bemo.

I'll see you on campus.

>> This program was made possible in part by: STEM City USA, bridging the digital gap for millions of underserved through community and education, an immersive digital world that provides personal and professional development tools and resources.

Details at stemcityusa.com.

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