Historically Black faculties and universities (HBCUs) have had an plain influence on the tradition. As a consequence, it’s essential to look again and acknowledge among the totally different ways in which these establishments have been immortalized in media.
In honor of Black History Month, let’s look again on among the ways in which HBCUs have been integrated into varied movies and tv reveals.
A Different World
First up is A Different World, which highlighted scholar life on the fictional Hillman College throughout its 1987-1993 run.
On high of the faculty antics, this The Cosby Show spin-off additionally notably touched on varied hot-button problems with the time, together with HIV/AIDS and home violence.
Hillman College was all the time a superb time! 😂 Tune in to your favourite episodes of #ADifferentWorld this Saturday throughout our #BlackHistoryMonth ’80s Black TV Sitcom Marathon! https://t.co/xlCmySoAny pic.twitter.com/uPYgNnvUUx
— TV One (@tvonetv) February 9, 2023
School Daze
This Spike Lee musical manufacturing premiered again in 1988, and it’s targeted on highlighting conflicts between college students at an HBCU. It’s additionally set throughout the faculty’s Homecoming celebration, and it prominently touches on experiences inside Black fraternities and sororities.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, School Daze is especially noteworthy for the way it “tackled a long list of issues” that ranged from colorism and structural racism to hazing and shallowness amongst girls.
Boyz N The Hood
At the very finish of this beloved basic, Tre and Brandi head off to Atlanta to respectively attend Morehouse and Spelman.
As a consequence, Boyz N The Hood presents an HBCU schooling as a manner of ushering in life-changing potentialities, because it allowed Tre and Brandi to depart South Central Los Angeles for brand new pursuits.
Living Single
When watching reruns of Living Single, viewers can’t assist however fawn over among the varied items of HBCU memorabilia that the characters donned.
After all, HBCU drip deserves to be highlighted, too!
yeah dwelling single all the time come via with the HBCU illustration 💙⚓️ pic.twitter.com/UTkewMIex3
— lipé’s plastic off the couch 🪩 (@_itsfelipe1) May 21, 2021
Drumline
This coming-of-age movie highlights the large satisfaction that varied HBCUs have of their marching bands, because it takes place on the fictional Atlanta A&T University.
About 12 years after the preliminary movie, a sequel referred to as Drumline: A New Beat premiered on VH1.
College Hill
From 2004-2009, college students attending varied HBCUs had been featured on this BET collection. They had been additionally all dwelling below the identical roof, which allowed for explosive moments to bubble up now and again.
Throughout the course of its run, establishments like Southern, Langston University, Virginia State, the University of the Virgin Islands, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta.
Stomp the Yard
Switchin’ over to steppin’, we have now Stomp the Yard. This 2007 manufacturing highlights stepping competitions between fraternities at a fictional HBCU referred to as Truth University.
The Great Debaters
Wiley College took middle stage in The Great Debaters, which highlighted the Texas establishment’s exemplary 1935 debate crew.
Denzel Washington starred as the talk crew’s coach, Melvin B. Tolson. Notably, upon the movie’s 2007 premiere, Washington pledged to donate $1M to ascertain the talk crew.
The Real Housewives of Potomac
We additionally need to acknowledge the state of affairs over on RHOP. With Gizelle Bryant (infamously) attending Hampton University and Candiace Dillard Bassett being a two-time Howard grad, HBCU excellence definitely exists among the many present’s full-time forged members.
Additionally, Charrisse Jackson Jordan’s daughter, Skylar, attended Spelman College, and Robyn Dixon’s husband has ties to Coppin State University.
With so many RHOP stars having ties to HBCUs, they undoubtedly have an unstated presence on the present!
Congratulations to Candiace on her MBA from Howard!! Such an unimaginable accomplishment #RHOP pic.twitter.com/fKDLwqv1S4
— justin (@justinnalexx) December 12, 2022
The Real Housewives of Atlanta
HBCUs additionally had a lil’ second over on RHOA, as Clark Atlanta University was on the middle of a heated interplay again throughout Season 11.
The battle was particularly centered round ex-friend-of Yovanna being upset about Eva Marcille not remembering her, as that they had apparently attended CAU at across the identical time.
Yovanna: you dong know me?
Eva: no.
Yovanna: that’s impossible-
Kandi: how is it inconceivable?
Yovanna: I imply, I used to be that b*tch! I used to be Yovanna from Clark! CAU! pic.twitter.com/wKpR2oDpB8
— Cool Girl (@Tea_witdre) March 21, 2022
Girls Trip
While it wasn’t tremendous in-your-face, keen-eyed Girls Trip viewers noticed a shoutout to Florida A&M University.
The mates on the middle of the movie all met on the Tallahassee HBCU. Notably, Will Packer—the producer—attended FAMU as properly, which can have impressed the reference.
I’m JUST realizing Will Packer went to FAMU & he made the varsity they graduated from in Girls’ Trip FAMU 😱😂😂😂😂
— J❤️🩹 (@_imbeautifulll) April 28, 2020
The Quad
Next up is The Quad, which aired for 2 seasons forward of BET canceling it.
The drama collection takes place on the fictional Georgia A&M University, and one of many main characters serves because the HBCU’s first-ever feminine president.
Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé
One yr after her iconic efficiency at Coachella, Beyoncé unveiled a movie to supply followers with an “intimate, in-depth look” on the highway to her efficiency.
As her Coachella set—often called Beychella—paid homage to HBCU tradition, Bey undoubtedly introduced on the Black faculty illustration!
College Hill: Celebrity Edition
In 2022, College Hill made a star-studded comeback! The revival happened at Jackson State University and featured celebs like Ray J, NeNe Leakes, Lamar Odom, Big Freedia, and Stacey Dash.
BET additionally stories that one other season started filming at Alabama State University again in late 2022, and stars like Amber Rose, Tiffany Pollard, Ian Shumpert, and Joseline Hernandez had been name-dropped.
All American: Homecoming
Finally, we have now the HBCU-focused spin-off to All American, which takes place at a fictional establishment dubbed Bringston University.
The first season of the sports activities drama aired from February-May 2022, and it’s been renewed for a second season.
Shoutout to all HBCU college students and alumni on the market!