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Are Black Colleges real or are they Memorex?


At the horizon of this college football season, I had a brief conversation with a good friend of mine about the relevance of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU’s).  At the time of the conversation I wasn’t prepared to defend or deny the validity of HBCU’s.  That held true until I signed on with the Heritage Sports Radio Network as the internet-photo/video content producer.  Fast forward to the midway point of the 2012 college football season and I’m ready to exploit the need for HBCU’s.  Some could make the argument that since I’m not an HBCU graduate, I may not be equipped to hold my own in the conversation.  For those with those thoughts, I say to you that photos and videos are the undeniable truth when a man is proving a point.

I’m sure just like many major and mid-major institutions they have their internal and external challenges.  However, the dream and quest for equal education for all minority students still holds true to the likes of larger institutions.  This season I’ve been afforded the opportunity to capture images that represent a shade of brown that even I can’t relate to but can respect.  In the conversation that I referenced earlier my friend asked, “couldn’t HBCU’s be considered segregated institutions or viewed as racist entities”?  It was a great question, so much of a great question I’ve held onto it for the past 3 months. Also it’s one that I failed to answer at the time that I was asked.  Fortunately, I finally had a revelation.

So far this season we’ve witnessed Jackson State University, Morehouse College, Clark-Atlanta, Southern University, Tennessee State University and Benedict College and that’s the short list.  While visiting these institutions I’ve seen students from every race on campus.  I’ve had numerous opportunities to ask many of them why they chose their respective schools. There was overwhelming response of, “my school has had a way of preserving and educating me on a part of my life that I never knew existed”.  One young man said, “I grew up in a wealthy family and I never knew what the fuss of the struggle was about, now I get it and now I respect it.  So, are black colleges real or are they Memorex? 

I’ve learned that it’s a question that I can’t answer but it’s a cause that I can support.  I’ll always have two very unique perspectives that only few have about college life.  One as a former student athlete and the other as a visual media-journalist… They both allow me to bare witness to poetry in motion.  HBCU’s are filled with greatness, tradition, unique perspective, history and sacred love that can’t be delivered at any place other than HBCU’s.  Mainly due to the fact that the brand of students that HBCU’s attract require the type of love attention that only HBCU’s are equipped to deliver.  An education is greater than the words on the page…
To follow the journey with the team and I log onto www.HSRN.com the voice and visual reference for HBCU Sports.  Below are a few of my images from the season.
 
Thanks for always supporting the vision. 

–J.J. McQueen-



BET Supporter of HBCU College tour


HSRN the voice and visual reference of HBCU Sports


Jackson State Stadium home of -Sweetness-


Hall of Greatness 

Morehouse College -Wake up-


SU Skill Guys


Clark-Atlanta on the Yard BET College Tour 


Clark-Atlanta on the Yard BET College Tour


Circle City Classic -Lucas Oil Stadium-

Comments

Jeff said…
Really Loved what you had to say. We have supported many HBCUs in one way or another and have several degrees from HBCUs http://hbcunews.net/
October 13, 2012 at 8:32 PM
mrsjghad said…
I cannot begin to articulate all the reasons why I love my alma mater. I will say that along with my parents, A&T has shaped my worldview in ways I could never imagine. It has allowed me to compete on the playing field with individuals from historically white colleges and universites, but I never wavered because of my foundation. Great post.
October 15, 2012 at 7:36 PM
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