HBCU Experience

Alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have much to say about their schools and their experiences and emotions attached to them.

The word “HBCU” means so much to HBCU alumni for many reasons. Alumni are not shy about claiming their HBCU is the best because: we were founded first; we are known for our homecomings; we are known for our bands; our educational departments are great; or our student population rocks!

But the majority of the alumni will say they built lifelong relationships with alumni who are now considered to be their family. They also say they learned real-life skills that teach survival skills, how to struggle and overcome, how to be welcoming, and how to learn about yourself as an individual.

MachereJ.com sat down with two HBCU alumni via phone conference and email who described their experience at their HBCU.

Lauren Grant is a proud graduate of THEE (take out THEE unless it is commonly used) Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

Lauren is based out of New York, where she is the founder of The Grant Access event company, Havplenty Bruch, and is co-founder of HBCU Springcoming (an organization in New York City that helps celebrate the HBCU experience.)

“I could write an entire book on what my school means to me, are you crazy,” Grant said. “Being an alumna means the world to me, it’s hard to find a word to describe THEE FAMU.”

Grant credits much of her success in business and life to her academic experience. “FAMU raised the person standing before you, a strong educated black female who owns her own businesses at the age of 35,” Grant said.

Her confidence and attitude make it clear that her FAMU undergrad experience played an important role in shaping who she is today.

Grant mentors’ current students who attend FAMU by making sure they understand the value of the school and education and understand of what their HBCU means to them.

“I want students to understand what an HBCU can do to their overall spirit and future as a professional,” Grant said.

On a rainy day in Orlando, MachereJ.com caught up with Christopher Reed, a proud alumnus of a small HBCU in Raleigh, North Carolina, named Saint Augustine’s College.

Reed received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and just recently graduated from Georgetown University with his Master of Science in Sports Human Management.

Reed said his experience from his HBCU undergraduate career cannot compare to the graduate experience. “Hell no! Being a minority male at a Primarily White Institution (PWI) does nothing for me! Being from Washington D.C. and attending an HBCU was the best choice I made as a young adult at the tender age of 17.”

Reed went onto explain how his campus was small and had a very intimate setting, which he enjoyed because he didn’t feel as though he was just another body sitting in the classroom.

“Our ratio was literally 1:15 students in each class and I was able to build a relationship with my professor, Reed said. “As an only child, I was able to form a bond with different males ‘and females’ on campus and we now call each other our family. Attending an HBCU made me realize that it’s okay to be a minority in today’s society, walk with your head held high and form relationships with your classmates.”

#hbcupride