Going Back to The Mother Land

Photo via @EliVisuals

Writer: Noel Austin

I remember it like it was yesterday, my first New Student Orientation (NSO) at my HBCU for freshman year. Who would’ve thought a kid from the suburbs would be in south Georgia going to an HBCU. Teachers at my school tried to talk me out of it saying, “I couldn’t succeed in life if I go there”. I remember the energy I felt going on campus. Seeing people who were intelligent and goal-driven just like me. The family feels from the faculty and students was unmatched to any other school I had applied to. It felt like a place I could be human and be black and unbothered. The school I'm talking about is The Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley Georgia.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, everyone in this country has felt a shift. A shift in people and culture. A couple of days after George Floyd’s death, someone of influence and presence possessed a question that shocked the sports world. Mikey Williams, the 3rd best-ranked player coming out of the class of 23’ made a major statement on twitter. He simply said, “ Going to an HBCU wouldn’t be too bad”. This simple statement shocked the sports world. This statement got mixed reviews. Most people were cheering him on and praising the statement because for years black people have been trying to get the younger generations to come to HBCUs.

Mikey’s mom went to Hampton University and exposed him to HBCUs. Some people felt like Mikey could never do that, or that he was going to mess up his career by going to an HBCU. After his statement, Mikey began to get an abundant number of offers from HBCUs like Howard, Norfolk State, Jackson State, etc. This got the black community excited that we could see in a sense a movement back to Historically Black colleges.

A lot of people don’t want to see this movement even happen. Some people are saying sort of the same things I was told when I chose to only pick from HBCUs to go to school. “You can’t be successful there”, “it won’t be in your best interest to go there”, “ the school isn’t even a big name”. Mikey and others that are considering going to an HBCU are hearing some of the same things, but Mikey has made it a point to make HBCUs a top priority for him and give them exposure. Mikey has a couple of years before his college decision but in the meantime, he has started a conversation and everyone is listening.

We have begun to see that HBCUs are trying to make a resurgence in the sports world with the top talent. Just last year top recruit, Joshua Christopher, took a visit to Howard. And even though it was just a visit that sent shockwaves to wake up black athletes to give the schools a chance. Christopher said, “I think it’s important for me to come back to my roots. I think Howard was the best place for me to do that”. Josh ultimately chose to go to Arizona State, but just to be in the conversation was big for HBCUs. It gave us a glimpse of hope.

Another spotlight this past season, Alabama State appointed NBA veteran Mo Williams as their head coach. This was a huge move forward to help kids see that they can be coached by someone who played in the league and passes down the wisdom to the younger generations of basketball players. The movement is already starting. On July 3rd, 2020, Makur Maker a 5-star recruit decided to attend Howard University to play basketball.

This news once again shocked the world into a realization that HBCUs can and will get top named recruits to come to their school. The sports world is feeling the tides turning, this is only one of many. With the praise comes a lot of hate, people are saying that now he won’t be able to go to the NBA because he chose Howard over UCLA Kentucky and Duke, or saying that this won’t change anything. This seems like a warning shot to prepare everyone what’s about to happen. Black athletes realizing their value and going to HBCUs.

I remember turning down big named schools to go to an HBCU. I was afraid of not being ready or equipped to succeed if I went there. But one of my teachers told me that “ if your good then you're good. It doesn’t matter what school you go to”. So to all the black athletes, if your good enough, the league will find you. And if your a kid wanting to go to an HBCU, trust me that institution will prepare you for the real world just like any other school will. That movement starts when one steps up.