URBAN ONE Honors HBCU Fan Zone: Meet The Students
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Posted By: S. Moore on January 18, 2023 The 5th annual Urban One Honors aired in celebration of MLK Day. With guests ranging from Bobby Brown, Rowland Martin, Pharrell, Angie Stone and more, the audience was in great company. Hosted by Tank and backstage host LeToya Luckett, the show maintained an emphasis of Black unity and focus on exemplary talent across Black culture. Several HBCU students graced the audience and represented for their respective schools with grace as well. As we gear up to celebrate our Icons of the Culture at the 5th annual Urban One Honors, we also salute historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the nation. Those institutions are the settings we have always been welcomed and accepted for who we truly are as a collective, and they are also a source of great pride for the community. Black Excellence is always on display at the Urban One Honors, and there was no exception at this year’s show. We shined a light on HBCUs yet again during the Urban One Honors Fan Zone, sponsored by AT&T Dream in Black. We salute the students in attendance, especially those who made appearances in the show. Keep reading to learn more about them and their schools! Alexis Holmes, a senior at the iconic Spelman College is a health science major with big aspirations! The vibrant history of Spelman College emphasizes its contributions to society. The Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, which was founded in 1881, later changed its name to Spelman College in 1924. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has accredited Spelman, which is a proud member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium and a global pioneer in the education of women of African heritage. Honors student Justin Collins is majoring in mass communication with a sociology minor at Prairie View A&M University. He moved to Chicago, Illinois, and started attending Prairie View A&M University in 2021. He is currently a sophomore. He is a rising singer and the leader of the LANES apparel company and organization (Living Above Normal Everyday Standards). Andre “Add-2” Daniels, an AT&T Black Future Maker whose music has earned him notoriety from publications like GENIUS and Complex, is a mentor to Collins. The renowned alumni of Prairie View A&M University have a colorful history that highlights their contributions to society. In the state of Texas, Prairie View A&M University is the second-oldest public university. It is a historically Black institution or university that has welcomed anyone seeking a top-notch, four-year university education from inside or outside of Texas since it was founded in 1876. Aleah Robinson, an Alabama State University junior and native of Birmingham, is majoring in accounting. Robinson was crowned Miss Alabama State University 2022–23 on October 4th, carrying on an 83-year tradition that began at the HBCU school. She received a job offer that most college students can only hope to get, and she accepted it. Soon after graduating, she will begin working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the “Big-Four” accounting firms in the country. She will be based in the Birmingham office! Alabama State University has a rich background story that showcases the legacies of icons that graduated from the prestigious HBCU school. A group of African American church leaders, Northern missionaries, and black Southerners came together to start Alabama State University in 1867 as a school for former slaves. The Lincoln Normal School began operations with just $500 in donations, guided by nine freedmen who have come to be known as the Marion Nine. ASU was established by and for African Americans, making it one of the country’s oldest institutions of higher learning today. We cherish seeing young Black adults establish themselves in society, and we have no doubts that this group of HBCU students will go on to become icons of the culture! Here are some of the best moments from the 5th Urban One Honors award show. Homage to 50 Years of Hip Hop Kicked off by the iconic DJ Spinderella, the show began with a tribute to five decades of Hip Hop. With songs from LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Monie Love, Doug E. Fresh and Salt N Peppa, the crowd turned up to celebrate the cultural movement's accomplishments. The kept the energy going as they provided a sonic journey of Hip Hop from through the years and the impact it's had on our community. Pharrell Williams Honored With Music Innovation Honor Presented by his friend and collaborator Pusha T, Pharrell took the stage to accept the Music Innovation award. He took time to reflect on his beginnings and thank those in the room who "opened doors" for him as an artist. He also thanked Cathy Hughes for her vision in creating TV ONE. LL Cool J Honored With the Entertainment Icon Honor Rev. Run saluted his brother and Hollis, Queens native LL Cool J with the Entertainment Icon Honor. The award celebrated his 35-year career trajectory, encapsulating music, television and books. He thanked Rev. Run for taking him under his wing as a young artist while also expressing his gratitude to Kool Moe Dee as "generation 1 as a fan and generation 1.5 as an artist." He left an inspiring word for those working to accomplish their goals, reminding them that "dreams don't have a deadline" and that "anything is possible." Congresswoman Maxine Waters Given the Lifetime Achievement Honor Presented by Roland Martin and Keisha Lance Bottoms, Congresswoman Waters excitedly took to the stage to accept her award and reflect on her career. She elucidated on the importance of our community "reclaiming our time" and the disbelief of her career bringing her to where she is today. David and Tamela Mann Celebrated With the Inspirational Impact Honor Power couple David and Tamela Mann were presented with the Inspirational Impact Honor from actor Lamman Rucker. Keke Wyatt performed a medley for the two to commemorate this award, including Tamela's hit song "Take Me To the King." Filled with pride and thankfulness, the Manns accepted the award with a testimony about how far they have come in their lives and careers, both respectively and as a unit. Bobby Brown Given His Flowers and Receives the Phoenix Honor Innovator of New Jack Swing and legendary artist Bobby Brown was presented the inaugural Phoenix Honor by his son Landon Brown. Tearfully, Brown watched the montage about his life and accepted his award onstage. He shared that he has much more to accomplish in his life and looks forward to doing more in the future. Those We Lost In 2022 Were Remembered In a moving and beautiful montage, the Urban One Honors took time to pay tribute to those who left us over the past year. From Sydney Portier to Takeoff, the audience and those watching at home were able to have a moment to remember their wonderful talents and the impacts they had on our community. SOURCE TvOne If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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