HBCU ORIGINAL
President Jimmy Carter’s Final Journey to Washington

The remains of President Jimmy Carter departed Atlanta on Tuesday, beginning their final journey to Washington, D.C. The solemn occasion unfolded on a clear but chilly day, as Carter’s casket was transported via Air Force One on Special Air Mission 39, a tribute to his legacy as the 39th president of the United States.
From Atlanta to Washington
A motorcade, including Carter family members, escorted the casket to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. Upon arrival in Washington, the late president’s remains will be carried to the Navy Memorial, then placed on a horse-drawn caisson for a procession to the U.S. Capitol. Military personnel will transfer the casket into the Capitol Rotunda, where a congressional service is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Due to weather-related delays from a winter storm, the service has been rescheduled to 4:30 p.m. Public viewing in the Rotunda will take place from 7 p.m. Tuesday to midnight and continue from 7 a.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday.
A Nation in Mourning
Carter’s funeral is set for Thursday at Washington National Cathedral, coinciding with a National Day of Mourning declared by President Joe Biden. Following the service, Carter’s remains will return to his hometown of Plains, Georgia, for a private funeral and interment at Maranatha Baptist Church.
Carter, who passed away on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100, leaves behind a remarkable legacy as a humanitarian and a public servant.
Notable Developments:
- Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and House Speaker Mike Johnson will deliver eulogies at Tuesday’s congressional service.
- Supreme Court justices, diplomats, and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser are among those invited to attend.
- President Biden and former President Donald Trump are expected to attend Thursday’s funeral.
Caisson Tradition Resumes
The ceremonial transport of Carter’s casket is a high-profile mission for the Army’s Caisson Detachment, which resumed operations after a hiatus following the deaths of two horses in 2023. The unit has undergone months of preparation to uphold its tradition of flawless execution during state funerals.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standard,” said Lt. Col. Derrick Draper, deputy commander of the regiment.
Honoring a Life of Service
Jimmy Carter, born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, rose from humble beginnings as the son of a farmer and nurse. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a nuclear engineer before returning to Georgia to manage his family farm and serve in the state legislature. Elected president in 1976, Carter’s single term was marked by both achievements, such as energy initiatives and expanded national parks, and challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis.
After leaving office, Carter dedicated his life to humanitarian causes, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his global efforts to promote peace, democracy, and economic development. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96.
National Day of Mourning Closures
Thursday’s National Day of Mourning will see federal offices and Postal Service locations closed, and the NYSE and Nasdaq halting trading. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered the Court building closed for the day.
This week’s events honor a life devoted to service, leadership, and compassion, ensuring that President Carter’s enduring legacy is remembered and celebrated.
HBCU ORIGINAL
HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025

🏅 HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought the best of the best to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon—and HBCU athletes rose to the occasion. Here’s how they placed in the finals:
🥉 Jordan Pierre (University of Arkansas‑Pine Bluff)
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Event: Men’s 400 m
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 45.75 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
💪 Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State University)
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Event: Men’s 400 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 9th Overall
🥉 Marcia Sey (Howard University)
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Event: Women’s 100 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 12.93 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America and highest NCAA finish in Howard’s track history
🏃♀️ Howard Women’s 4×100 m Relay
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Team Members: Kailei Collins, Marcia Sey, Tiffani‑Rae Pittman, Aiyana Gray‑Williams
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Final Placement: 6th Place – 43.23 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
📊 Quick Recap
Athlete / Team | Event | Final Result | Honors |
---|---|---|---|
Jordan Pierre (UAPB) | 400 m | 🥉 3rd Place | First Team All-America |
Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State) | 400 m Hurdles | 9th Place | – |
Marcia Sey (Howard) | 100 m Hurdles | 🥉 3rd Place – 12.93s | First Team All-America |
Howard 4×100 Relay | 4×100 m | 6th Place – 43.23s | First Team All-America |
Events
Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations
Southeast:
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Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone
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Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks
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Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums
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Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling
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New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou
Northeast:
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Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase
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Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival
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New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market
Midwest:
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Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic
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Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks
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Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music
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St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade
South:
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Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park
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Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry
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Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos
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Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors
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Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event
West Coast & Beyond:
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Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits
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Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair
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San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore
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Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march
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Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food
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Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music
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Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word
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Columbus, OH – Citywide Juneteenth march
🎓 HBCUs at the Center
Many of these celebrations include HBCU marching bands, alumni chapters, student orgs, and vendor booths. From performances to education panels, HBCUs continue to be pillars in preserving the legacy of Juneteenth.
🔗 Join the Movement
📷 Tag @THEHBCUORIGINAL
🏷️ Hashtags: #HBCUJuneteenth #Juneteenth2025 #BlackFreedom
Events
🖤 What is Juneteenth? Celebrating Black Freedom & Culture

Juneteenth—short for June Nineteenth—is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free.
For the estimated 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas, this was the first time they were told of their freedom. While freedom had been the law since January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in remote Confederate states like Texas until Union troops physically arrived.
But Juneteenth is more than a date.
It’s a spiritual and cultural milestone. It represents:
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Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.
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A collective awakening to freedom.
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The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.
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The power of Black resilience, community, and culture.
Since its origin, Juneteenth has evolved from small family cookouts and church gatherings into nationwide celebrations filled with festivals, education, music, and activism. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to generations of Black voices demanding that America remember and respect this part of its history.
Juneteenth and Slavery in Texas
In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers from outside the Lone Star State had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.
After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.
Events
Under Armour Celebrates Maryland HBCUs with “Sisterhood in Style” Sneaker Campaign
HBCU ORIGINAL
Florida A&M’s Kirk Dawkins Set to Compete at NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships

June 10, 2025 | Eugene, Oregon
Florida A&M’s standout middle-distance runner, Kirk Dawkins, is headed to the big stage as he prepares to compete in the 800-meter semifinals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this Wednesday. The race will take place at 8:58 p.m. EST at the legendary Hayward Field, located on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Catch the action live on ESPN.
Dawkins earned his spot at nationals by running a personal-best time of 1:46.62 at the NCAA East Regional quarterfinals—an impressive mark that solidifies his status among the elite in collegiate track.
This season has been a breakout year for the FAMU junior. He claimed the SWAC Outdoor Championship title in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.2 and followed that up with a strong 1:48.01 showing at the East Coast Relays. His steady improvement and commitment to excellence are paying off as he heads into the national spotlight.
All eyes will be on Dawkins Wednesday night as he looks to continue his historic season and represent Florida A&M on the national stage.
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