Connect with us

HBCU ORIGINAL

Norfolk State Men’s and Women’s Teams Battle in 2025 NCAA Tournament

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

Norfolk State University’s basketball teams showcased commendable efforts in the 2025 NCAA Tournaments. Here’s a recap of their journeys:​

Men’s Basketball Team:

The Spartans secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament by clinching the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament title. In a thrilling championship game, they overcame an 11-point deficit to edge out South Carolina State with a 66-65 victory. This win marked their fourth MEAC Tournament title and earned them the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. ​

Entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 16 seed in the West Region, Norfolk State faced the formidable No. 1 seed, Florida Gators, on March 21. Despite a valiant effort, the Spartans fell to the Gators with a final score of 95-69, concluding their tournament run.FOX Sports+3Norfolk State University Athletics+3SI+3

Women’s Basketball Team:

The Norfolk State women’s basketball team continued their streak of excellence by securing their fourth consecutive MEAC Tournament championship in 2025, thereby earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.SI+2Norfolk State University Athletics+2Norfolk State University Athletics+2

As a No. 13 seed, the Spartans faced No. 4 seed Maryland in the first round. Despite a determined performance, they were defeated with a final score of 82-69, ending their tournament journey.Reuters+1swishappeal.com+1

These appearances underscore the resilience and competitive spirit of Norfolk State’s basketball programs, highlighting their continued prominence in collegiate basketball.

We are dedicated to celebrating the rich history, vibrant culture, and enduring legacy of Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Our mission is to provide a platform that honors the invaluable contributions of HBCUs to higher education, social justice, and community empowerment. Through insightful articles, engaging narratives, and meaningful dialogue, we strive to amplify the voices, experiences, and achievements within the HBCU community. By fostering awareness, appreciation, and support for HBCUs, we aspire to inspire current and future generations to pursue excellence, equity, and inclusivity in education and beyond.

HBCU ORIGINAL

HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

🏅 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)

  • Event: Men’s 400 m

  • Final Placement: 3rd Place – 45.75 seconds

  • Achievement: First Team All‑America


💪 Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State University)

  • Event: Men’s 400 m Hurdles

  • Final Placement: 9th Overall


🥉 Marcia Sey (Howard University)

  • Event: Women’s 100 m Hurdles

  • Final Placement: 3rd Place – 12.93 seconds

  • Achievement: First Team All‑America and highest NCAA finish in Howard’s track history


🏃‍♀️ Howard Women’s 4×100 m Relay

  • Team Members: Kailei Collins, Marcia Sey, Tiffani‑Rae Pittman, Aiyana Gray‑Williams

  • Final Placement: 6th Place – 43.23 seconds

  • 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
Continue Reading

Events

Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations

Southeast:

  • Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone

  • Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks

  • Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums

  • Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling

  • New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou

Northeast:

  • Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase

  • Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival

  • New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market

Midwest:

  • Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic

  • Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks

  • Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music

  • St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade

South:

  • Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park

  • Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry

  • Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos

  • Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors

  • Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event

West Coast & Beyond:

  • Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits

  • Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair

  • San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore

  • Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march

  • Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food

  • Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music

  • Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word

  • 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

Continue Reading

Events

🖤 What is Juneteenth? Celebrating Black Freedom & Culture

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

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:

  • Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.

  • A collective awakening to freedom.

  • The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.

  • 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.

Continue Reading

Events

Under Armour Celebrates Maryland HBCUs with “Sisterhood in Style” Sneaker Campaign

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

Published by HBCU Original | June 13, 2025

Under Armour is giving HBCU pride a fashionable step forward with its latest sneaker drop and campaign celebrating Black sisterhood, Greek life, and the vibrant legacy of Maryland’s historically Black colleges.

For the launch of its newest lifestyle sneaker, the UA Echo, Under Armour partnered with Baltimore native and award-winning photographer Devin Allen to shoot the “Sisterhood in Style” campaign. The powerful visuals were brought to life on the campuses of Bowie State University and Morgan State University, spotlighting women from the first Black Greek-letter sorority in bold, expressive styles.

More than a simple product release, “Sisterhood in Style” tells a deeper story—one of culture, community, and representation. The campaign highlights tradition and individuality, showing how today’s HBCU students are redefining style on their own terms.

“More than a product spotlight, Sisterhood in Style reflects UA’s broader commitment to innovation and community—empowering the next generation to show up boldly, break boundaries, and define their own style codes,” Under Armour shared in a press release.

The new UA Echo sneaker, designed in a striking pink and green colorway, is now available online for $150—a clear nod to the heritage of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

This campaign continues Under Armour’s connection to local education institutions. Last fall, the brand also gave back to Baltimore City College and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by donating to their athletic programs and creating custom school merchandise.

With “Sisterhood in Style,” Under Armour isn’t just releasing a sneaker—it’s recognizing the beauty, strength, and cultural impact of Black women at HBCUs. And that’s a story worth walking in.

#HBCUOriginal #SisterhoodInStyle #BowieState #MorganState #UnderArmour #BlackExcellence #GreekLife

Continue Reading

HBCU ORIGINAL

Florida A&M’s Kirk Dawkins Set to Compete at NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships

HBCU ORIGINAL

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending