ISSUE #6
HBCU & U
@BOSS_EMAG
THE KING CELEB B.O.S.S.: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was young I played ball, but I was always into entertainment. Since the early ages, I have been around music-- I think I was born with a radio! I knew that some how, some way music was going to be a part of my future. I played ball, I danced—I just entertained. As I went on, I grew and developed into radio. I would tape radio shows and then turn around and rerecord them, because that’s just how much I loved radio. B.O.S.S.: At what point did you realize that you wanted to attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU)? My aunts and uncles were a big influence because they came from a prestigious HBCU. They went to Tuskegee, and I was heavily involved. From campus fraternities and sororities functions to different programs, bands, to athletics, and just the overall school spirit… I knew going to a HBCU would greatly be appreciated on my behalf. Because of my experience with my family, I got a nice little taste of what a HBCU was all about. B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about you and how you feel about your experience. I grew up in New York, but my family is from the south. So growing up, I knew about Ala-
bama State, Alabama A&M, Tuskegee... My family painted the picture of HBCU and what I needed to be. So, when the time came, I knew what and where I wanted to be. I just knew [college] would be a fun experience. When you get a chance to go to a HBCU, cherish the opportunity that you get because, it’s a personal experience. You get to find out who is who, you get to find out where everyone is from, their backgrounds-- everything. In my opinion, it’s good to go away for school. You meet different people, learn about different music, lifestyles, and backgrounds. I had a great college experience because I got involved early. From that point on, I began to focus more on the entertainment aspect because I began to host all the media events. I remember walking in the parade and introducing the band… it was a fun experience. As soon as I got to Delaware State University (DSU), I had school spirit. It became my unofficial job to get everyone hyped up and excited. I became the host of homecoming, and the step show. Overall, I had an amazing experience. B.O.S.S.: What is a main difference you have seen between an HBCU and a predominantly white institution (PWI)? One main difference is the school spirit and tradition that each school had. They were just different. You go from a school that had a huge homecoming and a football team to a