00:00We have a phrase that we use to call to Aggies wherever we may be and it's referred and it's
00:09said affectionately, Aggie, right? Hi, my name is Maria Rogers and I'm so happy to be a part of
00:16this experience with you guys. I am a graduate of an HBCU. I am an alumni of the University
00:24of Maryland Eastern Shore. I would just like to shout out the illustrious Florida Agricultural
00:34and Mechanical University, 1887. If you want to tell me what you know about the Jackson
00:42State University, 1400 J. Ireland Street, that's me. Ay, that's me. Shout out to Jackson State
00:50University Tigers. I came of age during the, you know, the time of a different world and it had
01:03a profound impact on me and nearly everyone I know who was at a historical life college
01:08during that time and we were all trying to figure out if we were going to be Whitley or Jaleesa or
01:14we were going to meet Dwayne or any of these people and it really brought to our attention
01:19the ways in which you can have this really special racial experience that you couldn't get other
01:25places. You can't hide that Spartan pride. Behold the green and gold.
01:32Hey everybody, I'm actress Mara Fawkes. You see me on HBCU, Grace Batting, Scandal, and currently
01:48as Darcia Lancaster on Ambitious or Star Wars. I am proud of HBCU graduate of the Jackson State University.
02:00I had the most amazing time.
02:06When I came here, when I came to Columbia, South Carolina from Florida, I was not going to college.
02:11I was riding with a friend whose family decided to bring me along because I was sleeping on their
02:16couch that week and I got a whole college experience because of Benedict College and
02:23they took a chance on me. And so forever in my life, I will promote HBCUs. Forever in my life will
02:30I tell people that if you come from a low income area or an area where that's very wealthy, you are
02:37not going to ever find an experience quite like an HBCU. It just feels like me.
02:42When you go to HBCU, you have an extended family. When you go across the world, any city, any state,
02:49and there's someone else from an HBCU, it's like you just meeting family.
02:54I think trying to figure out what makes Norfolk State Homecoming the greatest on the planet,
03:00because I just do. Hands down, I just believe it's the greatest. You know, people might tell me
03:05differently, but I absolutely believe Norfolk State is the greatest homecoming. But to try and figure out
03:09like exactly what it is, I think it's almost like saying, okay, I'm drinking a Pepsi or something.
03:16I'm saying, okay, what's the greatest ingredient inside Pepsi? No, it's no one greatest ingredient.
03:20It's like everything that comes together to make it the greatest experience. And to all of my people
03:25over at Howard, HU, you know. All the HBCUs out there, I love y'all. I'm just waiting for one of y'all to
03:37invite me to homecoming.
Comments