00:00Burn, baby! Burn, baby!
00:01Burn, baby!
00:03Black folks said we need to have access to higher education,
00:07and our ancestors decided to build this university brick by brick.
00:10What's going on, Essence family?
00:12It's your girl, Cherie Nicole, here with another edition of Essence Black Women in Sports.
00:16And this time, I'm here in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the campus of Johnson C. Smith University.
00:22And one of the cultural connectors here at this HBCU are the Lovables,
00:26the award-winning cheerleading squad.
00:27It's about connection, it's about sisterhood, and it's all about the culture.
00:31Hang out with me and let's get out of this range.
00:33The clouds are coming, and so is the fun.
00:37To start my day, the president of Johnson C. Smith University welcomes me to the campus.
00:43So I'm new to this campus, never been here before.
00:45Okay.
00:46What can I look forward to? What should I be bracing myself for?
00:48What kind of experience am I going to have today?
00:51You're always going to feel regal on this campus.
00:53Okay.
00:53You're going to feel so special as if you are the only one in the midst of everyone else.
00:58You are the most special because that's how people feel.
01:00I graduated in 1996 from Johnson C. Smith.
01:03I came back in 2023 to be the 15th president.
01:06And I've inherited a solid foundation that has always been committed to the ideals of community, of collaboration, and for
01:14me, also of transformation.
01:16You're right.
01:17Nobody had to convince me that they were athletes, but everyone had a different reason.
01:23They report to training camp the same time we do.
01:26So when we're here early August in hot days, going through conditioning to get ready for the season, so are
01:33they.
01:33When we go to the cafeteria after some dog days of training camp, we see them in there also.
01:38I get the pleasure of having an office at the stadium and the dance studio where our Lovables practice is
01:44right outside my office.
01:46And so I get to hear them pretty much on a daily basis.
01:49As cheerleaders, specifically CIAA cheerleaders, we train like some of your best athletes.
01:55We probably condition more than a typical athlete because you have to be able to endure through a game.
02:02Cheerleader goes down. Yes, it's hard.
02:04We're trained as well, but we also have our trainers on the side.
02:09So they are athletes.
02:11They work with the cheerleaders just like they do football players, basketball players, the whole nine yards.
02:18Meet Mia, sophomore, captain.
02:20She is the one who counts them in.
02:23We do have to build our endurance.
02:24We do a lot of cardio because we need to be able to breathe.
02:27Like, it does take a lot out of us as far as us having to use deep voices as far
02:31as going down to our diaphragm.
02:33And there's some folks who think, oh, they're not athletes.
02:35Yes, they are.
02:36They're working out.
02:37They're training.
02:38They're being disciplined.
02:39We had to do as much work as any other sport had to do, maybe even more.
02:43We run hills just like the football team.
02:46We're throwing each other up in the air.
02:47Like, we got to be able to hold one another up too.
02:50So, like, football team, y'all got to knock each other down.
02:52We got to hold each other up, so.
02:53Mmm.
02:54Uplift.
02:54I love that.
02:56Uplift is the part you can see.
02:58Togetherness is the part you hear coming.
03:00After COVID, we lost a lot of those traditions being virtual.
03:04So, I had to bring that energy back to the university.
03:07I realized that Smith didn't have as many chances as we used to.
03:11I do not know work it, work it.
03:12What?
03:12I do not know work it, work it.
03:13Mm-mm.
03:14Wait, wait, wait.
03:14We still do it, but I haven't taught it.
03:17Look.
03:17She hasn't taught it to me.
03:20You say work it.
03:21Work it, work it, JC.
03:23Work it, work it, work it, JC.
03:26Yeah.
03:27That's the reason for bringing in the previous alums to come in with the cheerleaders to keep our standards going.
03:35By them working out with them, doing our practices, telling their stories of their cheer years.
03:41When our alum come back during homecoming and other big events, we're still able to do the original version.
03:47But then they put their style into it and do that secondary version.
03:51It's in my blood!
03:53It's in my blood!
03:56I cannot lie!
03:57I cannot lie!
04:01I'll be a Mikey-Cosinfo until the day that I die!
04:06So, this is my first time here.
04:08Yes.
04:08But it feels like a home away from home.
04:10It should.
04:11Okay.
04:11Because your new home address is 100 Bates Ford Road.
04:14You've adopted me?
04:15You are now and forever more a golden bull.
04:19So, you are my Smithite sister.
04:20I love that.
04:21So, welcome home.
04:22And that means I get one of these.
04:23Oh, absolutely.
04:24We can make that happen.
04:25Okay, let's go to your office and talk about that.
04:27Let's go right now.
04:27Okay, do I get one?
04:28Do I get two?
04:29How many do you need, my sister?
04:30At least five.
04:31My mom actually applied here at Johnson C. Smith.
04:34I've never heard of Johnson C. Smith ever, ever, ever.
04:37Yes.
04:38Wow.
04:38Yes.
04:39You know, scrolling through the Instagram page.
04:41Going through social media.
04:42And I found the cheer team.
04:44And it was like, okay, cheer triumphs within two days.
04:47So, I ran out and I was like, mom, cheer triumphs in two days.
04:49I gotta get to Charlotte.
04:50Tried out, made the team, and just fell in love with the whole school itself.
04:55I just found my community.
04:56I found my home away from home.
05:07I'm the first one in my family to be a collegiate level athlete.
05:11I'm the first cheerleader.
05:12And my family, too, as well.
05:14From my hometown, you know, we always had a family reputation.
05:17I was a great one.
05:17Great family reputation or whatever.
05:19But I've never had anything of my own.
05:22I'm my own person.
05:23I'm Mia Elizabeth.
05:24Not just me as, okay, the blonde head cheerleader, you know.
05:27Heat has been around for quite some time.
05:30It's a staple cheer.
05:31It's a classic.
05:32It's something that gets the crowd involved.
05:34They all know it.
05:36It's something that everyone loves to do.
05:38How could you not get up and want to do a cheer even if you don't know the words?
05:41Even if you don't even know the moves.
05:43Burn, baby.
05:44Burn, baby.
05:45Heat.
05:46Yeah.
05:46Fire.
05:47All right, all right.
05:48Burn it.
05:48Heat.
05:49Hot.
05:51Yeah.
05:51Burn, baby.
05:52Burn, baby.
05:54Heat.
05:54Heat.
05:56Yeah.
06:01All right, they say that life is all about making adjustments.
06:04I'm going to make one right now because the rain is coming down.
06:06Had some fun playing on the field with the lovables, but we had to bring it inside at
06:10Biddle Hall.
06:11Come with me.
06:11They're going to teach me a little dance, a little jig.
06:13We'll see.
06:13We'll see how I do.
06:15Thoughts and prayers.
06:16Wish me luck.
06:17Now it's time to earn my gold and blue stripes.
06:20But I have a feeling I'm in great hands.
06:23Okay, so I need to learn some things.
06:25Mm-hmm.
06:25I was told I have to learn a cheer.
06:27Yes.
06:27Somebody told me that.
06:28Maybe my own spirit told me.
06:30But I just want to get a feel for how you all bring the vibes, the culture, the connection,
06:37the spirit of J.C.S.U.
06:39Listen.
06:40All together here.
06:41We want to officially welcome you to Golden Bowl Country here at J.C.S.U.
06:45Okay.
06:46And it's real simple.
06:47All over the world, no matter where you go, I want my students to just help me a little
06:51bit with this.
06:52Okay.
06:52When we say J.C., the response is S.U.
06:57Can I get a J.C.?
06:59S.U.
07:00All right, it's your turn.
07:01You ready?
07:01Oh, my God.
07:02What am I saying?
07:03Can I get a J.C.?
07:03Okay.
07:04Okay, everybody.
07:05Okay, hold on a minute.
07:06Let me build it up.
07:07Okay.
07:07Ready?
07:08Can I get a J.C.?
07:10S.U.
07:11Well, we want to say thank you for the amazing opportunity to come in to Johnson C.
07:16Smith University, home of the Golden Bulls.
07:19You're now officially a Golden Bull.
07:20I'm a Golden Bull, y'all.
07:21Yes, y'all.
07:22Come on.
07:22Come on.
07:25Yes.
07:25Burn, baby.
07:26Burn, baby.
07:27Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
07:28One, two, one.
07:31All right, all right.
07:32Burn, baby.
07:32Burn, baby.
07:33Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
07:35Heat.
07:36Yeah.
07:37Oh, that's good, J.C.
07:41All right, Sheree, you ready?
07:43Um, me?
07:44Yes.
07:45Come on.
07:46Come on.
07:47Come on.
07:48Oh, y'all.
07:49Oh, y'all.
07:50Come on.
07:52Come on.
07:53All right, come on.
07:54All right, so we're doing heat, okay?
07:56Oh, Lord.
07:57So the first step is cheats.
08:01That's all you're doing.
08:01Okay, okay.
08:02Do it again.
08:02Slow now.
08:02All right.
08:04Heat.
08:05Okay, one more time.
08:07Five, six, seven, eight.
08:09Heat.
08:11Okay, I got that part.
08:12All right.
08:12Okay, okay.
08:13She did it.
08:14I can stop and clap right now.
08:16Now you're going to do that three times.
08:17Okay.
08:18All right.
08:19We're going to say heat, fire.
08:20Turn a little higher.
08:21All right.
08:22Five, six, seven, eight.
08:24Heat.
08:25Fire.
08:26Fire.
08:27A little higher.
08:29Fire, baby.
08:29Fire, baby.
08:31Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
08:33Heat.
08:34Oh, I forgot that part.
08:34Heat.
08:35I did.
08:35Yeah.
08:39Thank you, Mia.
08:40Yes.
08:41Thank y'all.
08:42I got to go.
08:43Do y'all have an oxygen machine?
08:46Love the connection.
08:48I've been sensing it all day, the connection that you guys obviously have with each other,
08:51but also this incredible university.
08:54Mia, I just want to thank you.
08:55It has been a long day and you have been a trooper and you have showed us just how special
09:00not only the sport of cheerleading is, but this incredible university.
09:04So I want to thank you.
09:06I want to offer a toast up to you.
09:08Yes.
09:08Thank you for this time of incredible connection and uplift and refresh and wishing you all
09:12the best.
09:14I appreciate you.
09:18I didn't get four years at an HBCU, but I got this experience here.
09:23An experience of a lifetime.
09:24I got a chance to meet some really cool people, immerse myself in the culture here at Johnson
09:28C. Smith University, and I also got a chance to sweat my hair out.
09:32Between the rain and Lovables cheerleaders, I'm done, son.
09:36I want to thank you guys so much for hanging out with me for Essence Black Women in Sports,
09:39partnered with Coca-Cola, and I'll see you guys next time.
09:42Let me get out of this rain and keep this twist out intact as much as I can.
09:45Peace.
09:47For The Big
09:49For the Big
09:49Small
09:50Short
09:51Tall
09:52For the thinkers
09:53and the doers
09:55For old friends
09:58Coca-Cola
10:00for everyone
