December 19, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
There can be no democracy where racism and the big lie exists.
“Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
- Roy Douglas Malonson
HBCU Alumni giving BLACK!
By: Roy Douglas Malonson
White Institutions), our schools are strugIt’s no secret that gling in the area of when it comes to finances, which imfunding, HBCUs are pacts our students and given the short end of quality of education. the stick. From federal While systemic inpolicies and campaign equality plays a signifpromises that hardly icant role in the state ever come through, of Black universities, to stark differences in it is important to recstate funding between ognize that donations HBCUs (Histori- from alumni are the cally Black Colleges lifeline of any college and Universities) and or university, and that PWIs (Predominately the absence of giving
from Black alumni can be felt across many HBCU campuses. According to Forbes, the average rate of alumni donations at HBCUs is nearly 10% and the rate has remained constant over the last few decades. This is nowhere near the hundreds of thousands spent during the homecoming season. Only four HBCUs have an alumni giving
Vol. 26, Issue 48
rate exceeding 30%: Claflin University (47%), Spelman College, Bennett College, and Lane College (all exceeding 35%). Two HBCUs had the lowest giving rate of 2%. So why aren’t our alumni giving back? It’s not that we don’t value and appreciate the education and life lessons gained from
HBCU cont’d page 4
Thee Stallion graduates
By: N.L. Preston
Her lyrics are bold, racy and often controversial, but like it or not, Houston’s own Megan Thee Stallion has proven that she has what it takes to keep rising to the top. The artist, born Megan Pete, grew up right here in Houston and gives credit to her success to her dearly departed mother and grandmother, whom she credits as the strong women who molded and motivated her. And when it comes to determination, “Thee Stallion” showed that she could balance it all – becoming a global icon, a TikTok sensation, covering Times, Sports Illustrated and People Magazine, all while striving for her bachelor of science degree in health administration, right on the campus at Texas Southern University. And TSU pulled out all the TSU cont’d stops when Ms. Pete (Mepage 4 gan) graduated with more