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UNITED IN HISTORY. UNITED IN PRIDE.
HBCUnited Players on the Significance of HBCU Homecoming
When Tiwian Kendley was asked to play for team HBCUnited at TBT, he didn’t hesitate.
“I knew I would be representing every HBCU in the world, and who can really turn that down?” he said.
The legacy of historically black colleges and universities isn’t something Kendley, a graduate of Morgan State University, takes lightly. His experience there was pivotal to his identity, he says—on and off the court.
“I can honestly say THE great Morgan State University stood on unity, accountability, and family, which shaped me to be who I am today: a successful young black man,” Kendley said.
It's this deep love for their alma maters that sees HBCU students and alumni coming back to campus in droves for homecoming. The occasion is traditionally celebrated across the country in September and October with football games, tailgates, and reunions with friends.
But homecoming is about more than just the festivities, explains Kendley’s HBCUnited teammate Steven Whitley. Whitley is a graduate of Norfolk State University, an institution that he says changed his life.
“Being exposed to the rich culture of camaraderie and the network of resources, and the overall love was beyond more than I could have asked for,” Whitley said. “The significance [of homecoming] is valuable because the alums and current students unite to celebrate the love we have for our HBCUs.”
Being an HBCU alum carries with it a feeling of pride, Whitley explained, that carries into homecoming and the rest of your life.
“You come into the school alone as a student, but you leave with a family,” he said. “Once you begin to learn about the foundation of your HBCU, and the success stories and history behind HBCUs in general, you carry more pride with you because these schools were designed to house black culture before schools were integrated.”
And that’s exactly what homecoming celebrates, says HBCUnited player and North Carolina A&T alum Ron Jackson, Jr.
“It’s fun, it’s prideful, and it’s great to see black folks gather together to have fun and celebrate,” he said. “The families and community are heavily involved.”
That connection extends beyond just your own university, Jackson explained.
“It feels good to run into alums from other HBCUs because it feels like family,” he said. “We can relate to something and have a similar idea of what our college experiences were like.”
HBCUnited made history with its 2021 debut, representing the first TBT team to be made up of entirely HBCU grads. Whitley credits the team’s success to the players’ shared values from their experience in college.
“Teamwork is everything,” Whitley said. “In this world it’s tough to get anything done alone. If you have big dreams of becoming great, you’ll need a team.”
For the players, being a part of that team meant embracing their shared legacy as HBCU alumni.
“It meant everything because I wasn’t just doing it for me, I was doing it for a culture,” Kendley said.
Jackson agreed, saying that accepting his role on the team was an honor.
“Being a part of history as the first HBCU team was love,” he said. “My biggest takeaway was not to take this opportunity for granted. I’m a part of a chosen few.”
E&J would like to wish all HBCU alumni and students a happy homecoming season, whether celebrated in-person or virtually.
Did you love the HBCUnited jerseys this year? Let us know in the comments.
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Fam Comments
Wuuf
3 years agoExcellent Jerseys!!!
Reaperman
3 years agoThat's Awesome
JessMynk
3 years agoYes love the jerseys and great stories
POMPOM
3 years agoHOORAH!
bluefish.fisher@gmail.com
3 years agoThanks for the opportunity.
tbrowski@yahoo.com
3 years agoLike the uniforms
Nilynad
3 years agoI loved the jerseys and my size is XL if you didn't know what size to send !
jpadre
3 years agogreat stories
Sco
3 years agoE&J 4 Lyfe
gmoney1951
3 years agoyes
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