HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, CENTER STAGE AT THE 2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were center stage alongside the NBA’s best players Sunday night. Sunday was a real reminder of why HBCUs were built, after the Civil War when most schools prohibited Black people from attending. Today, many of our schools face funding issues leading the NBA to put on a show and donate millions.
During the game, the NBA celebrated HBCUs with a court designed to represent the best of HBCU culture. HBCU alumni, faculty, and students were invited to be virtual guests on the big screen and in the stands. Grambling State and Florida A&M’s band hit the screen during player introductions and lit up the night. The festivities included the Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity – Sigma Alpha Chapter at Southern University and the Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity – Alpha Rho Chapter at Morehouse College, who are members of the Divine Nine, historically Black Greek letter organizations introducing their respective step teams from Southern University and Morehouse College.
#NBAAllStar 2021 Game Court 🌟
Â
The court represents both the academic significance, as well as the incredible pride & school spirit of HBCUs & their students. Created with HBCU alumni, it incorporates icons representing the best of HBCU academics, music and campus life. pic.twitter.com/Hz3UgyHH1D— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2021
Mid-way through the game, Phoenix Sun’s Chris Paul had his Master Class on entertainment, sports and media featuring Harvard Business School Professor Anita Elberse highlighted on the big screen. Paul developed a personal connection to HBCUs from his father, who attended Winston-Salem State University, which resulted in bringing the master class to A&T, later leading to a joint partnership with Live Nation. Their joint initiative will work to provide internships for HBCU students, particularly North Carolina A&T University.
“I just want to make sure everyone understands that HBCUs are not less than, they’re very capable and important to our history, to our culture, to everything,” Paul said.
Chris Paul wore a custom jacket representing all 107 HBCUs during #NBAAllStar weekend.
Look/More: https://t.co/GlzEMxS96i pic.twitter.com/Ib0slcZBz5
— Complex (@Complex) March 8, 2021
For the cherry on top, HBCU Alum called the shots in their black and white stripes. Tom Washington, Tony Brown, and Courtney Kirkland represented Norfolk State, Clark Atlanta, and Southern.
“The most important part about this entire game, for us, is that we are representing the NBA officials and we have to do an outstanding job for them,” Brown said. “Every night that we go on that floor we are representing each other. And that’s the greatest accolade and accomplishment that we can ever have, doing our job.”
By the end of the night, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association donated an estimated amount of $3 million to HBCU students and staff who the pandemic has impacted. Lebron’s team raised $1.25 million for the Thurgood Marshall Fund, and Durant’s team raised $500,000 for The United Negro College Fund.
