Historically Black colleges and universities have influenced music, fashion and much more. From Howard University to Florida A&M, HBCUs has produced high profile creatives and entertainers such as Samuel L. Jackson, Will Packer and of course, the late Chadwick Boseman. Driving much of the film and television industry, it is no surprise that HBCUs have been portrayed on both the big screen and small screen.
A Different World (1987)
A Different World brought the fictional Hillman College to life from 1987 until 1993. In the show's six year run, Jasmine Guy, Lisa Bonet, Kadeem Hardison and the rest of the cast built the cultural phenomenon that has resulted in kid's wearing Dwayne Wayne's glasses for Halloween and adult's wearing Hillman sweatshirts for leisure. Not to mention, some of the world's biggest stars such as Tupac Shakur, Heavy D and Gladys Knight.
School Daze (1988)
Morehouse College graduate Spike Lee brought his experiences at the Atlanta University Center to the big screen in 1988. Months before releasing Do The Right Thing, Lee told the story of Dap, a student at Mission College looking to join a popular fraternity. Along the way, School Daze dissects topics of hypermasculinity, economic status and much more. The 1988 film's legacy grew over time and spurred the careers of Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell and Jasmine Guy.
Drumline (2002)
Led by Nick Cannon, Drumline has emerged as a cult classic over the last few years. With incredible music and performances from Orlando Jones and Zoe Saldana, the campuses of Atlanta A&T and Morris Brown College come to life. In the years since its release, Nick Cannon has brought back the film for a sequel starring Alexandra Shipp.
Stomp The Yard (2007)
In 2007, Sylvain White and Will Packer brought Greek culture to life with Stomp The Yard. Highlighting the art of stepping along with a star studded cast, the 2007 film rose to the top at the box office during its opening weekend. Ultimately, the film brought in $75 million and created the opportunity for a sequel in 2010.
The Great Debaters (2007)
The Great Debaters wasn't just influenced by the rich history of historically Black colleges and universities. The 2007 film was inspired by the story of Wiley College's 1935 debate team. Led by Denzel Washington, the film documents the racism of the Jim Crow South while illustrating the brilliance of James Farmer Jr., Samantha Booke, Melvin B. Tolson and the entire squad.
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