HBCUs have always been a large staple in our community and America’s history. If not for the Black scholars who came before us pursuing a more educated tomorrow, there would be no space for Black intellects to thrive in full bloom.
For over a century, HBCUs were the only option for Black students looking to escape the generational curses set in place by a system expecting us to work instead of learn. Now, HBCUs are one of many options for Black students to experience in terms of higher education and, for many students, it’s the only choice. There is no experience on earth like an HBCU experience, from the way they teach the curriculum to the opportunities provided by corporations filled with Black and Brown faces who come from them. HBCUs represent the resilience of a people still working toward a brighter future for the newest generation of minorities turned major.
This year, EBONY hosted its first annual HBCU Yard Fest, bringing together students across the Atlanta University Center (AUC) for downtime and fellowship. Throughout the event, students connected with one another while participating in activations and performances on the Morehouse College campus. While Morehouse is a historically Black institution home to many Black men, EBONY Yard Fest was open to all. Keeping with the day’s excitement, EBONY teamed up with the Funky Friday podcast and Wells Fargo to speak on the importance of financial literacy for Black students.
Funky Friday is a podcast hosted by Cam Newton, a former NFL quarterback whose opinion and reputation are widely respected in sports entertainment. On the Funky Friday podcast, celebrity guests come and speak freely on the topics at hand. “Gone are the days when we needed major networks to get our narrative out,” Newton has said regarding the state of journalism today and how he is now using this platform to cross over into the field. Funky Friday has allowed many to come and showcase their true opinions and have hard, funky conversations on camera for all to bear witness.
Newton sat down with EBONY and JET owner Eden Bridgeman Sklenar to discuss her upbringing. As the daughter of 12-season NBA All-Star Junior Bridgeman and Doris Bridgeman, she credits them for her and her family’s multimillion-dollar restaurant chains’ success. When asked about her privilege growing up in such a prominent household, she said, “I grew up blessed by God.”
Bridgeman talked about how her siblings worked together to keep their family’s wealth in the family: “[With] generational wealth, generational change has happened.” Bridgeman worked her way up in her family’s business, from her first job as a janitor at just 12 years old. That experience molded her into the multi-business owner the world knows.
Asked about the factors that contributed to her success from childhood to adulthood, she emphasized the importance of surrounding herself and her company with people who share her values of “faith, family, impact and hard work.”
Bridgeman and Newton spoke about the financial literacy for the Black college youth of today. They spoke on the steps needed to have a successful life post-grad, with Bridgeman telling the students regarding their dreams post-grad: “Passion alone without a plan is where so many organizations do the next generations a disservice.”
EBONY also spoke with Georgette “Gigi” Dixon of Wells Fargo, a proud HBCU graduate hailing from Tennessee State University. Well known for her position as Board Vice Chair for the NAACP Foundation, Dixon gave insight into how this generation’s college students could better access financial help through opportunities presented by numerous banks nearby, many of which include free financial counseling. Asked about financial literacy for those experiencing the pivotal adult college years (18-22), she shared, “Financial literacy starts with the education of money” and not to forget to “pay yourself first,” meaning to invest in your career, your dreams and your essential expenses.
Newton turned the floor to the audience with a game he likes to call “50, 30 and 20.” The objective is to separate your essentials (50), food, lodging, transportation, etc., from your wants (30) and your savings (20). This conversation caused quite a stir in the audience for many different people at different stages of their lives. For freshmen, the most significant essential was being able to afford off-campus food for hours when the cafe was closed, as opposed to graduate students facing mortgages and credit card bills. The game opened a world of conversation to what some may deem a necessity and what others believe to be a luxury.
The event proved informative and entertaining. Newton gave students a chance to come on stage and speak to Bridgeman about her upbringing and the financial advice she may have to offer young minds. Students shared that the event made them feel “very involved” and reminded them to stay humble when climbing toward their post-grad successes.
Jordan Bennett, a junior at Morehouse College majoring in Biology on a pre-dental track, shared his insight from the event. He mentioned the 50, 30, and 20 rule by name and added that it helped him further examine “what you are putting your money into so that you could have more to work with in the long run.”
The full episode of the live Funky Friday taping can be checked out below:
