Alumni Networks and Institutional Influence
Written By: Elainey Bass
A pivotal part of HBCUs are the people that we encounter that push us to do better. This could be a student, a professor, or even faculty; no matter what your major is or was, there is always someone in your corner pouring into you. The same way the people around us have poured into us, there are numerous HBCU alumni that do the same in their community. The importance of giving back isn't instilled in everyone, but lucky for HBCU students, this does not hold true and many alumni actually look forward to creating a seat at the table for the next generation of industry professionals. The entertainment industry specifically is very hard to conquer, and it is mainly built on connections from within. With this in mind, the alumni mentioned below made sure to come back home to leave their influences on their campus, all while simultaneously bridging the gap between college and the real world.
Rachel Jackson
An Atlanta native, Rachel Jackson has been making major strides in the music industry while finding ways to amplify Black voices in the process. Jackson graduated from Clark Atlanta University and serves as an artist relations manager on Youtube’s Artist and Live Partnerships team. She also leads the #YoutubeBlack Voices fund that aims to uplift Black artists and creators the platform. Before her current position, she started out by interning with Ludacris’s label, Disturbing The Peace Records, and eventually transitioned to being the director of A&R at Roc Nation. Jackson not only shows so much pride in her alma mater, but for the entire AUC (Atlanta University Center) as well! In February of 2023, Spelman College’s Women In Hip-Hop Music Collective and Morehouse’s Music Group curated a panel where she, and rapper K Camp, were able to speak to students about breaking into the industry and having longevity in this field. More recently, Jackson visited her alma mater, in partnership with Ebony Magazine and Excelerate HBCU, to give free game to students about what she does in her role.
Tahir Murray
Tahir Murray is a 2021 graduate of Howard University’s School of Business. However, he was making strides in the fashion industry with his brand, Legacy History Pride, way before he received his degree. Legacy History Pride shows love to over 35 HBCUs through apparel by taking our institutions’ mascots, mottos, and colorways, and creating something fresh and new that students and alumni enjoy. He credits his exposure to the fashion industry to his grandfather Ortner Murray, owner of Von’s Sneaker store in Queens, NY, and his father, creator of Queens 7 t-shirt that was eventually founded by the School of Hard Knocks brand. Throughout his matriculation at Howard, Murray knew that he wanted to shed light on HBCUs and share the stories and value of what our schools have to offer. Since his launch, Legacy History Pride has had collaborations with Nike, the Brooklyn Nets, the Atlanta Dream, and more recently Paramount where he was able to put a fun spin on his designs by using Nickelodeon characters on his merchandise.
Kyra Lewis
This Spelmanite continues to impact the Film and TV industry as the Senior Manager of Multicultural Marketing for HBO and Max. In this position, Lewis co-lead an initiative for HBO Max called Scene in Black that strives to tell Black stories and highlight Black creatives within the network. She has also been over many marketing initiatives for shows in the network, with one of her most memorable projects being a campaign for the HBO Max series Rap Sh!t. With all of her success, Lewis never forgets her roots and continues to come back to the AUC to speak on her experiences. This past April, she spoke on a panel at Clark Atlanta for Culture Con On Campus; the first of its kind on an HBCU campus. Lewis was able to give invaluable lessons to students that were interested in pursuing media careers.
We all know that your network is your net worth. Of course donating to our HBCUs is important, but nothing beats actual face-to-face advice from someone who was once in your shoes. This opens the door for new opportunities and gives students a newfound drive and determination to pursue their dreams.