The season 3 finale of “College Hill: Celebrity Edition” aired on August 1st. In an engaging conversation with Claudia Jordan, who is on the BET Pluses popular series, we delved into her passion for advocating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the significant role they play in today’s society. Claudia’s commitment to using her platform to spread awareness about HBCUs is not just a personal mission; it reflects a broader understanding of the importance of elevating our cultural heritage and achievements.
Claudia emphasizes that the narratives surrounding our communities should not be seen as lesser but rather equal to—or even greater than those of any other group. She passionately believes it’s time for us to embrace our gifts, honor our collective history, and uplift one another. “The stories and contributions of our people are invaluable,” she notes, urging a shift in perspective that recognizes HBCUs as vital institutions that foster talent and character. She went further and said, “Sometimes we have a little bit of a sickness in our community where we sometimes look down on things that are black, like they’re not as good as white entities, and that’s something Jim Crow did to us a long time ago. Like, oh that’s a black neighborhood, or, oh that’s a black restaurant. I do not play when it comes to that, and I’ve been screaming that on the rooftops from my platform. We’ve got to start taking the BET Awards, the Image Awards, the Soul Train Awards, and look at them like they’re our versions of the Oscars and the Emmys and stop waiting on white validation all the time.”
Throughout her time on College Hill: Celebrity Edition, Claudia’s experiences solidified her belief in empowering students to pursue an education at an HBCU. “I’ve seen firsthand why so many honorable and influential individuals have emerged from places like Xavier University,” she remarked, sharing her admiration for their impactful legacy. Claudia expressed a yearning for her own educational journey to have included an HBCU, highlighting the nurturing environment these schools provide for students. She passionately expressed, “I feel like I missed out by not going to an HBCU honestly. There’s a certain level of education that you’re not going to get at a PWI (Predominately White Institution) when it comes to Black history. It’s so important to realize the importance of HBCUs, especially now more than ever when they are trying to erase us out of history books, take away our classes, take away our funding—everything they can to attack blackness. It’s not Black history, it’s American history, and Black people are very much a part of American history.”
Commending Tracy Edmonds and BET for bringing College Hill: Celebrity Edition to life, Claudia is excited about the potential collaborations that lie ahead. “Tracy has done an incredible job with the show, and I hope to work alongside her on more projects that uplift our communities,” she stated. Her enthusiasm for future endeavors reflects a strong commitment to fostering positive narratives and opportunities within the entertainment industry.
As the conversation wrapped up, I found Claudia’s transparent nature refreshing. Her willingness to share insights about her future pursuits in film, television, writing, and producing demonstrates her dedication to not only her craft but also to serving as a role model for aspiring artists. Her vision for harnessing her platform to support HBCUs and inspire others is commendable, and it leaves me excited about the impact she will undoubtedly continue to make.
My interview with Claudia Jordan was both inspiring and enlightening. Her advocacy for HBCUs and her desire to empower future generations through education and storytelling resonate deeply in today’s cultural landscape. As we move forward, her efforts remind us of the importance of embracing and honoring our shared history while celebrating the incredible potential within our communities.
To learn more, follow Claudia Jordan and BET Plus on Instagram:
Photo Credit: BET/College Hill
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