Honoring Zora Neale Hurston, Students Killed In New Orleans Terrorist Attack, HBCU Faces Inauguration Backlash, & Sacrificing Saturdays for Black History
Welcome to the first issue of 2025, and thank you for your continued support!
“Once you wake up thought in a man, you can never put him to sleep again.” — Zora Neale Hurston
This Week On The Board
Dear Board Members,
Welcome to the first issue of the New Year! I want to thank you all again for your continued support of me and my work. It means so much.
Since the last issue, significant developments have taken place in our communities where education is concerned, including the New Year tragedy that took place in New Orleans, which claimed the lives of 14 people and the injuries of many others. Among the victims were many students either just graduating from high school or in the very midst of their college careers.
Meanwhile, the presidential inauguration is in less than two weeks, and an HBCU in Mississippi is facing widespread backlash for its plans to perform. And Black students in Florida are sacrificing their weekends to learn Black history.
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it.
Stay educated and stay liberated,
Quintessa
On This Day
On this day in 1891, American author, anthropologist, and educator Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama. Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black towns in the U.S., which had a profound impact on her perspectives on Black culture and community. Many know Hurston as the acclaimed author, but little is often said of her academic journey, which first led her to Howard University, where she co-founded The Hilltop, the university’s student newspaper. She later attended Barnard College, where she earned a degree in anthropology under the mentorship of Franz Boas.
In 1934, Hurston established a school of dramatic arts at Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, Florida, focusing on African American expression in the arts. Later, during the 1939–1940 academic year, she served as a drama teacher at the North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University) in Durham, North Carolina.
Hurston's dedication to preserving and teaching Black folklore and cultural practices was evident through her extensive anthropological research, which she incorporated into her educational endeavors. Her work not only enriched academic discourse but continues to empower us all to embrace our place in community, literacy, and education.
Top of the Board
Students Killed In New Orleans Terrorist Attack: Last week on New Year’s, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented truck into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring many others. Among the victims were several students, including 18-year-old Ni'Kyra Dedeaux, an aspiring nurse from Mississippi who was set to begin school at Blue Cliff College on Jan. 13, and Kareem Badawi, also 18, who was a freshman at the University of Alabama.
Mississippi HBCU Faces Inauguration Backlash: During the winter break, Mississippi Valley State University announced that their band was invited to participate in the 60th Presidential Inauguration Parade on January 20th. The announcement has since been met with backlash from many who question the band’s participation in the inauguration of Donald Trump — a president whose rhetoric and policies have been proven racially divisive and further undermine the values of the Black community and the mission of HBCUs.
Florida Students Sacrificing Saturdays for Black History: Students in the Sunshine State are giving up their Saturday mornings to learn about Black history at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach and in similar programs at community centers across the state. Many are supported by Black churches, which for generations have helped forge cultural identity and tradition.
New Jersey Removes Basic Entry Test Requirement for Teachers: Act 1669, a new law that no longer requires teachers in New Jersey to pass a basic reading, writing, and math test for certification, was passed by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and is now in effect as of January 1. However, critics are slamming the bill, including Elon Musk.
State Board
Alabama: The state’s CHOOSE ACT, an education savings voucher program, officially opened last Thursday. According to the Alabama Department of Revenue, more than 2,800 applications had been submitted for 4,800 children by the end of the day.
California: The state is implementing new education laws in 2025, including a mandate for later school start times and a ban on willful defiance suspensions to address disciplinary disparities. Additionally, an interesting law inspired by a former lawmaker's DUI will expand alcohol education in public schools.
Florida: A teacher in Fort Lauderdale, FL, was caught on video choking an 11-year-old student during a school field trip. Also, more discussions have emerged about the potential impact on Florida’s education system if Donald Trump succeeds in shutting down the Department of Education. Also, all eyes are on Manny Diaz Jr., the state’s new Education Commissioner, who is known for his conservative advocacy on school choice and voucher programs.
Georgia: Tyeisha Colley, a 35-year-old mother and beloved teacher, was killed on Christmas Day by her 21-year-old nephew in Monroe, GA. Also, the state launched its application for The Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program last Wednesday, which offers $6,500 in vouchers for private or homeschooling expenses. Plus, Capital B dropped a great investigative report on why reading scores at this Atlanta elementary school are high.
Illinois: Phil Lewis from The Huff Post breaks down the Northern Illinois University complaint I reported on in the last issue. Also, dwindling pandemic aid is triggering ugly battles and resignations over how to pay for education and other public services in Chicago.
Louisiana: Cade Brumley, the state’s Superintendent of Education, has asked schools to observe a moment of silence Monday to honor victims of the deadly New Year's Day vehicle and shooting attack in New Orleans. Among the 14 people killed were 18-year-old Nikyra "Cheyenne" Dedeaux, an aspiring student from Mississippi, and Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama.
Maryland: Governor Wes Moore has officially paused The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a $3.9 billion, 10-year education spending plan to reform public education. Additionally, McCormick Elementary School in Baltimore County reported a substantial reduction in chronic absenteeism and plans to present its strategies to the state.
Mississippi: A new historical marker has been unveiled in the hometown of James Meredith, honoring the Black man who fought white supremacy by integrating the University of Mississippi in 1962. Also, the state’s Department of Education is advocating for adjustments to the K-12 funding formula, which may involve lifting current property tax rate caps for local school districts to ensure adequate funding.
Missouri: The Missouri Attorney General's lawsuit alleging Sunshine Law violations by Springfield Public Schools has been dismissed after 3 years. Meanwhile, 12 candidates have filed for the upcoming St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education election.
New York: As the state’s lawmakers reconvene in Albany, they are set to address key education issues, including updating the state's $24.9 billion school funding formula to ensure equitable distribution of resources across districts. Also, Governor Kathy Hochul is advocating for a statewide policy to restrict student cellphone use during school hours, citing concerns over mental health impacts.
North Carolina: The state is still ranked 48th in the country in terms of public education funding for the third year in a row, according to the latest annual state-by-state analysis of school funding from the Education Law Center. North Carolina was also ranked 49th in funding efforts, which looked at school funding as a percentage of state GDP.
Ohio: An unclaimed $138 million Powerball jackpot in Ohio has been redirected to the state's education funding — a significant financial boost to schools. Meanwhile, the Ohio General Assembly concluded its session without passing several key bills, including a proposed higher education overhaul and an intoxicating hemp ban.
Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia School District is still grappling with declines in Black teachers. Thirty of them share why so many have left the profession.
South Carolina: A new report highlights a concerning rise in student absences in the state, which have doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, with stress and safety concerns identified as key factors. Additionally, a Charleston-area Republican senator has pre-filed a bill to amend the state constitution to allow public funds for private schools, reigniting debates over school vouchers.
Texas: The state’s Education Agency (TEA) has cleared Fort Bend Independent School District of any wrongdoing following an investigation into alleged voter incentives. Meanwhile, Houston Independent School District is working to end state conservatorship over its special education department to further help students with disabilities.
College Board
Coppin State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland, welcomed its largest freshman class since 2011 this fall. Among them was West Muhammed, a 14-year-old who is now the youngest first-year student in the university’s history. Read more about Muhammed’s academic journey here.
Student activists are intensifying efforts to abolish legacy admissions across more states and universities, arguing that they favor predominantly white applicants.
I found this interesting read in Forbes that discusses five key education predictions for 2025. The writer, Derek Newton, anticipates for instance, that college students will be less prepared for college but doesn’t necessarily think colleges will face significant challenges with enrollment.
Success Stories & Spotlight
Daniel Ajayi, a brilliant engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is making waves with his innovative new app, Swype. Designed to simplify the often stressful and time-consuming job search process, the app allows users to apply for over 100 jobs at once with just a few clicks.
In Memoriam
This week’s issue memoriam section is dedicated to all the victims who lost their lives in the New Orleans terrorist attack and Tyeisha Colley, the 35-year-old mother and beloved teacher, who was killed on Christmas Day. My thoughts and prayers are with their family and loved ones during this devastating time.
Closing Remarks
Every week, I hope this report serves as a resource for advocacy, awareness, and change. I value your stories, insights, and feedback, and invite your perspectives in contributing to future issues of The Blackboard. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, Bluesky, and Threads. You can also find my work for Word in Black here.
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