HL 015: Black Boots and How HBCUs Value Black Lives

Episode 15 features a conversation with Geno Brooks about the web television series “Black Boots”. Also, Dr. Marybeth Gasman and Felecia Commodore talk about their article “HBCUs: Where African American Lives and Minds Are Valued”. Black Boots Eddie talks to Geno Brooks, the producer, director and writer of the internet television series, “Black Boots”. The series depicts Greek life at HBCUs, focusing on students pledging the fictional fraternities Epsilon Chi Tau and Mu Beta Kappa and sorority Theta Eta Pi at fictional Brooks University. As drama unfolds in the Greek system, the university’s president fights his own battle as Brooks’ leader. The interview is infused with energy, honesty and even a little humor about the popular series. Related Links and Resources:

• Black Boots on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BlackBootsTV
  
• Black Boots on Facebook: http://facebook.com/blackbootstv
  
• Band of Artists: http://www.boacollective.com
  
• Geno Brooks on Twitter: http://GenoBrooksTV  

HBCUs: Where African American Lives and Minds Are Valued HBCU Lifestyle bloggers Dr. Marybeth Gasman and Felecia Commodore discuss their August 2014 entry following the tumultuous fallout from the death of Michael Brown. The interview is seasoned with insight about why HBCUs play perhaps the best role in providing academic and social spaces for students’ growth. Dr. Gasman is a professor of Higher Education in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She is also the director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions. Dr. Gasman has become an expert on HBCUs, black leadership, fundraising and philanthropy in communities of color, and Minority Serving Institutions. She is the author of 18 books and numerous articles and blogs on the subject areas. Commodore is a third year Ph.D. student in Higher Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. She interned for the Southern Education Foundation in 2013 and her research focus area is HBCU leadership, governance, and administrative practices. Related Links and Resources:

• Blog Entry: HBCUs: Where African American Lives and Minds Are Valued
  
• Dr. Marybeth Gasman’s Website: http://mgasman.wix.com/marybethgasman
  
• Dr. Gasman on Twitter: http://twitter.com/marybethgasman
  
• Felecia Commodore on Twitter: http://twitter.com/FeleciaElana