Cast Conversations: Disney HBCU Alumni Talk Finding Community Beyond the Yard
Originally published at Disney Parks News
“A place where everybody is somebody.”
That’s the Grambling State University motto and a common theme of being part of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) community. I spent my undergraduate years at Grambling. One of the nations’s more than 100 HBCUs. Where I became immersed in a rich and vibrant community connected by culture, perseverance, and history.
Here, I was struck by the sense of unity and pride that permeated every aspect of life at the university. From the banners and murals celebrating our Black excellence to the student-led organizations focused on promoting social justice and community engagement. I quickly realized that I was living in a moment of Black history.
Fast forward to today, I’m frequently reminded that in the HBCU community, I will always find a place of belonging. And like many HBCU alumni, a “place where everybody is somebody.” From homecoming reunions to connecting with HBCU students and alumni through Disney on the Yard. I’m constantly reminded of the belonging I felt while at Grambling State University.
So, of course, I couldn’t close out Black History Month without unpacking the cultural and personal significance of HBCUs! I invited Clark Atlanta University alumna, Dawnyell Bowen, director of account and project management, over to Art of Shaving in Disney Springs to have a vulnerable conversation about finding community and safe spaces outside our HBCUs and an honest dialogue about being Black at Disney.
