Beyonce brings power, thrill to HBCU culture
Ariana surprises at Coachella
ATLANTA, April 21, (Agencies): When Beyonce paid tribute to historically black colleges at Coachella, the singer’s grand performance reignited interest in the marching band culture and created shockwaves of excitement to students attending those schools.
From far and wide, some HBCU students are saying Beyonce’s routine was the main topic on their campus this week — even over finals. The singer’s high-energy festival set over the weekend involved a black college marching band, dance troupes and step teams along with her singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the national black anthem.
“It’s what everyone has been talking about. All my friends were gushing over it,” said Cierra Johnson, 22, a senior at Clark Atlanta University. The journalism major watched Beyonce’s performance online with her friends (though the superstar’s second performance this weekend at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will not be streamed for fans).
“It shows that our culture is appreciated,” she added. “I was happy to see black people unite to do great work. It has the power to inspire a lot of AfricanAmerican students who want to go to an HBCU to experience that culture.”
Beyonce is also helping people get there. She announced Monday she plans to donate $100,000 to four black universities — $25,000 each to Tuskegee University, Bethune-Cookman University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Wilberforce University.
One student from each school will receive a scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year through Beyonce’s BeyGOOD initiative.
“She’s getting the message out there that HBCUs are vital,” Xavier president C. Reynold Verret said. “She’s an important messenger to our community. It’s important that these young African-American students and even the parents of the young women and men know that HBCUs are out here doing excellent work. They should be looking at these schools.”
Beyonce
Xavier students Kamry Thomas, Kai Wilson, Leah Tiller and Tashely Drake, are planning on applying for the scholarship. Each believes Beyonce’s performance will help boost HBCU enrollment.
“People on Twitter, on social media, they are like they’re going to an HBCU next semester,” said Wilson, a mass communication major.
Thomas said: “I really didn’t think a lot of people knew about Xavier, but they did and they’re going to.”
Even Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, said in an Instagram post she was initially afraid that the predominantly white audience at Coachella, set in Indio Valley, California, would be confused by the black culture references.But in the post, KnowlesLawson said she found comfort after her superstar daughter told her: “I have a responsibility to do what’s best for the world and not what is most popular.”
Clark Atlanta senior Darrius Newton was glad the singer used that platform, making him feel proud that he attends an HBCU. He called her show “well thought out.”
“It really shows what happens at HBCUs,” said Newton, 22, who is majoring in business and administration with a concentration in marketing.
LOS ANGELES:
Planning
Also:
Ariana Grande was to make a surprise appearance at the Coachella Music Festival on Friday night, Variety has learned.
The performance was to occur on the same day the pop star released her newest single, “No Tears Left to Cry”. The song was inspired by the May 2017 bombing at a Grande concert in Manchester, England that left 23 people dead, including the bomber.
Headlining Friday’s weekend two lineup was The Weeknd, whose latest album “My Dear Melancholy,” was released earlier this month.