Dear Pennies & Pens,
In this post, le stylo noir: An InkOde to Hampton University – I am going to talk about my alma mater and how it made me into who I am.
First off, let me give you some background info on Hampton University. It’s an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Hampton, Virginia. It was founded in 1868. I have a proud family tradition of attending HBCUs.
LoudPen is a Creative Entrepreneur based in Dallas, Texas. She is a graduate of Hampton University. Photo by LoudPen
Hampton University was started after the Civil War for the purpose of educating African-Americans that were formerly enslaved.
Coolest fun fact ever: the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on the campus of Hampton underneath Emancipation Oak. For those that don’t know, the Emancipation Proclamation is the document that freed enslaved Africans and Black Americans.
I fell in love with Hampton when I went to visit my best friend, who was a freshman there when I was a senior in high school. The campus is beautiful, and right by the water. What I loved most was the mix of students– some were from the suburbs like me, and others were from large cities.
I also wanted to be surrounded by students like me– young black people all learning and growing, being challenged by an intense curriculum to prepare us for the “real world.” Attending an HBCU allowed me to be myself, and as an English major, I was able to discover my true calling.
In the video below, I talk about why I decided to attend Hampton, what it was like being a student there and how being a student there helped me create my personal brand. Check out the inkvideo below!
And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything. With us, keeping it real never goes wrong.
