HBCU Society

He disappeared without a trace. Weeks later, his family couldn't even recognize his body.

Jelani Day was only 25 years old.

A graduate student. A son. A brother. A young Black man with dreams of helping others through speech-language pathology.

Then, in August 2021, he suddenly vanished.

His family knew something was wrong the moment they stopped hearing from him. They reported him missing and desperately searched for answers.

Days later, his car was found abandoned near a wooded area in Illinois.

Soon after, a body was discovered in the Illinois River.

The nightmare didn't end there.

Jelani's family says the condition of his remains was so severe that they couldn't identify him themselves. They waited weeks before authorities officially confirmed it was him.

Investigators ruled his death a drowning and said they found no evidence of homicide.

His family has never stopped asking questions.

His case quickly became larger than one family's tragedy. It sparked a nationwide conversation about whether missing Black Americans receive the same urgency, media attention, and investigative resources as others.

For those who loved Jelani, this was never about headlines.

It was about a son whose future was stolen.

A family still searching for answers.

And a reminder that every missing person deserves the same commitment to finding the truth.

Do you believe every missing person receives the same level of attention, or are some families forced to fight harder just to be heard?

One thing about it, Stillman College is on the come up with this $2.24 million STEM grant! This funding is all part of the HBCU-UP initiative to level up STEM education. It's not just about the dollars—it's about turning those dollars into real opportunities for students on campus. Can't wait to see what new and innovative projects pop up next in Tuscaloosa! Thoughts on what this means for the future of STEM at Stillman?

Howard sent “you’re no longer enrolled” emails to 502 incoming freshmen weeks before classes started.

Students say some scholarships and financial aid were already documented...they just hadn’t posted yet. Howard says the July 10 deadline had been communicated for months, and families were responsible for completing payment arrangements or properly reporting pending aid.

And that’s where the sides split:

Is money that’s on the way the same as an unpaid bill? Or should Howard be expected to keep holding spots when deadlines have passed?

UPDATE: July 24: Howard reinstated 46 students after reviewing cases individually, including Isabella Williams. That proves some students had legitimate issues...but it doesn’t automatically mean all 502 were mishandled.

Did these families drop the ball or did Howard create a crisis by unenrolling students before reviewing the details?

Let's be for real...what's happening at Tennessee State speaks volumes! Athletic Director, Dr. Mikki Allen is on administrative leave while the concerns from six head coaches get investigated. We talkin bout serious stuff like communication issues and leadership. Reggie Barlow and Candice Dupree are openly challenging his ability to lead.

Tennessee State recently appointed Jennifer Bell, a 30-year vet with strong ties to TSU, to lead.

This is real impact on students and the entire athletic department. Big Blue needs answers but Ms. Bell is steering the way forward for now.

How did we get to the point where an HBCU has to put this in writing? Tuskegee's new dress code rules got people talking. From bonnets, do-rags, to bedroom shoes being banned – this isn't just about fashion. President Dr. Mark A. Brown says it's workforce prep, aiming to set students up with professional skills. But, is it looking out for us or just telling us how to dress? Should this have even been necessary, or is leadership overreacting? I’m curious, is Tuskegee setting us up for success or is it too much policing?

What happens when you win the SWAC Championship but nobody wants to hear how you did it? Coach Tremaine Jackson of Prairie View A&M laid it out plain: "You don’t respect our ball.” His team finished 10-4, claimed the SWAC title, and appeared in the Celebration Bowl! That should’ve been more than enough to get a speaker slot at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention...and yet they were still left out.

THSCA claims results matter, but Prairie View set records they hadn’t reached since the '60s and still got overlooked. It seems like HBCU programs and coaches aren’t given the same stage, even when they outperform expectations. They love the stars we create but treat our leaders like outsiders.

Prairie View showed up on the field...but where’s the respect when it’s time to recognize excellence off the field?

What y’all think? Is this oversight or something more?

Central State University...cousin…we need to talk.

This money mess got us all looking side-eyed 👀. A state audit’s telling us there's some serious money mismanagement that went down last fiscal year. We talking about matters like late pension payments along with student account errors charging folks wrongly.

It’s like loose change everywhere...and now students are caught up paying the price.

We can’t just brush this off thought... especially being Ohio’s only public HBCU. We’re always under the lens. We expect better, and gotta hold folks accountable. Protecting HBCUs means not protecting incompetence.

Saluting President Morakinyo A.O. Kuti for sounding the alarm right after stepping in. Word is, they're tightening up things at Central State. This real work ain't easy... but it’s ours to hold up.

Central State is only flawed because it just had careless hands on deck. We’re still ridin’ for CSU and its students. Let's get our house in order so nobody(especially outsiders) can throw stones. Handle this like family; call ‘em in, not out.

Here's the thing...ESPN is restructuring again! The production crews behind the scenes to recognizable faces were all caught up in the layoffs.

It hits different when you look at the names. We saw Cam Newton debut on First Take live from Tennessee State, and his expanded role was announced at Norfolk State not long ago. Now he’s reportedly out, along with Ryan Clark, who was literally scheduled to be at MEAC Media Day with his own platform "The Pivot".

It really highlights that VISIBILITY on corporate platforms don't mean you have SECURITY or CONTROL.