HBCU Aware Fest was a week full of events dedicated to supporting the legacy and culture of HBCUs in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia.
The event was organized by the Student Freedom Initiative to support students and raise funds toward student debt relief. According to reports, the student loan debt crisis has surpassed $1 billion, which is why this week was created.
The week featured impactful panels on college affordability and financial literacy, an HBCU hackathon, and a powerful fireside chat with industry movers and shakers, including billionaire Tyler Perry, Daymond John, Robert F. Smith, and Chris Womack.
But the celebration did not stop there.
The festival concert brought out legendary names like Chaka Khan, Jeezy, and Yolanda Adams, while newcomers such as Coco Jones and GloRilla also took the stage.Â
HBCU students were front and center throughout the night, with performances from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College, who also joined Kirk Franklin for a special moment on stage.
Jill Scott also paid homage to HBCUs in a powerful way, wearing an upcycled look that featured a collage of HBCUs transformed into a dress as she performed some of her greatest hits.
The goal of Aware Fest was to raise money for HBCUs, and they did just that throughout the entire week, celebrating culture, creating opportunity, and pouring back into the future of Black excellence.
If you weren’t able to catch it live, don’t worry, a concert special from the festival has just been announced and will air on BET on April 5 at 9 PM ET / 8 PM CT, giving viewers the chance to relive the moment.
