By DEVAUGHN DOUGLAS
The second annual HBCU All Star Basketball game, starring the finest players from historically black colleges and universities, will be held at Texas Southern University in Houston this April.
Travis L. Williams, a former head teacher at Tennessee State University and Fort Valley State University, created the game. In 2019, he established HBCU All-Star LLC as a marketing firm centered on the promotion of HBCU players, and the organization announced the first annual HBCU All-Star game in 2022 during the Final Four Tournament in New Orleans.
Athletics at HBCUs has a long and illustrious heritage going back to the late 1800s. Many HBCUs were created in the aftermath of the Civil War to provide higher education and professional training to African Americans who were previously excluded from white schools.
Tuskegee University in Alabama created one of the first HBCU sports teams in 1892. Tuskegee’s football squad was one of the first to include African American players and trainers, and it rapidly rose to prominence. Other historically black colleges and universities quickly followed suit, establishing their own athletic teams and fighting against one another in a range of activities.
HBCU athletics has played an important part in the lives of African American pupils and communities over the years. Students can improve their physical and cerebral skills, as well as a feeling of pride and belonging, through athletic activities. HBCU athletes have frequently encountered prejudice and discrimination, but they have also acted as trailblazers and role models for future generations of athletes.
Despite the challenges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have created some of the most gifted and successful athletes in American history. Many HBCU players have gone on to play professionally and earn Olympic gold. Today, HBCU sports activities continue to play an important part in students’ lives, offering chances for personal development, leadership, and job development. Williams and his HBCU All Stars marketing team use the All-Star game to emphasize the significance of these schools.
The event is more than just a game; it includes a college recruitment fair, an awards presentation, a number of debate groups, and other activities showcasing black culture. Houston and Texas Southern University were a no-brainer for Williams.
The creator of the organisation claims that Texas Southern University, one of the most renowned HBCUs in the nation, is the ideal venue for the yearly event. We are genuinely thrilled about the chance to hold the HBCU All-Star game on an HBCU campus during the Final Four Weekend and create history once more.
The game honors the culture and traditions of historically black colleges and universities, which have played an important part in the education and growth of African American students for more than 150 years. This year’s celebration will commence on March 28 and conclude on April 4th with the championship game. A percentage of the proceeds from ticket purchases will go to the HBCU All-Star scholarship fund.