Wednesday, June 7, 2023
News to Uplift, Inspire, and Empower the Black Community...
  • About
  • Contact
Blackoute
  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • Business
  • HBCUs
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • Business
  • HBCUs
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Sports
No Result
View All Result
Blackoute
Home HBCUs

Award-Winning Author Kiese Laymon Celebrates The Culture Of Jackson State University As 2023 Commencement Speaker

Blackoute by Blackoute
May 3, 2023
in Education, HBCUs
0
Award-Winning Author Kiese Laymon Celebrates The Culture Of Jackson State University As 2023 Commencement Speaker
0
SHARES
1
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Related posts

First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

May 3, 2023
Gary Payton II, warriors, college degree

And One +Diploma: NBA Veteran Gary Payton II Surprises Mom, Earns College Degree

May 1, 2023
Commencement season has started, and some heavy hitters are speaking at some HBCUs this year. Kiese Laymon has joined that lineup.

Over the weekend, Jackson State University graduates walked the stage and crossed the threshold into the real world as their loved ones watched. Over 5,000 students were honored to have award-winning author Kiese Laymon as their keynote speaker at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

During his speech, Laymon, who once attended the Mississippi-based school, talked about his grandmother, who dreamed of her children and grandchildren attending HBCUs over Ivy League schools. “Her dream was to send her children and her grandchildren not to Harvard, not to Stanford, not to Mississippi State nor Ole Miss,” Laymon said. “Her dream was to send her children to the place that gave her children the greatest chance to equitable access to second chances, healthy choices, good love, and that Black abundance.”

Laymon boasted about the ties he has to the popular school. His parents graduated from Jackson, and his mother, Mary Coleman, Ph.D., eventually became an assistant professor of political science at the HBCU.

Experiencing Jackson at an early age, Laymon, who has written for major publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and more, reminisced on starting his writing journey on campus as a student for a brief time. “I believe by then I was one of the greatest writers in Mississippi, which means I believed I was on the verge of becoming one of the greatest writers in the world,” Laymon said. “And I knew whatever I actually was, will be, Jackson and Jackson State University made me.”

Author Kiese Laymon signs copies of his book “Long Division” at Books and Books on July 11, 2013 in Coral Gables, Florida. (Photo by Vallery Jean/FilmMagic)

The Mississippi native ended his speech by telling the grads, “We are the luckiest people in the world simply because you chose us,” referring to Jackson State. “Thank you for not giving up on us and thee I love, abundantly,” he said.

Last year, the award-winning author was a recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Program, which is only extended to 20 people every year. The program celebrates “the creative genius” of each participant and their ability to show originality and dedication to their creative crafts.

The school had plenty to celebrate besides graduation. During the NFL draft, Isaiah Bolden, a cornerback, was the first HBCU football player drafted this year, selected by the New England Patriots.

Tags: collegewomen
Previous Post

No. 1 NFL Draft Pick Bryce Young Reached $3.5M In NIL Valuation Before Turning Pro

Next Post

How These Black and Afro Latina-Owned Bookstores Are Staying Alive

Next Post
How These Black and Afro Latina-Owned Bookstores Are Staying Alive

How These Black and Afro Latina-Owned Bookstores Are Staying Alive

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Jayson Tatum Apologizes to Janet Jackson After Celtics Game Postpones Her Concert

Jayson Tatum Apologizes to Janet Jackson After Celtics Game Postpones Her Concert

1 month ago
First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

1 month ago
Serena Williams

Now That’s A Serve! Serena Williams Launches New Multimedia Company, 926 Productions

2 months ago
The Power of Music and its Prominent Role Throughout Black History

The Power of Music and its Prominent Role Throughout Black History

2 months ago

FOLLOW US

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • #NNPA BlackPress
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • HBCUs
  • Health
  • Music
  • News
  • Politics
  • Race
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • TV & Film

BROWSE BY TOPICS

art baltimore banking basketball biden books cbs church college diddy disney education entertainment entrepreneur fashion featured finances food football hip-hop jobs men music nba nfl nyc photography r&b rap real estate rihanna science spelman travel usher wnba women youth

POPULAR NEWS

  • Serena Williams

    Now That’s A Serve! Serena Williams Launches New Multimedia Company, 926 Productions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Usher Shows Off Harry Belafonte Tribute Tattoo, ‘I Love You Harry’ Mr. B’”

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • EDITORIAL: What Black History Month Means to GBN in 2023 and Beyond

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AC Transit Honors 11 Bus Operators for Combined 295 Years of Safe Driving

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Power of Music and its Prominent Role Throughout Black History

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Blackoute

News to Uplift, Inspire, and Empower the Black Community

Recent News

  • Kareem Holmes, Wife And Son Own The Only Nautical Black-Owned Business In New York City
  • Yvonne Orji Signs Two-Year Deal With Sony Pictures Television To Develop Scripted Drama and Comedies
  • First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

News Sections

  • #NNPA BlackPress
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • HBCUs
  • Health
  • Music
  • News
  • Politics
  • Race
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • TV & Film

In Case You Missed It

Kareem Holmes, Wife And Son Own The Only Nautical Black-Owned Business In New York City

Kareem Holmes, Wife And Son Own The Only Nautical Black-Owned Business In New York City

May 4, 2023
Yvonne Orji Signs Two-Year Deal With Sony Pictures Television To Develop Scripted Drama and Comedies

Yvonne Orji Signs Two-Year Deal With Sony Pictures Television To Develop Scripted Drama and Comedies

May 3, 2023
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Blackoute - News to Uplift, Inspire, and Empower the Black Community [Powered by Gandy Labs]

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • News
  • HBCUs
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Tech
  • Race

© 2023 Blackoute - News to Uplift, Inspire, and Empower the Black Community [Powered by Gandy Labs]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In