Nationally syndicated show pays tribute to the Unique Culture and Contributions of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)
WASHINGTON – The role of HBCUs in shaping the growth, development and culture of Black Americans will take center stage for the third installment of the critically acclaimed Salute THEM Awards (STA) series. The Salute THEM Awards ‘My HBCU Joy’ broadcast coincides with National HBCUWeek, September 7-10, 2021 airing Sunday, September 12 on BNC.TV at 10 p.m. ET and streaming at 7 p.m.ET via the AARP Black Community Facebook and Café Mocha RadioYouTube channel.
Comprised of HBCU alum, the nationally syndicated Café Mocha radio team is proud to create this premier special dedicated to honoring a diverse selection of graduates and organizations that have impacted the legacy of HBCUs. Café Mocha’s Emmy and two-time NAACP Image award-winning co-host Loni Love, a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU, will once again host the evening with special tributes from co-host Angelique Perrin and Yo-Yo.
Brought to you by Toyota America, AARP, BNC.TV and the Café Mocha Network, this year’s Salute THEM Awards ‘My HBCU Joy’ will ‘salute’ each honoree with a visual vignette that includes their institution as well as feature an array of unique tribute performances from Award-winning artist, actress and entrepreneur Kierra Sheard-Kelly, singer/songwriter Kevin Ross, 2x Stellar Award-nominated Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University and the sounds of Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band.
2021 Salute THEM HBCU Honorees:
Kym Whitley, Actress/Comedienne – Fisk University
Phil Thornton, President/General Manager, RCA Inspiration – Norfolk State University
Dr. Theresa Price, Founder – Black College Expo
Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter, Co-Owner, Milwaukee Bucks – Lincoln University
Thurgood Marshall College Fund, supports students attending public HBCUs
United Negro College Fund, supports students attending private HBCUs
David Banner, Hip Hop Artist, Actor, Entrepreneur & Activist – Southern University
“We are steadfast in our support of HBCUs and stakeholder partners like Black College Expo who help ensure that underserved students are armed with the necessary resources to succeed,” says Alva Adams- Mason, Group Manager, Multicultural Business Strategy, and Dealer Relations for Toyota Motor North America.
Select HBCU graduates of historic significance include: James Weldon Johnson, co-composer of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” also known as the Negro National Anthem from Clark Atlanta University; Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, second national president of the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) from Alabama State University; Katherine Johnson, a “hidden figure” and NASA mathematician from West Virginia State University; Representative Barbara Jordan, Texas Congresswoman from Texas Southern University; and Willis Reed, Jr., retired NBA player from Grambling State University.
The 101 HBCUs in the U.S. serve an African American cultural mission to produce leaders in all professions. Most notably is the first African American female U.S.Vice President Kamala Harris, an alumna of Howard University and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., one of the “Divine Nine” sororities and fraternities that are predominately on HBCU campuses.
“AARP is committed to serving and engaging Black Americans 50-plus by addressing the issues important to them as they age,” said Shani Hosten, AARP Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, African American/Black Strategy & LGBTQ Strategy. “We’re proud to continue our collaboration with Café Mocha to empower HBCUs.”
The Salute THEM Awards ‘My HBCU Joy’ will also highlight three HBCU radio stations that were instrumental in the launch of the Café Mocha show over 10 years ago. Today the show broadcast on over 40 stations around the country that includes Top 10 markets. Sheila Eldridge, a Howard University alumna, Café Mocha creator and executive producer says, “Thanks to the Howard University Network & WHUR-FM, North Carolina A&T State University WNAA-FM and Elizabeth City University WRVS-FM, for believing and giving us the opportunity to bring our unique sound to the airwaves with ‘radio from a woman’s perspective’.
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About Café Mocha Show and Salute Awards Series
Café Mocha is the #1 nationally syndicated radio show for ‘women of color.’ Over the past ten years, more than 200 men, women, and organizations have been honored through the Salute Awards series who have a shared mission to make a difference by serving their communities. With a mission to preserve our legacy and pay tribute to current trailblazers past honorees include actors/actresses Pam Grier, Marla Gibbs, Lamman Rucker, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Cynthia Bailey, Kim Fields, Malinda Williams, Terri J. Vaughn and Vy Higginsen; television personalities Wendy Williams and Iyanla Vanzant; musical performers Pastor Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, Doug E. Fresh, Patti LaBelle, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Fantasia Barrino Taylor, Syleena Johnson and Tamela Mann; journalists Fredricka Whitfield, Constance White, Luvvie Ajayi, Lola Ogunnaike, Jamie Foster Brown; radio broadcaster Shirley Strawberry, fashion designer Barbara Bates, prima ballerina Misty Copeland, and activists Sybrina Fulton, Nupol Kiazolu, Dr. Bernice King, Deanna Brown Thomas, Ricki Fairley, Annette Nance-Holt, Wanda Durant, Michi Marshall and Ilyasah Shabazz. To learn more about Café Mocha radio visit www.CafeMochaRadio.com.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 60 years, we’ve built more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants,15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.
About BNC
BNC, the nation’s first and only provider of 24/7 multiplatform programming dedicated to covering the unique perspectives, challenges and successes of Black and Brown communities, is available in more than 52 million U.S. homes via linear systems and on more than 200 million connected devices. BNC fosters political, economic, and social discourse through engaging programming, in-depth analysis and viewpoints that celebrate, contextualize and illuminate the Black and Brown experience. BNC’s commitment to truth and inclusivity is evident in its authentic, unbiased and unapologetic mission to inform, entertain and empower viewers. For more information, connect with BNC at bnc.tv and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit http://www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Alex Hill, 313-655-0111, alex@milesaheadentertainment.com.
Sheila Eldridge, 201-887-5100, Sheila@milesaheadentertainment.com
