ANNOUNCER: MPT is proud to present our sixth annual HBCU Week.

Join us as we celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the premier of “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect.” WIL HAYGOOD: It was like he had dropped from heaven.

SHERYLL CASHIN: Whatever was going on, he said, “Don't worry, Thurgood's coming.” ANNOUNCER: Hear the under-told stories of sacrifice, courage, and hope.

It all begins Monday, September 8th, only on MPT.

DR. ANTHONY JENKINS: How are y'all doing?

How's everybody doing?

You coming for Chicago?

STUDENT: Yes.

DR. JENKINS: I used to live in Chicago, I loved it.

How are y'all feeling?

STUDENTS: Good.

Good.

DR. JENKINS: How's it going?

STUDENTS: Good, pretty good.

DR. JENKINS: Okay.

STUDENT: My first time here.

DR. JENKINS: Is it?

STUDENT: Yeah.

DR. JENKINS: And where are you from?

STUDENT: New York.

DR. JENKINS: New York!

STUDENT: The Bronx.

DR. JENKINS: Oh, the Bronx.

STUDENT: Yeah.

DR. JENKINS: Okay.

And where are you from?

STUDENT: New York.

STUDENT: The Bronx.

DR. JENKINS: The Bronx.

Now did y'all know each other before?

STUDENTS: Yes.

DR. JENKINS: Look at this!

I get triplets, alright... from the Bronx.

Even when your student gets here, alright, when they're on their meal plans, they come as many times as they want.

That's okay.

That's okay.

Where are you, where you from?

STUDENT: I'm New York.

DR. JENKINS: New York, where in New York?

STUDENT: Jamaica, Queens.

DR. JENKINS: Okay, so last time I was in Jamaica, Queens, there was a lot of people.

STUDENT: It was.

DR. JENKINS: There a lot of people here.

STUDENT: Those are my people.

DR. JENKINS: These are your people.

These are your fellow Eagles, right?

Y'all are in this together.

You don't have to walk this journey by yourself.

We're all here to help you and I, and I mean that, okay?

STUDENT: Yes.

DR. JENKINS: So yes, it, it can be scary, right?

But that's natural.

All right.

What I need you to do is to make sure that that fear doesn't paralyze you, but it motivates you.

STUDENT: Okay.

DR. JENKINS: Okay?

STUDENT: Okay.

DR. JENKINS: Okay.

PARENT: Can I get a picture of two of my daughters... DR. JENKINS: Yes ma'am.

BEMO BROWN: I think the freshman students are coming in first time.

(cheering and applause).

That's right.

That's right.

That's right.

The newest members of Coppin State University's family just walked into the Talon Center for the first time.

It must be the start of a new HBCU year.

Look at 'em.

Just looking wonderful with they new hair and they new shoes.

Yeah, welcome to college.

Welcome to HBCU Week.

From the campus of Coppin State University in the heart of West Baltimore.

Proudly standing tall since 1900 for 125 years, I am your cultural correspondent, Bryant “BeMo” Brown.

This special presentation lays out what you can expect to see from HBCU Week on Maryland Public Television.

The daily lineups for this year are in incredible, from beautiful works of HBCU art to a mixed community impact of Maryland's emblem of “like and love,” this is HBCU Week on MPT.

Standing tall, 125 years in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, Coppin State University, the emblem for light and love exemplifies the passion of a community infused with the indelible purpose of a Historical Black College and University.

The story of HBCUs, the story of Coppin State University is the story of how people seek the tools to grow, to heal and to advance to become a community.

So what's poppin' at Coppin?

Let me tell you.

How about an unprecedented rehabilitation center that's focused on healing the community?

How about a daycare and high school housed on Coppins' campus to help grow and sustain the community?

And when we talk about advancement, Coppin State practices, innovative mental health practices, they have state-of-the-art justice programs and a community-oriented center for entrepreneurship.

Now, above all those accomplishments, and somehow simultaneously at the core of Coppin State's mission is a feeling of authentic family.

The alumni group here is so strong that every summer they can host their own concert series.

It's so family on Coppin's campus that you might bump into the first lady while walking through campus.

Or you might have class with Alicia, the president's daughter, just as a regular student.

Now, you and I, we have seen the countryside, we have seen the county side, we've seen the other side of town.

But today I cannot wait to show you Coppin State.

We're gonna have a special conversation with my co-host, Tetiana Anderson, as she sits down with the president of Coppin State, Dr. Jenkins.

We're gonna talk to some students at The Talon, we're gonna talk to some faculty in their department, we're gonna even see Dr. Jenkins sign a scholarship live.

And if you're lucky, you might even see me do the electric slide.

Alright?

So let's not waste another minute.

Welcome to HBCU Week.

Come on, let's go check it out.

Uh, right now we on the, the campus of Coppin State, I believe we are in the, the cafeteria for the new student orientation.

TETIANA ANDERSON: It's an exciting day.

You can feel that energy.

BEMO: You can, you heard all the freshmen come through the front door with all that energy.

You know, do you remember being a freshman?

TETIANA: Yes, orientation... BEMO: Yeah.

TETIANA: That's when you met like some of your closest friends who become your lifelong friends.

I mean, I remember all of that being young and impressionable and curious.

BEMO: Yeah, I remember the caf was kind of like the, where you get the show out.

You know what I'm saying?

I got my new shoes for the school year.

I'm coming to the caf, that's where I'm going, that's right.

Welcome, I'm here with my friend Alicia.

Alicia, what's up?

ALICIA JENKINS: What's up?

Nice to meet you.

BEMO: Nice to meet you as well.

Can you do me a favor?

ALICIA: Yes.

BEMO: Can you explain to me what's going on behind us?

So back here we have our NSO leaders.

We're doing new student orientation for all the upcoming freshmen.

Um, they get to, uh, see the campus and everything that, um, all the resources there for them.

BEMO: Well, how did you get involved in new student orientation?

ALICIA: You know, um, as a freshman I wanted to help other freshmen, you know, so I think this is a great way to showcase that.

BEMO: Yeah, I agree with you.

I think, um, I think the position that you hold is very important... ALICIA: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: ...to the energy... ALICIA: Yes.

BEMO: ...of Coppin State.

And so I keep hearing that Coppin State is like a family.

ALICIA: It is.

BEMO: Can you talk to me about the family atmosphere here at Coppin?

ALICIA: So yes, the Coppin, Coppin is definitely like family oriented.

It doesn't matter what background you have, we treat everybody like siblings.

BEMO: Yeah.

ALICIA: Um, and you get, it, it feels very like you're at home when you're at Coppin.

BEMO: How did you know what HBCU culture was gonna be before you even got to campus?

ALICIA: So, I mean, I knew a little bit from, you know, obviously my dad being president and vice president of other HBCUs.

So, I got a little, um, eyesight on that.

BEMO: Yeah.

ALICIA: Um, but coming in, you know, 'cause HBCU for other people might, you know, mean that Black love and all that, but it's more than just Black love.

You know, we have Latinas, we have Hispanics, we have Islanders, all that.

So I really think that HBCU has evolved from just that to like everybody.

BEMO: Okay.

ALICIA: You know?

BEMO: Okay, okay.

Well, I appreciate that.

Um, tell me, so you are the president's daughter?

ALICIA: I am.

BEMO: I don't know if I've ever talked to a president's daughter before.

I don't think I ever, no, never.

How do you balance like the expectation of being, you know, the representative of your family, but also being a college kid?

ALICIA: You know, when I came in I thought it was going to be a hard to balance that expectation of being a president's daughter than to be a, a student.

But it wasn't, it wasn't that hard, honestly.

Um, I, they treated me as like a regular student and that's really what I wanted, you know?

BEMO: What do you think are some of the things that kind of makes Coppin State stand out amongst other HBCUs?

ALICIA: Our pride.

BEMO: Our pride?

ALICIA: Our pride for sure.

BEMO: Okay, okay.

ALICIA: We're very enthusiastic about Coppin.

Very much as you can, as you can tell... BEMO: Yeah.

ALICIA: ...Back there with us.

BEMO: Okay.

Well, thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

ALICIA: Thank you.

BEMO: And we'll be right back with more “Welcome to HBCU Week.” Who doesn't love a good Monday?

Let's see, what exciting HBCU Week programming is happening Monday night on Maryland Public Television.

At 7:00 we are going to kick things off with "Welcome to Coppin State," followed by, One-on-One featuring Coppin State University's President, Dr. Anthony Jenkins.

At 8:30, Local USA presents, “Changemakers”.

At 9:00 pm, Check out a story of legacy and pride with "The Historic HBCU Photograph.

At 9:30, we travel down to Virginia to celebrate the legacy of Dr. William R. Harvey.

For Hampton University, one of the wonders of the world.

We end our night with Local USA's, “Innovation”.

ANNOUNCER: MPTs Jeff Salkin talks to regional HBCU presidents to discuss their future challenges, past achievements and remarkable legacy.

It's a special HBCU Week One -on-One with Coppin State University President, Dr. Anthony Jenkins.

ANNOUNCER: You have to decide right now, what are you gonna do in light of the social injustices that permeates society.

STUDENT: The governor will not meet with us.

We are prepared to sit in until we get results.

STUDENT: I chose Morehouse because of the culture.

I realized that I could very well be next to do something big.

ANNOUNCER: In 2021, Darrell Roberts set out to recreate a timeless photo to honor the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

PARTICIPANT: To be a part of this picture, that's gonna be history.

ANNOUNCER: HBCU alumni from across the country come together to share their stories and to celebrate the unity and enduring spirit of community.

ORGANIZER: What we are doing today is going to be epic.

ANNOUNCER: “The Historic HBCU Photograph”.

JESSE JACKSON JR.: I've been to all of the HBCUs over the course of my 57 years of life.

There's nothing like Hampton.

ANDREW YOUNG JR.: Hampton University is one of the wonders of the world.

TAMEIKA ISAAC DEVINE: Hampton is unique because it's really truly a family.

It's a place that not only will you go and get an amazing education, but it also prepares you as a young person to really change the world.

(chanting).

MAN: We have to continue to commit to dispel the myth that Black people don't swim.

STUDENT: So we want to be the thought leader in the country to be able to provide that African American data set in rural America.

-Claflin allows that space to be innovative.

BEMO: We are back with more HBCU Week.

I'm here with my friend Mellany, what's up Mellany?

MELLANY MORALES: How are you?

BEMO: I'm wonderful, how you doing?

MELLANY: I'm good, thank you.

BEMO: So I gotta ask you the elephant question in the room, okay?

So, Coppin State is the Historically Black College and University.

MELLANY: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: Although the president's daughter just told me that the Black isn't necessarily exclusive.

MELLANY: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: Can you tell me how did you end up at Coppin State?

How did you end up at an HBCU?

MELLANY: Of course, I moved to the States when I was 16 years old, not knowing any English.

I learned English when I came here.

Um, and as soon as I stepped foot on Coppins' campus, it was the closest feeling I had from when I was at home.

This is... BEMO: Really?

MELLANY: This is home away from home for me.

BEMO: Okay.

How does Coppin create that family-like atmosphere?

MELLANY: Of course.

I think the important part is that a lot of institutions say that they accept who you are, your heritage.

But Coppin not only accepts me, it, the campus, the people, they embrace me, who they embrace, who I am too.

So it's a feeling that I can be whoever I wanna be and they're gonna stand next to me and help me become a better version of myself.

BEMO: That's lovely.

MELLANY: Thank you.

BEMO: That really does make me very, very proud.

MELLANY: Thank you.

BEMO: So, okay.

So then tell me what kind of legacy are you developing here at Coppin?

What kind of student activities are you into?

MELLANY: Okay.

BEMO: How are you helping the next class?

MELLANY: Of course.

I graduated, uh, in May, 2025 with the mayor, uh, major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology, a certificate in forensic investigations.

But through, um, my four years at Coppin, I, uh, served in multiple, um, organizations.

I helped, created and fund, uh, the, uh, Latinos Unidos Club, the first Latinos, uh, club on campus.

And I was the first Latina SGA President elect for the 2024-2025 academic year.

BEMO: Really?

MELLANY: Yes.

BEMO: Congratulations.

MELLANY: Thank you so much.

BEMO: That's awesome.

Okay, so I have been hearing that the alumni presence at Coppin is really strong.

MELLANY: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: Can you tell me a little more about that?

MELLANY: Yes.

Oh my gosh.

You see them everywhere.

You know them personally.

I just saw Miss Speeches.

Mr. Carr, right now, he was just elected, um, alumni association president.

So it inspires you to be the next Miss Speeches, or the next Mr. Carr in the future.

BEMO: Wow.

MELLANY: You wanna give back to Coppin because Coppin has poured so much into us that I can't wait to have my big girl job and be like, “Okay, they need that and I'm here for them.” Yep.

BEMO: Alright.

Well thank you Mellany for your time.

MELLANY: Of course, of course.

BEMO: And let's see what else we have in store for HBCU Week.

On Tuesday, we keep the energy going.

Starting at 7:00 PM we head back to Queen Anne for One-on-One with University Maryland Eastern Shore President, Dr. Heidi Anderson.

Next up, we discover the impact of the legendary CIAA tournament on the city of Baltimore with, “Inside the CIAA: Impact”.

We end our night with, “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect."

ANNOUNCER: MPTs, Jeff Sulkin talks to regional HBCU presidents to discuss their future challenges, past achievements and remarkable legacy.

It's a special HBCU Week One-on-One with UMES President, Dr. Heidi M. Anderson.

WOMAN: Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, CIAA... One plus one equals five.

Boom.

We're taking it to another level.

WOMAN: It's exciting to see the lights on the street, the signage on the walkway.

I mean, there are signage everywhere.

I mean, if you don't know that CIAA is in Baltimore, then you're missing something.

WOMAN: Our, our businesses have really raised their hand and said, “How can I lean in?” MAN: It's, like, the greatest sporting tourism event in the world.

SHERYLL: The work and life of Thurgood Marshall literally changed this country.

WIL: Legally speaking, he's one of the founding fathers.

SHERYLL: Whatever was going on, people said, “Don't worry.

Thurgood's coming.” GILBERT: Thurgood's coming.

WIL: Thurgood is coming.

WOMAN: He understood how to use the power of his voice.

SHERYLL: He's the only Supreme Court justice who was more famous for what he did before rising to justice.

BEMO: Alright, welcome back to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my friends Jordan and Dr. Min Zhang.

How y'all doing?

BOTH: Great.

How are you?

BEMO: I'm wonderful.

Can y'all do me a favor?

Can we explore the, uh, department real quick?

I want to, I wanna see all the things.

JORDAN HOLLAND: Come on.

BEMO: You know, where I wanna start first?

JORDAN: Where?

BEMO: The crime scene.

JORDAN: Okay, come on, let's start.

DR. MIN ZHANG: The crime scene.

Yeah.

BEMO: Lead me to the crime.

DR. ZHANG: Okay, sure.

BEMO: I'm scared, I'm be honest with you.

DR. ZHANG: Um, here in our program we have a course called, "Crime Scene Investigation."

BEMO: Mm-hmm.

DR. ZHANG: So in that class, students, they have this hands-on experience.

For example, this mock scene crime room, this is just part of it.

So sometimes we bring students outdoors to the field to do the mock crime scene investigation as well.

JORDAN: First thing you wanna do is make sure you have your protective, um, gear on.

So that's your gloves.

DR. ZHANG: Where's your protection gear?

BEMO: I did the crime.

JORDAN: You wanna make sure you have your gloves and things of that nature.

Um, second thing, you want to talk to the police officers that are on scene, um, learning a little bit about what they think may have happened.

Next thing you would like to do is take pictures.

Um, so you would do closeup mid-range, and then overall.

BEMO: Alright, so this is a little scary for me, okay.

Can we go somewhere safe?

JORDAN: Gotcha, let's go.

BEMO: Let's head that way.

You wanna go to lab first?

DR. ZHANG: The lab, because the evidence will be submitted to the Crime Laboratory and then, you know, people, they testify in court.

BEMO: Right.

Okay.

DR. ZHANG: So let's go to the lab first.

BEMO: So now we have the evidence from the crime.

DR. ZHANG: Yeah.

BEMO: Which is, Jordan, I think I was hearing you talking earlier and you too, professor, that's kind of like the, in the field.

DR. ZHANG: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: But there's another level after the field.

DR. ZHANG: Yes.

BEMO: Which is the lab.

DR. ZHANG: Yes.

So in order to work in the lab to test all the samples, the evidence you collect from the crime scene, right?

So you need to be a real forensic scientist.

So, Jordan, what, what evidence did you collect just now?

JORDAN: Bullet casings.

DR. ZHANG: Uh-huh.

JORDAN: Um, and I believe there was five, there was three cups, but it was only two bodies.

BEMO: Oh, you see, I didn't catch that.

JORDAN: Well, who did the third cup belong to?

DR. ZHANG: Okay.

All right.

So you, you mentioned bullet casings, right?

JORDAN: Yeah.

DR. ZHANG: So why don't we just test the bullet casings first?

BEMO: Okay.

DR. ZHANG: So let's go over here.

BEMO: Oh!

DR. ZHANG: Okay.

BEMO: Oh.

DR. ZHANG: So, now we have the bullet casings as evidence, right?

So what we do is we use the microscope, which is called comparison microscope, to put the bullet casings.

One is your reference sample.

One is a sample you actually collected from the crime scene, the mock crime scene in our case.

So we mount them under the microscope, and then we use a microscope to look at the evidence to compare... BEMO: Okay.

DR. ZHANG: Were they fired from the same weapon?

BEMO: Right.

DR. ZHANG: Uh-huh.

BEMO: I think when people think simulation, they think kind of like a game or drama, like a script.

But there's another part of simulation that we don't often talk about, which is the honesty that happens between your peers and your professors.

So, professor, you can start here.

How do you develop that honest communication with your students, especially in a situation in simulation so serious as this?

DR. ZHANG: So, um, we all, as professors, right, we all came from the, the, the student stages, right?

So we, and then later we enter into our own careers.

So most of our, most of our faculty members in our department, they're, they were actually, um, they were actually practicing in the field in the past.

So, um, we know what students needs to get prepared for their future careers because we practiced as practitioners in the past.

So we know what can connect our facility with the real, the reality and what students can practice here with us in our programs to get into the field.

JORDAN: Forensic science is nothing to play with because at the end of the day, a crime happens.

So it's all leading up to someone life at end of day, whether they spend time in jail or not.

So this is whether you're in the classrooms doing it, or out in the real world, this is real and it's something that you have to take seriously and not lightly.

BEMO: Right?

JORDAN: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: Well, thank y'all for showing me through the Criminal Justice Department.

Uh, this is a wonderful time.

I've learned so much here at Coppin State.

I think I might re-enroll.

Alright?

JORDAN: Come on, now.

Come on.

BEMO: You're like, “Join the club!” Let's see what else we have for HBCU Week.

It might be midweek, but MPT does not provide mid programming.

Check out what HBCU Week has for you on Wednesday.

7:00 PM we head over to the other side of Baltimore for One-on-One, a conversation with Morgan State University President, Dr. David Wilson.

At 8:00 PM we have a back to back to back showing of Maryland Public Television's Emmy winning program, “Artworks.” At 8:30 PM we have the “Art of HBCU Art,” followed by the Imani Grace Special, and then the “Art of Strings” at 9:30, we end our night with “Morgan Choir, A Joyful Celebration.” ANNOUNCER: MPTs, Jeff Sulkin talks to regional HBCU presidents to discuss their future challenges, past achievements and remarkable legacy.

It's a special HBCU Week One-on-One with Morgan State University President, Dr. David Wilson.

WOMAN: Artists of color are very underrepresented in museum collections across the United States.

Statistically, we know that in public museum collections, uh, the representation of African American artists is under 10%, possibly under five in most institutions.

So when most of our students walk into a museum in a major city, or, you know, anywhere in the United States, um, unless it is a museum that's dedicated exclusively to African American art, they're not seeing themselves represented on the walls of that gallery.

So we want to create a powerful experience by making sure that when they step into this gallery, they see themselves represented in the artwork.

Whether that's, you know, through the identity of the artist, um, the questions that an artist is asking, or the very kind of representational figures and environments that the artist is putting in their work.

It it's still very, very valuable for, for our students.

IMANI GRACE: My name is Imani Grace.

I would describe myself as a Black American artist.

Jazz, soul, R&B, rock, funk, disco, blues.

And specifically for this performance, because it will be a first time for a lot of folks who Imani Grace is, I thought, “Okay, now's the time.

Pull out the bag.” RANDOLPH: Black people have been composers, string players, woodwind players, brass players, percussion players across many genres, including classical music.

Music is a required study in the Randolph House.

STUDENT: It has its pros and cons, I'll be honest.

STUDENT: When you know people that well, you automatically mesh, especially when you grow up in the same house.

♪ SINGER: Is thy faithfulness.

♪ ANNOUNCER: Celebrate the finest classical and inspirational harmonies in a concert by the Morgan State University Choir, conducted by the late, Dr. Nathan Carter.

This special broadcast will include conversations with former members, alumni, and friends as they reflect on the important role that HBCU choirs play.

Join us for, “The Morgan Choir, A Joyful Celebration.” BEMO: We have so much more action packed programming for you on Thursday.

We continue HBCU Week with One-on-One with Bowie State President, Dr. Aminta Breaux at 7:00 pm.

At 7:30, Local USA presents, “Beyond the Field,” followed by a look at the 50 year anniversary of a bar setting sports program, “The Golden Year: Howard's Women's Basketball.” At 8:30 pm, we take a special look “Inside the CIAA” “Her Story,” followed by the resilient story of the all-Black Tennessee A&I Tigers winning three consecutive national championships in, “The Dream Whisperer.” At 9:00 pm, join us for Local USA's “Tradition and Rivalry.” Then we head over to “Black College Hall of Fame: Journey to Canton.” We end the night with a unique story about the pioneers of an overlooked sport with the “Morgan Lacrosse Story.” You do not wanna miss Thursday night on MPT!

ANNOUNCER: MPTs, Jeff Sulkin talks to regional HBCU presidents to discuss their future challenges, past achievements and remarkable legacy.

It's a special HBCU Week One-on-One with Bowie State University President, Dr. Aminta Breaux.

WOMAN: At Historically Black Colleges and Universities, athletics unite and inspire the community.

MAN: The Bayou Classic Is, you know, one of the greatest rivalries in-in college football.

WOMAN: These highly anticipated events are about much more than the game.

MAN: Really what the CIAA is, is producing is, is leaders.

WOMAN: Our program has been a very dominant program since its inception.

YOLANDA LOCKAMY: I have the all-time assist record.

SANYA TYLER: I'm the winningest coach in the history of Howard University in any sport.

WOMAN: Howard's always been a global brand.

I've been hearing about Howard since I was young.

PLAYER: One of the things that I felt immediately was the culture.

To me, that's something that Howard prides itself on.

PLAYER: The legacy of Howard Women's Basketball is simply excellence.

WOMAN: Well, I think sports, uh, is so valuable for helping young people to develop amazing skills.

Leadership skills, communication skills, the ability to work as part of a team, and most importantly, resilience.

Because not everyone can win, right?

And so there are those failures, and you learn how to fail, but you get up quickly and you have to get back in there.

You don't stay down too long.

And it's up to you to get across that finish line.

So, somehow you dig down deep and you find that strength and you get across.

Now, you may not always be first, but you get across the line.

And that's what I was taught.

You gotta finish.

If you have to crawl, walk, or whatever you're gonna do, you're gonna get over the finish lines.

DICK BARNETT: My name is Dick Barnett, and I have a story that must be told.

REPORTER: The Most exciting shooter in basketball, Dick Barnett.

MAN: Tennessee State, was the first Black team to win a national championship.

WALT FRAZIER: They was discriminated against, devastated.

BARNETT: Everything starts with a dream.

MAN: It's not often that you can say that you have a, um, a rival that now, uh, numbers at over 101 years.

ANNOUNCER: Every year, Historically Black Colleges and Universities showcase premier football matchups.

MAN: Some of the greatest players that you now see in football in the Hall of Fame played in HBCUs.

ANNOUNCER: The spirit of these classic HBCU rivalry.

STEVE WYCHE: There's a time in this country when there was segregation.

DOUG WILLIAMS: So in order to get a quality education, the HBCUs were started.

MAN: There are so many Black college football players, who had great pro careers.

So there was a wealth of talent in these schools.

CHARLIE JOINER: We're gonna have a museum honoring Historical Black College football players right here in Canton.

MAN: There's wonderful stories to tell.

ANNOUNCER: An age old sport, a longstanding divide, and an underdog team with nothing to lose.

MAN: We viewed the lacrosse team as being part and parcel of the frontline struggle for liberation in America.

If you level a playing field, I can do everything you can do.

ANNOUNCER: An all Black squad become champions in an all White sport.

MAN: Now, that's amazing.

ANNOUNCER: In “The Morgan Lacrosse Story.” BEMO: All right, y'all, we are gearing up for a riveting conversation between Tetiana Anderson and Coppin State University's President, Dr. Anthony Jenkins.

But first we have to highlight this special moment.

Dr. Jenkins awarding and signing a scholarship for a very fortunate young student.

This is what it's all about.

Now let me turn it over to the wonderful Tetiana Anderson for this One-on-One exclusive conversation.

TETIANA: Welcome to Coppin State University.

I am joined by President, Anthony Jenkins.

Um, Dr. Jenkins, thank you so much for taking the time to be here.

DR. JENKINS: Well, listen, it's an honor to be with you, and thank you for being here on our beautiful campus, and I look forward to talking a lot about all the great things going on at Coppin State.

TETIANA: So it's a special year here at Coppin.

Tell us what it is and, and why.

DR. JENKINS: Coppin was founded in 1900 and this year, uh, 2025.

We celebrate 125 years of nurturing potential and transforming lives.

Um, what started in the basement of a local high school, uh, today is a leader in urban higher education, a university that, um, brings nearly 3,000 students from around the world to West Baltimore.

Um, an institution that, um, continues to develop, uh, thought leaders who are committed to fighting for a more just society, um, for what is right, transforming every environment that they, they enter.

Um, and so we're excited about what's been going on this, this year.

Uh, we have, um, uh, some special events coming up, um, that are going to continue to celebrate Coppin and all of her, um, greatness.

And the men and women who have walked these, these hallowed grounds, um, will be able to come back and to really embrace how she has grown over the years.

Um, so I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm very excited to be president at this time of 125 years because we get to look back and glance over a rich, storied history, and then we turn and pivot and make sure that we position her for the next 125 years.

And, uh, it is, it is going to be exciting.

TETIANA: So, we're gonna get more into your family and Toinette later, 'cause I know that's such a large part of your life.

DR. JENKINS: Yes.

TETIANA: But I wanna stick on, on the university theme here for, for just a second.

Since you've been in office since 2020, what are some of the things that, um, you would highlight as your biggest accomplishments?

DR. JENKINS: Um, I'm gonna put a, to the side, getting through COVID, um, because that was something that none of us walking... TETIANA: Yeah.

DR. JENKINS: ...this planet today had ever lived through.

But beyond that, when I arrived at Coppin, I noted that our pace was going to be brisk and our trajectory was going to be north.

Um, and I wanted folks to understand that we were going to introduce and reintroduce Coppin State University.

And so, I came with this, um, ambitious understanding that we were going to embrace a renaissance of purpose and progress.

And that's what we've been committed to over the last five years.

And so that's why I'm extremely proud of, uh, what started in the basement of a local high school in just one room as a teacher, preparatory school today is a leader in urban higher education.

TETIANA: It's about controlling the narrative; it's about telling your own story... DR. JENKINS: It is.

TETIANA: ...and as a university, um, that's so very important.

Um, and part of your story is the programming that you have for your students here.

DR. JENKINS: Yes.

TETIANA: And you're talking about leading the way and moving forward.

And when I look at some of the things you're doing, they're quite innovative, um, from, you know, mental health to the health field to criminal justice, I wanna ask specifically about entrepreneurship.

It's something that has been talked about in the country as a whole, but it's also something that is very relevant these days for Black folks.

Talk to us a little bit about encouraging Black people to become entrepreneurs and, and why that's so necessary now.

DR. JENKINS: Listen, that's a great question, I think that we are in a very interesting space right now where entrepreneurship, um, is starting to, uh, gather more traction.

Here at Coppin, we have, on our campus, a Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, um, we value entrepreneurship because in this time that we find ourselves, we believe that not only do we want our students to be prepared to go into the workforce and work for someone and help change the world in that perspective, but we also want them to have a, a entrepreneurial mindset.

And that's why we have that across every discipline at our institution, not just in our college of business.

And Dr. Williams, Ron Williams, who runs our center, he's committed to working with industry, uh, startups, um, um, uh, Fortune 500, 100, um, uh, type companies, um, to make sure that we can expose our students to what this looks like.

And so, for us, it's about how do we help our criminal justice students have an entrepreneurial mindset?

How do we help our dancing students have an entrepreneurial mindset?

That, that student studying psychology may wanna open up her own business one day, that student studying dance may wanna open up their own studio, that student studying criminal justice and then wants to go to law school, may want to open up their own firm.

And so, we believe entrepreneurship should be something that is pushed across every corner of our institution, and we are committed to doing that.

We're also committed to bringing corporations and industries onto campus to talk with our students, to work with our students... TETIANA: Okay.

DR. JENKINS: ...to understand that entrepreneurship is hard and to prepare them in the best way possible to be successful.

And the backdrop to that is our new College of Business, uh, and I'm very excited that we were able to have a ribbon cutting and to bring that facility online, uh, just a year and a half ago.

It's a state-of-the-art facility that complements the academic components, the, um, experiential learning components, and blending those things so that our students have a place to accomplish everything that I just talked about.

And so, we are very excited about what our College of Business is doing and our Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship.

TETIANA: Criminal Justice is another space that I know that you're focusing on in terms of programming... DR. JENKINS: Yes, yes.

TETIANA: Um, and you have these sort of mock courtrooms, mock forensic science labs.

Why is the hands-on aspect something that you wanted to bring to Coppin State?

DR. JENKINS: Well, because to me, experiential learning is so important.

Um, experiential learning complements what our students are learning inside the academic classroom.

It allows them to connect the dots.

80% of a student's development and overall growth occurs outside of the academic classroom.

TETIANA: Okay.

DR. JENKINS: 80%.

And so, we take the actual theoretical and the philosophical, and we apply a, a, a hands-on application, but just not in criminal justice.

We're also doing it in, in other ways.

We have several centers on our campus where students, regardless of where they want to go, regardless of what they wanna do in life, they can get there from Coppin State.

Experiential learning is so important to the overall growth and success of our students.

Our data and research shows that.

That is why in our centers of excellence, whether it's our Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, our Center for Nanotechnology, our Center for um, Inclusive Education, and our Bishop L Robinson, uh, Justice Institute, which is connected to our criminal justice, um, academic program, where that center is focusing on police reform, is focusing on community policing, is focusing on building stronger relationships between police and Black and Brown communities.

And we have faculty members like Dr. Johnny Rice, who's doing groundbreaking research and driving the narrative across the nation on what that looks like.

Our students are involved in that real, hands-on, real-time experience.

They then take that experience and we expose them to state, regional, national conferences.

They present at those conferences.

They then worked to get publications before they leave here, as you know, undergraduates, making them more competitive at the undergraduate level.

All of that is important when you talk about the wholistic experience and success and retention, and graduation of our students.

And so that's why I'm so committed to it, because I know it works and I've seen it work and I've done it at other places.

And we are doing it here at Coppin.

And that's why we have a historic retention rate, uh, now compared to what we had five years ago.

And so, all of these things are falling into place, our students are enjoying it, and they're having a more well-rounded and more fulfilled college experience.

TETIANA: So, it's all like wholistic.

DR. JENKINS: It is.

TETIANA: You know, when I hear you talk, whether it's about the beginning of your journey, you know, your education, or, um, applying some of these lessons here at, at Coppin State University.

DR. JENKINS: Yes.

TETIANA: It's not only about raising the profile of the university, but leaving the students with something valuable.

DR. JENKINS: Sure.

TETIANA: So, you're creating a network of family and, and I wanna ask, how important is family, especially at an HBCU?

I mean, you know, you've got students, you've got faculty, you've got all the employees.

How important is that to helping you create your legacy, building the strength within that?

DR. JENKINS: So, I was just talking about this at new student orientation.

Uh, I was talking about family.

Listen, HBCUs and especially Coppin State University, we still believe in something called "in loco parentis,” that is Latin for “In place of the parent.” See the parent and Coppin, we have a partnership, we have an agreement.

You are entrusting us with your greatest asset, I am accepting that asset with the understanding that I am going to educate them, feed them, keep them safe, I'm going to help them evolve.

Because we tell our students that earning your degree doesn't make you educated.

See, education is about transformation.

And that's why we nurture potential and transform lives.

And then, as I tell parents, in four years, you're gonna come back to get them.

And they're going to be brighter, smarter, more confident, and ready to go soar and accomplish anything that they want.

That happens through that partnership, and that family foundation is important because we do not spoon-feed our students.

We do not handhold them.

We support, we nurture, we hold them accountable, as a parent would.

And so, we want them to be successful.

We want them to understand what it means to join this community of scholars.

TETIANA: So, there's this larger community, but there's also the smaller community of family.

And in your younger years, how important was your family to you?

What did they mean in your world?

DR. JENKINS: Yeah, so, you know, I, I, I have two beautiful daughters, and I tell them all the time that family is everything.

And that's, I, I say that because one, I believe it, and two, it connects to everything that I've been taught and how I was raised.

Uh, I'm one of four children.

Um, my mother and father divorced when I was four, I was, uh, raised by a single mom.

Uh, I have a beautiful sister and, uh, two brothers.

And my mom did an incredible job, in my opinion, of keeping us from the distractions of Southeast, D.C. And she was committed to making sure that her children, um, were good citizens, that they were good people, that they understood that they had, um, the ability and the intellect to be successful.

And she always instilled in us that family in this world is the only thing that you really have.

And so that's why today, my sister and my brothers and I are extremely close.

Uh, we talk often, probably weekly.

Um, but that's something that has been extremely important to me.

And she instilled that in us early on.

And it's something that we now have passed on to our children.

TETIANA: And it's something that you seem to really have lived by.

There are a variety of programs that you have that touch everything from mental health to criminal justice to entrepreneurship.

But there's another component, housing.

Coppin State sits in the middle of Baltimore, which is a hugely urban area.

So, how important is housing when it comes to safety and security?

Talk to us a little bit about how you have led the charge on that at Coppin State University.

DR. JENKINS: We sit in West Baltimore.

Um, it is not lost on anyone, um, that one drive down West North Avenue that you see that this is a area that has been disinvested in for decades.

And yet, as you travel West North Avenue, you then come to this oasis, which is called Coppin State University.

As I've challenged lawmakers and developers, and folks to understand that people judge the house by the curb appeal.

And so, it is important that the curb appeal meets the beauty of the home.

And this is why lawmakers have tapped Coppin State University, along with our faculty and their expertise, and the expertise in our leadership to lead the West North Avenue Development Authority.

Coppin State University is the only HBCU in the nation to ever be tapped to revitalize a major corridor of a major U.S. city.

That says a lot about what people believe in our ability to transform and our commitment to West Baltimore.

And so, we are committed to making sure up and down West North Avenue between Coppin and Micah, that we transform that entire community so that it is one that brings back pride and home ownership and reduces crime.

And young people and old people can go out and enjoy their community, that they should, uh, rightfully be able to, you know, do.

And so, we're leading that charge, and as the chair of the West North Avenue Development Authority, that's a huge responsibility.

But I'm honored to have that responsibility.

In spite of that, the community of West Baltimore values Coppin State University.

They see us as a beacon of hope.

And that's why I am proud as one of 12 schools in the university system of Maryland; we have the second safest campus in the university system of Maryland.

We have the number one safest campus, residential campus in Baltimore City.

And we're committed to making sure that when students come here from around the world, that safety is not something that they have to be concerned about.

That they can come study, grow, excel, build lifelong friendships, and focus on the more important aspects of their wholistic development.

TETIANA: Well, we've talked about everything today, from your journey, to your leadership, to your legacy, is there anything that you want to leave us with before we go?

DR. JENKINS: You know, I, I'm, I'm in my fifth year now and here at Coppin State University, and in a time where, across the nation, we don't see a lot of presidents getting to that fifth year.

Um, we have something special here at Coppin.

Uh, we have, uh, we have an institution that is starting to hit on all cylinders, and, um, I want parents, and I want students to know that regardless of what you're looking for, regardless of where you want to go, you can do that from right here.

Uh, we have renowned faculty, we have state-of-the-art facilities.

Um, you have a, a, a President and a First Lady that if you are committed to Coppin, we are committed to you through and through.

Um, I want students to enjoy their college experience, and if not here at Coppin, and I couldn't understand why you would wanna go anywhere else, um, I just wanna see more students go.

And, um, uh, we are in need of that, especially in the Black and Brown communities.

TETIANA: Dr. Jenkins, thank you for your leadership and for your conversation today.

DR. JENKINS: Thank you.

Listen, thank you.

And I want to thank you for everything that you're doing, thank you for using your platform to not only highlight HBCUs, but to tell a very important narrative, um, that is critical to American history and American progress.

TETIANA: And thanks to you as well for joining our conversation here at Coppin State University.

BEMO: Thank you for that wonderful conversation, Tetiana and Dr. Jenkins, we're not through yet, though.

It's Friday!

HBCU week continues with more dynamic programming, starting at 7:00 p.m. with the State Circle Special, a look at HBCUs in D.C. We continue our programming at 9:30 with the inspirational “Calvin Tyler Story.” We end the night with the history of a national treasure.

Let's check Friday out.

ANNOUNCER: Born into the Jim Crow era of working-class Baltimore, Calvin Tyler Jr. overcame poverty and segregation to become a successful businessman and benefactor to Maryland's largest HBCU.

TYLER: I'm here to tell the Tyler Scholars that no investment means more to us than our investment in you.

ANNOUNCER: Follow his incredible journey on “The Calvin Tyler Story.” A Baltimore HBCU began as a dream to uplift and educate.

MAN: We started off as the Centenary Biblical Institute.

ANNOUNCER: The school fought for survival and battled against racism.

WOMAN: The neighbors were very unwelcoming.

ANNOUNCER: To become today's prestigious HBCU.

MAN: From nine students to nearly 10,000-student population.

ANNOUNCER: Explore the “History of a National Treasure: Morgan State University.” BEMO: Welcome back to HBCU Week.

I'm here with my friend Cheniya, Cheniya what's up?

CHENIYA PERKINS: Hi.

BEMO: You wanna give the people a quick little HBCU intro?

CHENIYA: My name is Cheniya Perkins; I'm a student here at Coppin State University.

This is my last year, and I'm a health science major with a minor in psychology.

BEMO: This is your last year?

CHENIYA: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: I re, I remember specifically like that last, those last moments in undergrad and being like, what am I fitting do now?

Do you feel prepared for the next step?

And how has Coppin prepared you to do so?

CHENIYA: I honestly feel really prepared for my next step, 'cause I am preparing myself to go to grad school.

And I feel like it's a lot of people here who also been in my shoes before who gave me really good advice and it kind of mentored me in a way for me to know like what I need to do next after I graduate, so I honestly, I feel prepared, I'm not really nervous about graduating or starting a new chapter, so.

BEMO: Really?

CHENIYA: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: Okay.

Well, okay, do me a favor, tell us where we are right now, 'cause I'm kind of like, blown away a little bit.

CHENIYA: Well, we are in the main wellness pod and the she care wellness pod.

Um, this pod will be used for like sound bath or R&B yoga or meditation or breath work, just wellness, different activities.

Different providers come, and people sign up for whichever event they want to.

BEMO: So, is facilitating in this space part of your major?

CHENIYA: It's not a part of my major.

BEMO: Okay.

CHENIYA: I do this because I wanted to; I have a niche with, like, mental health.

So, one of my mentors, Ms.

Professor Manley, she gave me this opportunity to actually work here instead of like, like, you know, just volunteering.

Like, she presented this opportunity for me.

I think she's seen that I'm very involved when it comes to like mental and behavioral health.

BEMO: Mm-hmm.

CHENIYA: So, this just honestly gave me like, new ways to network and connect with other people in like the mental health field.

BEMO: That's fascinating to me.

That's so interesting to me because it, that didn't seem like it was, um, an available avenue when I was, uh, being educated per se.

So now that you are a student and you participate and you facilitate these things, how do you manage your own stress?

Are, are you stressed?

CHENIYA: I get stressed.

BEMO: Okay.

CHENIYA: I, like I said, I have anxiety, so I really get like them worry warts.

But I journal, I yoga, I do meditation, breath work, like the sessions that we have is stuff that I was already doing, I was paying like outta my pocket for that, but now I have that opportunity to have it for free here.

BEMO: Really?

CHENIYA: Mm-hmm.

BEMO: I'm blown away, I'm sorry.

Because when, when I think about my college experience, you would've, you could've convinced me that stress was just part of the experience.

So, how is Coppin State helping you change that narrative?

CHENIYA: I feel like you're always gonna have stress, it's just like how you manage your stress.

So, Coppin gave us a outlet and I'm really appreciative for it because not every school, especially at HBCUs, get the opportunity to have things like this, 'cause not only do we have these sessions, we also have the rest pods upstairs where students can sign out for 30 minutes just to chill.

There's TVs in there.

It's like the lounge area, with blankets and stuff.

And then we also have one-on-one therapy sessions... BEMO: Oh.

CHENIYA: So, people have that like resource for free as well.

BEMO: Well, thank you, Cheniya, I appreciate this time.

Uh, and we'll be right back with more HBCU Week.

It's Saturday!

We have a jam-packed schedule full of action just for you.

First, freedom.

We start HBCU week Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. with “George White: Searching for Freedom,” followed by “Dr.

Eddie Henderson: Uncommon Genius.” At 8: 00 p.m., a special presentation of “Opportunity, Access and Uplift,” the evolving legacies of HBCUs.

We continue our programming at 8:30 with pioneers expanding the presence of African-Americans in mathematics with the film “Journeys of Black Mathematics: Forging Resilience.” At 9:30, we check out “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect,” and in the night, with the mighty story of “Shaw Rising.” You do not wanna miss Saturday night on Maryland Public Television.

SANDERS: I believe that George Henry White is one of the most understudied and under appreciated political figures in United States history.

He understood Black aspiration because he understood it 'cause he had lived it.

WHITE: Obliterate the race hatred, party prejudice, and help us to achieve nobler ends.

♪ ♪ HENDERSON: I can't even fathom a thought of anything that has been left out.

I've been given an overabundance.

MAN: Look, man, I mean, who do we know that's a champion ice skater, a shrink, a medical doctor, and one of the greatest jazz musicians in the world?

♪ ♪ ASADA: My name is Asada, and I attend an HBCU.

DAJA HUBBARD: Hi, my name is Daja Hubbard.

PETER KAMADO: My name is Peter Kamado.

SAM WEISS: My name is Sam Weiss, and I attend a Historically Black College and University.

INTERVIEWER: How do you think going to an HBCU is different from going to a predominantly White school?

DAJA: I don't know, I really think it's all about what you make it.

PETER: I wasn't used to being in an environment that was so Black, I guess.

STUDENT: You never really know what HBCU has until you look for it.

STUDENT: A mathematician is somebody who solves math equations.

MAN: I went to Morehouse College because I had never seen a Black professor with a PhD in mathematics.

MAN: A Lot of people in this world are gonna tell you that you can't, and I'm a person that looks like you, and I'm gonna tell you that you can.

MONICA JACKSON: My name is Monica Jackson, I'm a mathematician.

MEL CURRY: Mel Curry, and I'm a mathematician.

DR. TALITHA WASHINGTON: Dr. Talitha Washington, and I am a mathematician.

“Journeys of Black Mathematicians.” SHERRILYN IFILL: The work and life of Thurgood Marshall literally changed this country.

WIL: Legally speaking, he's one of the founding fathers.

SHERYLL: Whatever was going on, people said, “Don't worry, Thurgood's coming.” GILBERT: Thurgood's coming.

WIL: Thurgood is coming.

SHERRILYN: He understood how to use the power of his voice.

SHERYLL: He's the only Supreme Court justice who was more famous for what he did before rising to justice.

MAN: HBCUs have learned to do more with less, to make brick without straw.

MAN: These were not only academic institutions, they were freedom schools.

WOMAN: They provide really the first truly interracial spaces in America.

WOMAN: Without Henry Martin Tupper sitting in a room teaching freed men the Bible, I would not have a college education.

BEMO: In case y'all missed anything throughout the week, Sunday's got a full day of programming to get you right.

We start at 3:00 p.m. with the State Circle Special, a look at HBCUs in D.C., followed by two hours of One-on-One with presidents of four HBCUs.

Coppin State's Dr. Anthony Jenkins, Morgan's Dr. David Wilson, Bowie's Dr. Aminta Breaux, and UMES's Dr. Heidi Anderson.

At 6:00 p.m. We present “Artworks: The Art of HBCU Art.” At 6: 30, we head back to the heart of Baltimore for “Inside the CIAA: Her Story.” HBCU Week ends at 11:00 p.m. with “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect.” It's been another great day here at Coppin State University.

I've solved a couple crimes, I've been to court, I've talked to some students, I even talked to the president's daughter.

Did y'all see the yoga?

Okay, don't laugh at the yoga.

But we've had a great time here at Coppin State, I can't wait to see y'all next year.

Thank you for checking out HBCU Week.

I'm your host, Bryant “BeMo” Brown.

This is MPT.

We'll see you next time.

♪ ♪ ANNOUNCER: MPT is proud to present our sixth annual HBCU Week.

Join us as we celebrate Historically Black colleges and Universities and the premiere of, “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect.” WIL: It was like he had dropped from heaven.

SHERYLL: Whatever was going on, people said, “Don't worry, Thurgood's coming.” ANNOUNCER: Hear the under told stories of sacrifice, courage, and hope it all begins Monday, September 8th, only on MPT.