Building Your HBCU Brand That Builds Your Worth
by William Jackson, M.Edu.
@wmjackson – #MyQuestToTeach
Wm Jackson is a graduate of South Carolina
State University and past instructor at the
oldest HBCU in Florida – Edward Waters College
In todays society HBCU students cannot allow
others to Brand them or label them.
There are billions of people on the planet, each
person from conception to death has a story and
a personal Brand. Students cannot allow others to
tell their story, to Brand with error about
who they are, and what they are about.
HBCUs have a rich history of culture, creativity,
innovation and invention. They must tell their
own stories to collectively expand the potential
of graduates and influence the world.
How others see you is important, society should
see you beyond skin tones, hair styles, and accept
the beautiful imperfections that we each have and
should embrace in ourselves.
This is why an HBCUs Brand is important to help
define outside of visual and cultural perceptions.
Why would anyone allow mass media to define them,
to tell an incomplete and inaccurate story that
only sees or tells false/half truths. HBCUs even
today are fighting for not just financial support,
they are striving for respect and recognition too
show their continued and transformative contributions
in this nation.
In 2013, St. Paul College closed after 125 years,
a rich history of building men and women, their
stories continue in history.
There are many other HBCUs that have not survived
history, they live on in their students and the
accomplishments still being achieved.
Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics/
Medicine are the legacy in the 20th and 21st century.
The Brand of HBCUs should continuously be modified
and adapted for telling a story of growth, hope
and preparing for the future. HBCU students
personal Brands should be self reflective,
what do students want society to see, that do
HBCU students want societies perceptions to be?
The work that goes into building a Brand is not an exact
science, it allows that person to be reflective.
HBCU studens must find out what their Brand is personally,
asking themselves where they are heading:
What do they want to do with their life? How can they
match their career aspirations with their personal Brand?
How do they want society to see them? What makes them unique?
What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses?
HBCU students must identity why their Brand is important?
Understanding your “Personal Brand” how you present yourself
to others understanding your “Brand Identity” the qualities
that make you unique and different from others. HBCU
students need to understand the importance of their
Personal Brand in starting a career, standing out from
others, personal self confidence.
Celebrities are not the only ones that benefit from Personal
Branding. There is competition for employment and career
stability is fierce. Having a Personal Brand workig can
be the difference between an entry level position
or executive positions.
Controlling your Brand helps you control how you are
perceived, when you see Brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok,
Coke, Pepsi, Empire, Scandal, The View and other products.
Each one you expect a certain thing from them. The same
should be held for HBCU’s as well, what do you as the
student expect people to expect. Your Brand can make you
memorable or nefarious, notorious or noticeable, you decide.
Background information:
William Jackson is a past Professor at Edward Waters College,
where he designed a curriculum that embraced Educational
Technology, Social Media and STEAM from 2004 to 2017.
He is a WordCamp organizer, blogger, volunteer, speaker and
digital community activist for TEDxFSCJ and the Social Media
Manager for Jacksonville Sister Cities Association.
He blogs about his life experiences as he travels speaking
to youth, teens and young adults and is a member of the body
of Christ with Northside Church of Christ.
William has 28 years as a public school educator in
Physical Education and Technology Instruction and
is a community activist where he is actively engaged in
the Jacksonville, Florida community with Vision Keepers
and New Town Success Zone.
William is joined by Aida Correa who is an artist, blogger,
poet, actress and a proud Latina. Both are parents to adult
children. They can be found on Twither at:
@wmjackson and @latinapheonix and hashtags respectively
#MyQuestToTeach and #LoveBuiltLife #LoveBuiltStudio
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