A group of Black educators have created the first TikTok HBCU to provide free courses on Black history and a variety of other topics.
Known as HillmanTok, a reference to the hit TV show A Different World, the virtual school was created accidentally by Leah Barlow, PhD, a North Carolina A&T University professor. Initially, just a place for Barlow to connect with her students at NCAT, a number of Black educators joined in on the idea of a TikTok university after watching her viral 4.1-million views TikTok.
HillmanTok now offers a variety of courses, including Screenwriting, Spanish for Non-Native Speakers, Emotional Intelligence 101, Journalism, Law & Politics, Memoir Writing and Calculus. Barlow’s course, Intro to African American Studies, meanwhile teaches Black history from Donald Glover’s “This Is America” to the reign of Mali emperor Mansa Musa.
“Learning — and this is crazy to say — learning is a luxury. Not everybody can sit around and read a text and let their mind go,” said Prof. Antwann Michael Simpkins, who is in charge of HillmanTok’s critical race course, per Teen Vogue. “The public has entrusted me to some degree to come to this place to study and learn and look deeply into these issues. Here is an opportunity to give that knowledge back and say, ‘Here is what is out there, and what we need to take into consideration.’”
@marandasdiary I’m not on an official board/committee/admin member for HTU just a gal that made a list of resources 🥹 plz check out my website (in bio) for their official HTU site for help and other great info!
♬ original sound – The Farce One
The online HBCU comes at a time when Black history is being attacked by the Trump administration. Although the President recognized Black History Month, he has signed into effect a number of executive orders against DEI programs, targeting DEI hires and eliminating their positions on the federal level.
Top federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Defense, have also announced that “identity months are dead” in their departments. Moving forward, all military departments and Department of defense-related agencies will not use official resources or working hours to honor histories during cultural awareness months. Effective immediately, the department will no longer recognize seven months, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month and Pride Month.
AP African American Studies courses have also long been under attack in the U.S. as multiple states, such as South Carolina, have decided to remove them from school curriculums.
With the creation of HillmanTok, the virtual students stress the importance of community to defend the teachings of Black history.
“If we don’t have anyone in this country backing us, we at least have each other, and we at least have people who are wanting to share with the community,” said student Jenna Nolen per Teen Vogue. “I think that’s why an HBCU — especially on social media — but HBCUs in general are so important. Because we are the glue.”
