Panelists included: Damien D. Thomas, director of Alternative Education in the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement; Cortez Bryant, co-founder and co-CEO of the Blueprint Group; Dr. Malcolm Mazique “Mike” Black, director of jazz studies and admissions and registration at Broward College; Tyrone Hendrix, Ward 6 Councilman (Photo by Kalin Norman/JSU)
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Jackson State University’s 2016 homecoming offered a healthy dose of entertainment for faculty, staff, students, family and friends. From educational expert and keynote speaker Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre delivering a fiery, inspirational message at Founder’s Day and the Coronation of Miss JSU’s Destiny Lawrence to JSU’s illustrious Sonic Boom of the South battling Prairie View A&M’s Marching Storm Band, from a flood of Greek organizations stepping rhythmically to the sounds of Drake and Future blaring over loudspeakers to the Jackson State J-Settes reminding everyone where Beyonce’ learned some of her dance moves
But, one would be remiss not to acknowledge a traditional ingredient in the awesomeness of a JSU Homecoming gumbo and that is the alumni. This year, like every year, a large number of alumni returned to remember their “heyday,” reconnect with old faces and dish advice to current students as former products of the HBCU.
A 1959 Jackson State music education graduate, Dr. Malcolm Black served as one of five panelists on the College of Liberal Arts notable alumni panel during the final days of homecoming.
“You have a wonderful facility here. I come back more times than once per year here. I’ve been away 52 years and only four years that I’ve missed coming back to Mississippi and coming back to this campus,” Black said to an auditorium of students and guests.
Black went on to complete a master of music education from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate of administration from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He directed bands in Mississippi and Florida eventually serving as director of admissions and registration at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale before becoming director of bands and jazz studies at the same institution.
Astonished by the HBCU’s immense growth since his time as a student, Black recalls when there was only one television on the entire campus. “That was all we had. All I’m trying to say is take advantage of your campus facility and your facilitators. You have a wealth of educators here from all over the world with a wealth of backgrounds. They bring to you a wealth of resources to educate you and be here for you so be sure and take care of that,” said Black, whose two children also graduated from JSU.
Cortez Bryant, co-founder and co-CEO of the artist management agency BluePrint Group, wanted students to understand the importance of internships. “Experience, I think, that’s more valuable to me as an employer than just having your college degree,” he said.
The 37-year-old Bryant holds a degree in mass communications and has a management roster that includes internationally known music artists Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake and T.I., to name a few.
“Experience is so important to have these days, and the world is so competitive, and that in itself will give you the competitive edge to get ahead,” he said. “It’s great to have your degree from this prestigious university and to be about your books. But to add experience to anything that you guys want to do is an invaluable asset in success post-Jackson State.”
Growing more intimate, Bryant shared his personal experiences with credit while a student at JSU saying: “Credit, Credit, Credit that takes you all your life – jobs, houses, cars – everything is credit. Pay attention to that and don’t fall into the traps I fell into with access to that free money. I was thinking I was going to use my refund check to pay it off, but ‘I’m going to buy these J’s right now’” he remarked and then chuckled.
“It comes up in every single thing I do. Now those are two important things – interning and really understanding what credit is and building your credit up,” Bryant added.
(Photo by Kalin Norman/JSU)
Turning the discussion to paid and free internships, Jackson Ward 6 Councilman Tyrone Hendrix, who earned a bachelor’s of science in psychology as well as a master of arts in political science from Jackson State, said, “I will say my first time interning was volunteer. I didn’t get paid. It was for free, and I worked hard. But it gave me the platform or opportunity to go and get a paid job or paid internship.”
Hendrix expressed concern for students who refuse to intern for free, informing the room that they are limiting their opportunities. “We as alumni have to provide those opportunities and have to provide that space so you can get the experience, expertise and networks that are so important to be successful,” he articulated. “On the flip side, we need students to be involved, to dig in, to come, to show up. Even if you’re not getting paid, act like it’s a job because it’s always a job interview.”
Damien Thomas is the director of Alternative Education, High School Equivalency Program (formerly GED Option), and Juvenile Detention Centers at the Mississippi Department of Education in the Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement. Flattered at the idea he is now considered a “notable” alumni, Thomas draws the students focus on giving back to the university after graduation.
Five years ago, Thomas and six other JSU graduates decided to create and sell tee-shirts with the JSU mantra “Thee I Love” emblazoned across the chest. “We raised in one month $25,000, and we began to give scholarships not only to students in the College of Liberal Arts but to all students whether it was for books or anything,” he said.
Eliminating frivolous spending is one method Thomas said aided in the success of his tee-shirt venture. “I also learned how to talk to other people and, while I had the nurturing of these other pioneer’s and notables, I learned from them. We gave back to support students like yourself and non-traditional students because I see a lot of non-traditional students who drop out of school, and then they want to come back, but they don’t have the resources,” he explained.
Black seemed to encapsulate the feelings of the entire panel when he later said, “It’s such a pleasure being up here. I really consider this an auspicious occasion being able to impart information to the students drawing from our experiences from the time we were at Jackson State. One of the most impressive things, they were so attentive and so receptive listening to us and what we had to say. That was encouraging from our vantage point. And I hope to as long as I can, as long as I’m alive, I hope to be a part of Jackson State University, and I look forward to getting back here year after year.”