FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2011
CONTACT:
Rianna Felder
media@Blackcollegebook.com
BLACK COLLEGE ALUMNI JOIN FORCES TO EDIT GROUNDBREAKING ANTHOLOGY DETAILING THE HBCU EXPERIENCE
"HBCU EXPERIENCE – THE BOOK" WILL SHOWCASE 101 ESSAYS BY HBCU GRADS HIGHLIGHTING ALL ASPECTS OF BLACK COLLEGE LIFE
Submission Deadline: September 30, 2011
Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) — In an effort to highlight the history, relevance and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Black college alumni Dr. Tia C. M. Tyree and Christopher D. Cathcart have joined forces to edit HBCU Experience – The Book, a collection of essays showcasing all aspects of Black college life. The groundbreaking anthology will chronicle undergraduate realities such as dating and relationships, dorm living, road trips, pledging fraternities and sororities, student activism and leadership, athletics and much, much more.
"While many are familiar with some of the famous Black college graduates like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,Thurgood Marshall, Nikki Giovanni and countless others whose lives have helped shape this nation, we often discount the impact their HBCU experiences had in shaping them. Beyond that, there are thousands of less heralded but equally inspiring stories that deserve to be told; stories about how the Black college experience has impacted lives in ways that still resonate today. Our goal with HBCU Experience – The Book is to help share some of these first-hand accounts with the world," says Cathcar.
Tyree and Cathcart will amass 101 stories from graduates of HBCUs (or individuals who attended a Black college for at least four years) detailing these unique, undergraduate experiences while further emphasizing the still vital role these institutions have in our society. Writers may hail from any of the 100-plus HBCUs and be any age, gender or ethnicity. The 250-500 word essays will range in tone from the light and humorous to the serious and insightful, with the common thread being that they are genuine and engaging. The submission deadline is September 30, 2011; and plans call for the book to be available for Black History Month in 2012. Individuals may also submit photographs of their Black college experiences for inclusion in the book.
"From the ones I attended to the one where I currently work, my life is and has been profoundly shaped by my experiences at HBCUs. I believe in and applaud their abilities to develop and nurture the minds of African-Americans in a way that is unparalleled in predominately white institutions," Dr. Tyree says. "There are unique experiences and cultures within HBCUs, and I am hoping this book will be a groundbreaking and much-needed firsthand account of how HBCUs have changed the lives of and influenced so many in this country."
In keeping with the theme of celebrating and supporting Black colleges and Black college graduates, the editors have retained the services of the Law Offices of Manotti L. Jenkins, LTD. (www.MLJLawOffices.com) to oversee all legal matters pertaining to the anthology; Mr. Jenkins, a nationally recognized attorney, is a Howard University graduate. Efforts will be made, when and where appropriate, to engage other HBCU grads in the development and presentation of HBCU Experience – The Book.
For more information about HBCU Experience – The Book, including the submission process, please visit www.BlackCollegeBook.com. For press inquiries , please contact Rianna Felder at Media@Blackcollegebook.com.
About HBCU Experience – The Book
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a rich legacy in the United States and graduates of these institutions have made and continue to make major contributions to the history and climate of this country. Co-edited by Black college alumni Dr. Tia Tyree and Christopher D. Cathcart, HBCU Experience – The Book will celebrate this legacy and the experiences of those who attended HBCUs. Further, with the debate still raging over the relevance and need for HBCUs in the new millennium, this collection of essays will help showcase the unique experiences of HBCU graduates, highlight the important need for these institutions and accentuate the overall benefits of having an HBCU education.
About Dr. Tia Tyree
Dr. Tia C. M. Tyree is an Assistant Professor at Howard University within the Department of Journalism. She is currently the Public Relations Sequence Coordinator for the Department of Journalism, and she teaches several courses, including Introduction to Public Relations, PR Writing II, PR Writing I, SR: Event Planning, SR: Friends, Followers and Social Media and CapComm Lab. In addition to teaching, her research interests include hip-hop, rap, pop culture, film and African-American representations in the media. She is a graduate of both Morgan State University (Bachelor of Arts, 1995) and Howard University (Ph.D. Mass Communications and Media Studies, 2007).
About Christopher D. Cathcart
Christopher D.arren Cathcart is a published author; public relations, marketing/brand development expert and a noted social entrepreneur. In 1995, Cathcart founded OneDiaspora Group, a Los Angeles and Washington, DC-based PR/communications consulting firm. He has more than 23 years of public relations experience, having been an executive at such companies as CNN, Motown Records and Warner Bros. Television, among others.
His first book, The Lost Art of Giving Back, a how-to guide to volunteerism, was published in 2007. Cathcart also founded Ledge magazine, the nation’s first and only HIV/AIDS online publication by and for Black college students. He is a graduate of Howard University (Bachelor of Arts, 1986).
