Five Generations Strong: Howard University’s Legacy Of Black Excellence Through My Family’s Eyes

The grounds of Howard University, Washington, D.C. | Source: Buyenlarge / Getty

Washington, D.C. — As a fifth-generation Howard University student, my journey to The Mecca isn’t just my own—it’s part of a legacy that stretches back over a century. Since my great-great-great-great-uncle Roland Bradley first set foot on Howard’s campus in the early 19th century, my family has always known the power of HBCUs. We’ve known that Black excellence thrives here, that history is made here, and that a place like Howard is more than a school—it’s a launching pad for dreams, a place to discover who you are and where you belong.

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Growing up in Cincinnati, I was one of the few in my high school who even considered an HBCU. Ivy Leagues and big state schools were always talked about, but Howard was the only choice that felt right. I wanted to walk the same halls as my ancestors, to learn in a place that celebrates who I am and where I come from. And today, with Vice President Kamala Harris—a Howard alum—poised to make history, I see my family’s story as one thread in a rich tapestry of ambition and resilience that runs through Howard’s history.

This video is a celebration of what it means to be part of this legacy, to stand on the shoulders of giants, and to know that our brilliance, our drive, and our dreams have always mattered. This is what it means to be a Black woman at Howard University today, part of a resurgence of HBCUs that are showing the world what we’ve always known—our excellence is undeniable.

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