DeShara C. Doub

03/10/2026

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02/27/2026

As we celebrate the centennial of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting HBCUs whose extraordinary beginnings were shaped by trailblazing women, leaders whose vision and courage created lasting institutions of learning and opportunity.

Founded in 1897, Voorhees College began as the Denmark Industrial School, a place dedicated to educating African Americans in academic subjects and practical trades during the Jim Crow era. Its founding heart and spirit can be traced to Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, a determined educator who believed deeply in education as the pathway to empowerment and change.

Born in Denmark, South Carolina, Wright was inspired by her own education at Hampton Institute, where she studied under the leadership model of Booker T. Washington. With a fierce commitment to her community and a belief in self-help through education, she led efforts to open the Denmark Industrial School to serve Black youth in the rural South, often in the face of limited resources and widespread resistance.

In 2020, Voorhees College's campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized not just for its historic buildings but also for its role in African American education and heritage. The campus itself tells a story of resilience, community pride, and enduring legacy.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/26/2026

02/26/2026

For the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting HBCUs where stepping onto campus also means stepping into history, including sacred spaces that honor founders and visionary leaders.

Founded in 1904 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University began as the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls and later merged with Cookman Institute to become a college committed to Black education, empowerment, and community service.

Dr. Bethune, an educator, civil rights advocate, and national leader, was a pioneer who tirelessly championed education, women's rights, and racial justice. She founded not only Bethune-Cookman University but also the National Council of Negro Women and served as an adviser to US presidents. She died in 1955 at her home on the university campus (known as The Retreat) and is buried on the grounds, just west of her home. Her gravesite and memorial garden continue to be places of reflection, inspiration, and tribute to her enduring legacy.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/24/2026

As we continue celebrating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting HBCUs where walking the campus also means walking through the stories of unsung heroes and community pillars, including those laid to rest on their grounds.

Founded in 1880 in New Orleans and now one of the largest HBCUs in Louisiana, Southern University was established to provide higher education opportunities for African Americans during the Reconstruction era and beyond. It moved to its Scotlandville site in Baton Rouge in 1914 and has grown into a leading land-grant institution known for excellence in academics, research and service.

One of Southern University's most significant figures is Dr. Joseph Samuel Clark, who served as its first president after the move to Baton Rouge, from 1914 to 1938. Under his leadership, the university expanded access to education, strengthened academic programs, and helped build a foundation for future generations of Black scholars and leaders. Dr. Clark along with his wife Octavia Head Clark and their son Dr. Felton Grandison Clark (who succeeded him as president) are buried on the Southern University campus.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/24/2026

As we celebrate the centennial of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting powerful places on HBCU campuses, spaces that honor unsung heroes and legendary trailblazers who helped shape history.

Tuskegee University Cemetery is a historic burial ground located on the campus of TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY in Tuskegee, Alabama. It serves as the final resting place for some of the institution's most influential leaders, faculty members, and figures connected to the university's legacy. Two notable figures buried at the cemetery are Booker T. Washington & George Washington Carver.

Founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee University began as the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers. Rooted in faith and a belief in practical education, Tuskegee became a beacon of academic excellence, agricultural innovation, and community empowerment. Its mission was shaped by Christian values and a vision to uplift Black Americans through education and opportunity.

Joining Tuskegee in 1896, George Washington Carver developed groundbreaking work in crop rotation, sustainable farming, and hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other crops.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/22/2026

As we honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting the often-overlooked stories found on HBCU campuses, including the final resting places of community icons and unsung heroes.

Nestles on the southern edge of the Oakwood University campus, Oakwood Memorial Gardens was officially established in 2021 to serve families connected to the university and broader community with a place of beauty, peace, and remembrance. The cemetery sits near historic spaces like the Historic Slave Cemetery and Pioneer Lake, anchoring layers of local history in one sacred setting.

One of the most remarkable graves here is that of Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, the legendary singer, songwriter, pianist, and one of the founding architects of rock and roll. Although Little Richard was born in Macon, Georgia and achieved global fame, he also studied theology at Oakwood University in the 1950s and maintained ties to his faith throughout his life.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/21/2026

As we continue to honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting the profound stories woven into HBCU campuses, not just classrooms and leaders but the resting places of community heroes whose legacies continue to teach and inspire.

Founded in 1856, Wilberforce University is the oldest private historically Black college in the US. It was born from the partnership between the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, rooted in faith, liberation, and the transformative power of education, even surviving a Civil Was closure and reopening under Black leadership.

Founded in 1887 as the Combined Normal and Industrial Department of Wilberforce University, it was created to train Black teachers and provide practical education during the post-Reconstruction era. While Wilberforce University was affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Central State evolved as its own institution and became independent in 1947, officially adopting the name Central State College. It achieved university status in 1965.

The Wilberforce Cemetery is located on the property of Central State University and was purchased by the Combined Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce University in 1896. Records from Dec. 12, 1926, revealed a total of 26 graves and a monument plotted for the cemetery.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/21/2026

Black History Month marks a century of recognizing the achievements, resilience, and enduring legacy of Black communities in the US. A powerful strand in that legacy is the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) rooted in religious faith. Today, I'm shining a spotlight on the incredible legacies of the final faith-based HBCUs that I've had the privilege of visiting (so far).

Wiley University was established in 1873 under the Methodist Episcopal Church, offering educational opportunities to formerly enslaved people and their descendants. Its foundation on Christian principles informed its mission of academic excellence, moral development, and service to others.

Have you heard of or seen the movie The Great Debaters? This was the story of Wiley's debate team, who has earned national fame since the 1930s for defeating top-ranked universities, at a time when few Black institutions were invited to such contests. Their story continues to inspire students and scholars alike.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/20/2026

As we honor a century of Black History Month, I'm shining a spotlight on the incredible legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), especially those with deep roots in faith. Through my scholarship in Black Church Studies, I've had the privilege of visiting several faith-based HBCUs, witnessing firsthand how these institutions nurture leadership, faith, and academic excellence.

Founded in 1882 by the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in Jackson, Tennessee, Lane College has long integrated faith with learning, shaping generations of scholars and leaders. An interesting fact about Lane College, their athletic teams are called the Dragons, symbolizing strength and resilience, a perfect reflection of the school's ensuring spirit.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/19/2026

This month, I'm honoring the incredible legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), institutions that have nurtured generations of Black excellence, leadership, and faith. As part of my scholarship in Black Church Studies, I've been visiting faith-based HBCUs to explore their rich spiritual and academic traditions.

One school that stands out is Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1866, Fisk has a deep religious affiliation with the United Methodist Church, reflecting a long history of faith shaping education. Did you know that Fisk is home to the world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose music helped preserve and celebrate African American spirituals around the globe?

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.

02/18/2026

Continuing with the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month posts, here is another faith-based HBCU I've had the opportunity to visit.

Founded in 1870 in Columbia, South Carolina, Allen University was established by leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church to educate formerly enslaved African Americans in the aftermath of the Civil War. Named in honor of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church, the university's mission reflects a long tradition of faith-centered education, moral leadership, and service to the Black community.

🌟Interesting Fact: Allen University was an early site of Black political and intellectual organizing in South Carolina, producing graduates who went on to become influential educators, ministers, and civil rights leaders during Reconstruction and beyond.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.