A video of Dr. Barlow, an African American studies professor who uses TikTok to connect online with her students, went viral, unintentionally sparking a digital education movement. Many educators and experts offer TikTok "courses" to thousands of Black folks eager to learn new skills, from finances to gardening. HilllmanTok University reminds us that we've always found ways to educate ourselves when anti-Black policies tried to stop us. Here are some of the things we did.
Night schools: During enslavement, it was illegal for us to learn to read and write. In Mississippi, Lilly Ann Granderson risked her life to secretly educate our people once the sun went down, right under the nose of enslavers.
Freedom schools: Black educators from around the country banded together during the summer of 1964 to design a curriculum that empowered Mississippi’s Black youth to express themselves and use their voices to think and act politically.
HBCUs: When white colleges and universities refused to accept Black students, we built our own institutions. Wilberforce, the first HBCU opened by Black people in 1856 and many others, was established through Black churches' efforts.
HilmanTok is a beautiful reminder that our community has always known how to unite, organize, and pool resources to uplift and educate each other. It's what we do. Together, we have all the resources needed to be a self-sustaining community. Let us stay committed to building for us, by us.