August 17, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will highlight community leaders who are committed to educating others about the Gullah Geechee culture, the latest in HBCU news and find out which singer has launched a new non-profit to expand acccess to the arts.

Voices of Gullah Keep History Alive on

St. Helena Island, South Carolina

Minnie “Gracie” Gadson’s voice echoes through the historic Coffin Point Praise House, one of only three remaining wooden worship spaces built for enslaved people on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. At 78, she is part of Voices of Gullah, a group of elders preserving Gullah spirituals—songs rooted in West African traditions and passed down through generations of Sea Island descendants.

The Gullah Geechee culture, formed during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, blends African languages, music, and customs. Performers like Gadson, Rosa Murray, and Charles “Jojo” Brown carry these traditions to audiences across the U.S. and abroad, offering an authentic connection to the resilience and creativity of their ancestors. “A lot of our songs were coded,” says playwright Anita Singleton-Prather. “They are a language of survival and strength.”

Scholars like Eric Crawford have traced iconic spirituals such as Kumbaya and Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen back to St. Helena, where praise houses served as sacred spaces for prayer, music, and the ring shout—an African-rooted dance of worship. While age has slowed some traditions, the rhythmic clapping, stomping, and swaying remain a vital part of performances.

Community leaders, including Gullah Heritage Trails Tours founder Emory Campbell and singer Marlena Smalls, are committed to passing on these traditions. Through tours, plays, and festivals, they aim to ensure younger generations know their heritage. “If we don’t know who we are, we’re lost,” says Smalls. “That’s why it’s important to keep singing, keep telling the story, and keep the Gullah spirit alive.”

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Tougaloo College has partnered with Jacktown AllStar Band LLC to launch its first-ever band program, marking a historic milestone in the Mississippi HBCU’s 155-year history. The band will perform at campus events, parades, and competitions, offering scholarships to Jacktown members. Even without a football team, Tougaloo is embracing the energy and tradition that marching bands bring to HBCU culture.

Alcorn State University has received a $398,619 National Science Foundation grant to launch a three-year project integrating virtual reality (VR) and interactive teaching into undergraduate STEM education. Led by chemistry professor Dr. Hua-Jun Fan, the initiative will introduce immersive VR labs, AI-driven content, and gamified learning to enhance engagement, improve understanding, and increase retention in STEM fields. Funded through NSF’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program, the project aims to modernize Alcorn’s STEM curriculum, prepare students for graduate studies and careers, and serve as a model for technology-enhanced learning in rural and remote communities.

Norfolk State University (NSU) alum Rod Bell is hitting the road on his custom NSU-themed motorcycle for the “RIDE4MYHBCUs” tour, visiting more than 100 historically Black colleges and universities to inspire alumni giving. His goal is to raise over $10 million by encouraging 1,006 alumni donors to each give $106 to their alma maters, funding scholarships, facilities, and student resources. Bell, who launches the ride on Aug. 24, says the mission isn’t just about awareness—it’s about motivating consistent support to keep HBCUs thriving year-round and ensuring they can continue producing future Black leaders.

black history in quotes 

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culture

Dr. Danielle Spencer, beloved for her role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!!, has passed away at the age of 60. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Spencer began acting at eight years old and won over audiences nationwide with her quick wit and charm. Her life took a dramatic turn in 1977 when she survived a devastating car accident that claimed her stepfather’s life and left her with lasting injuries. Despite these challenges, she went on to earn a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University, dedicating more than two decades to caring for animals while continuing occasional work in television.

Spencer’s resilience was matched only by her generosity. She faced and overcame multiple health battles, including breast cancer and spinal stenosis, all while maintaining a commitment to community service. She was the first child actor inducted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, a testament to her cultural impact. Remembered as a “pragmatic warrior” and “Shero” by her co-stars, Danielle Spencer’s legacy is one of perseverance, purpose, and compassion—on and off the screen.

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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