Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage, David Livingston/Getty Images
Bennett College, one of two existing women-only HBCUs, is in a bit of trouble. According to the school’s former president, Julianne Malveaux, the college has recently been deemed as financially unstable after a recent assessment by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Bennett needs a total of $5 million by February 1, 2019, to keep its accreditation, and brothers Jussie Smollett and Jake Smollett want to help. They recently took to Instagram to motivate others to #StandWithBennett as well, and spread awareness about what the college is going through.
The Empire star even laid a little HBCU history on us to let us know how important giving to Bennett is: “In the 1930s we had 121 #HBCUs now we’re at 101. Don’t let us be down to 100 if #BennettCollege, who has made the education of black women a priority since 1926, closes its doors.”
Even Malveaux mirrored the actor’s sentiments by saying that the history of the college “must be preserved,” and “will only be maintained if folks who love women, women’s history, and the elevation of Black women’s voices come together to find five million dollars in just a few weeks.”
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 14: Jussie Smollett attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations: “Empire” at The Robin Williams Center on November 14, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
The Living By Design star and his brother aren’t the only celebrities who have shown their support for HBCUs. Last year, the cast of A Different World awarded Southwestern Christian College with $100,000. Beyoncé also announced her $100,000 scholarship that would help students at four HBCUs with their education. And Kamala Harris and Doug Jones made it possible to increase federal funding for HBCUs by millions in the last year.
TELL US: Do you think Bennett College will get the funding they need by February 1?
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