It’s the HBCU Pride for us!
NBA superstar Chris Paul recently announced that he is currently enrolled at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), Newsone reports.
We previously reported Paul’s advocacy on the court, utilizing his platform to raise awareness and funds for historically Black colleges and universities. On every game day, the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard would enter the NBA bubble, donning various HBCU paraphernalia, garnering the schools well deserved attention. Paul also partnered with HBCUs, Winston-Salem included helping raise funds for different programs and was slated to be on board to produce a documentary about the historically Black schools.
Now, Paul is putting his education where his advocacy is, announcing his enrollment at WSSU on a recent episode of First Take. A native of Winston-Salem, both of his parents attended the historically Black university. Paul completed two years at Wake Forest before being drafted to the NBA but has made no qualms about his regret around that decision.
“I’m one of the only people in my family that didn’t attend an HBCU. But deep down inside, I feel like I did, or I wish I would have,” Paul previously told Slam magazine.
First Take’s Stephen A. Smith, a WSSU alum, congratulated Paul and thanked him for his efforts, HBCU Gameday reports.
“I know you went to Wake Forest University which is in the ACC, not an HBCU, but your contributions to HBCUs throughout the many many years – in some circles has been well-chronicled – in other circles, it hasn’t been chronicled enough. So I really just want to thank you, my man, I really appreciate it,” Smith said.
Over the years, Paul has formed ties with WSSU, hosting celebrity charity basketball games and donating $25,000 to their athletic program. He has worked hard to bring awareness to the importance of HBCUs, encouraging student-athletes to attend them to ensure the schools dedicated to educating us are receiving adequate funding.
“If you grow up in the South, you’re going to have that culture and DNA in you, so for me, it’s just been about trying to give a voice to the voiceless. Everyone doesn’t always know about HBCUs and why they were created. I’m just trying to bring attention to them,” Paul said.
In addition to his offseason educational pursuits, Paul is also working on a voting campaign to ensure HBCU students get to the polls. He’s continuing his partnership with Live Nation Urban and North Carolina A&T to create a course focused on the intersectionality of entertainment, media, and sports.
Thank you for all you’re doing, Chris Paul! Because of you, we can!
Photo Courtesy of @cp3/Instagram