Everybody say, “Thank you Dr. Barlow!”
An educational revolution is happening on TikTok, and it’s being led by accomplished Black professionals and educators. At a time when efforts to erase history and limit education are constantly making headlines, “HillmanTok University” is providing creative and accessible learning on the platform, with courses on everything from African American history to financial literacy.
It all started with Dr. Barlow, a real-life African American Studies professor known as @afamstudies on TikTok. She uses the platform to engage with her students about assignments and class-related announcements. Her now-viral video, “Welcome to Intro African-American Studies Spring 2025,” introduced her course and quickly caught the attention of all of TikTok. Many users playfully pretended to enroll, filling the comments with humor. One joked, “How the heck did I get back in school 🤦🏾♀️let me find my seat chilllld.” While Dr. Barlow clarified that her content was for her real class, it sparked something bigger.
Inspired by her post and the desire for education now more than ever, other Black educators and professionals began creating their own “HillmanTok” courses, complete with syllabi, reading materials, and more. A nod to the fictional HBCU, Hillman College, from the hit show, “A Different World,” on “HillmanTok,” there’s a course for everyone, from Financial Literacy and Black Fashion History to African American Studies and Spades 101. TikTok “students” are fully engaged, signing up and taking these courses seriously.
Search “HillmanTok” on the social platform to start learning today!
Cover photo: Black Educators Are Reclaiming Education on TikTok with “Hillman Tok University” / Photo Credit: X / arieswhore420