EDITOR’S NOTE: Ms. Branam, a senior mass communications major at Delaware State University, participated in this event and wrote about her experiences.

WASHINGTON — On Feb. 23, White House Director of African American Media Erica P. Loewe led a press briefing with Historically Black Colleges and Universities students.

Also in attendance were U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also a Howard University alumna, as well as Keisha Lance Bottom, a graduate from Florida A&M University, who holds the position of senior adviser to the president for public engagement. During the event, they answered a plethora of questions from HBCU students.

Ms. Bottoms, who is also the former mayor of Atlanta, spoke about the life-changing experiences she had at her university. She talked about the university’s mission to strengthen the minds of the African American community. She also expressed the importance of Black literature within the education of African Americans, and American scholars because it plays a large role in the history of America.

She said that education that propelled her to succeed in life. “I’d never seen anyone like me inside the White House, and here I stand … years later,”she said. Ms. Bottoms also addressed the importance of HBCUs within the Biden-Harris administration. In fact, she noted that, the president’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs is led by Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University.

Vice President Harris joined the conversation and both women engaged in student-led questions. A senior at Wiley College asked the White House representatives what they feel is not broadcast enough in the media when it comes to HBCUs and Black education

The vice president expressed there is a “whole lot that’s not in the mainstream media.” She went on to talk about the importance of family, including her Divine Nine family, where she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which she noted many reporters and media outlets were not informed of its historical, and communal relevance until her vice presidency.

In fact, both women are a part of Divine Nine Organizations, Ms. Bottoms is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and both expressed the importance of African American sororities and fraternities in Black America.

Vice President Harris also encouraged the students “to share who we are,” as young black journalists who, “have a responsibility, because you have had the good fortune, and blessing of being in an academic environment… of all those who want to nurture you.” She added that the experience at HBCUs gives students the necessary confidence to never feel small.

The vice president talked about issues regarding HBCU funding and infrastructure upgrades. She said that creating programs that will lessen student loan debt is a game change.

Vice President Harris left the HBCU students with this message: “Your voices are so important. You as journalists have such a unique skill and ability to really be a voice of and a voice for so much that is important in our country. Continue to use your voices because we need you,” she said.