David Banner Talks HBCU Honors [Exclusive]

David Banner believes the success of HBCU Honors is rooted in one thing greater than tv metrics.

As the present climbed from fifth to 3rd in its time slot amongst Black cable viewers, fueled by triple-digit progress with youthful audiences on BET, Banner says the surge displays a technology craving to see actual journeys, not simply polished outcomes.

Speaking completely with BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass, Banner, who was awarded the HBCU Honors’ Cultural Impact Award for his influential profession as an artist and activist, defined that right this moment’s Black youth usually are not searching for lofty rhetoric. They need proof. They need course of. And most significantly, they wish to see themselves mirrored within the journey.

“What our kids need, they don’t wish to hear quite a lot of rhetoric. They wish to see it,” Banner mentioned. “Loads of occasions, they solely see the tip outcome of people that made it to a sure degree. They don’t see the trail.”

Showing the Journey, Not Just the Finish Line

Banner, a Southern University alum, spoke candidly about how hardly ever younger persons are proven the start phases of success.

He recalled being a freshman in Jones Hall, standing in registration traces identical to the scholars watching right this moment. That relatability, he mentioned, is a part of what makes HBCU Honors resonate.

“There’s a direct correlation between my schooling at Southern and who I’m right this moment,” he mentioned. “Kids don’t at all times see that path.”

That visibility was additional amplified via moments woven into the present, together with the general public show of Banner’s friendship with T.I., who honored him.

According to Banner, it was not only a movie star second, however a dwelling instance of how schooling, relationships, and long-term progress intersect.

Why Youth Inclusion Is the Real Game Changer

More importantly, Banner praised HBCU Honors for doing one thing many establishments fail to do: involving younger individuals within the dialog as a substitute of talking over them.

“We make all these guidelines and options in regards to the lives of youth, however by no means have them within the board conferences,” he mentioned. “If you take a look at HBCU Honors, it straight concerned the youth with everyone they have been honoring.”

That intentional inclusion, Banner famous, reworked this system from a retrospective celebration right into a dwelling bridge between generations.

Normalizing Conversations Around Black Men’s Health

Beyond schooling and illustration, Banner additionally spoke in regards to the necessity of addressing Black males’s well being and activism in public areas.

For him, these conversations shouldn’t be distinctive. They needs to be normalized.

“Black individuals have been used as leisure for thus lengthy,” he mentioned. “People don’t take our ache severely as a result of we have now at all times persevered at a really excessive degree.”

Banner mirrored on his personal realization, uncovered via remedy, that trauma can go unrecognized when it’s normalized by circumstance.

“I by no means observed how traumatic my childhood was as a result of that’s all I knew,” he shared. “People at all times take a look at Black individuals as survivors, however I don’t understand how for much longer we will proceed to try this.”

Vulnerability, Strength, and Being Clear on Purpose

His willingness to talk vulnerably, Banner acknowledged, is commonly misunderstood as ego, however he attributes it to readability.

“When you might be very clear in your objective and your value, individuals mistake that for ego,” he mentioned. “But quite a lot of nice individuals lose useful time as a result of others don’t react to who they’re the way in which they need to.”

That readability has formed Banner’s view of success, which he revealed whereas reflecting on receiving the Cultural Impact Award.

Why Being SGA President Still Matters More Than the Awards

Despite his music, appearing, and activism, Banner considers his tenure as Student Government Association president at Southern University his best accomplishment.

“Being SGA president at Southern is my largest accomplishment,” he mentioned. “I did that manner earlier than the music.”

Through that have, Banner realized management in a contained ecosystem, a lesson he believes ready him for broader duty.

“I understood that energy won’t ever spend money on poor individuals until poor individuals spend money on energy,” he mentioned.

Advice for the Next Generation: Rest, Read, and Resist the Rush

As the interview closed, Banner supplied recommendation to younger Black college students and creators dreaming past their present circumstances. His message rejected hustle tradition in favor of sustainability and self-knowledge.

“If you don’t sleep, you’ll die,” he mentioned plainly. “Read. You are a slave to no matter you don’t know.”

He additionally urged younger individuals to not rush maturity.

“Stop dashing to be grown. This will not be enjoyable,” Banner mentioned. “Enjoy your youth. Travel. Make errors. You actually solely study out of your errors.”

A Celebration That Connects Generations

HBCU Honors continues to function an area the place these classes usually are not simply spoken, however proven. The full prolonged present is obtainable on the HBCU Honors YouTube channel, with a BET encore airing on December 31.

As Banner made clear, the influence lies not simply in honoring excellence, however in exhibiting how it’s constructed.