ECU male students of color promote higher education with trending hashtag

Using the trendy tool of social media, a group of students at East Carolina University have set out to capture black excellence with a photo and a hashtag.

Standing tall with backpacks in hand in front of ECU’s Dowdy Student Store, 13 African-American men posed and posted pictures of themselves in formal casualwear after a day of classes. Using the hashtag #BrothersWithBooks, the men said they wanted to showcase themselves as one unit, telling the social media world all about their bond as educated, minority males. So far, the hashtag has nearly 100 retweets on Twitter and more than 300 likes on Instagram photos that have used the hashtag.

“Social media generates questions and genuine interaction,” said junior communication major Tamar Turner, president of ECU’s Black Student Union. “We wanted this to occur naturally. You can’t do that with just a flyer.”

Turner credits the trend to Associate Director of Student Affairs Lathan Turner. Over the course of his time at ECU, Tamar Turner and Lathan Turner have developed a close bond, having group lunches with friends, as well as engaging in conversation about how to attract men in putting education at the top of their list of priorities. Over time and by building off of other popular trends such as #TieWednesdays, #BrothersWithBooks eventually made a name in both the ECU community and social media. “We wanted to tackle the minorities in education issue. It’s one thing to talk the talk, but it’s another thing to walk the walk," Turner said. “The minority community is so low in number here, so we support each other. At the end of the day, we’re all getting our college education and we’re all Pirates.”

With a student body of more than 28,000 students, only about 17 percent of students at ECU are African-American. Turner said as a black, out-of state student, these demographics have always stuck with him. Using them as a motivating factor, Turner said he has taken pride in being an African-American man at a predominantly white institution, and he wants other men and women of color at ECU and at schools all over the nation to the do the same.

“Being at a (predominantly white institution) as a black man has really just opened my eyes to a lot. I would definitely say that this community has been motivating. I can leave my mark and bring my peers with me,” said Turner. “It makes me want to keep working and to be recognized on this campus. School and education is a big part of my plan. Being in a PWI is exactly what I needed.”

According to Turner, #BrothersWithBooks has been well received, especially among African-American students at ECU. However, #BrothersWithBooks won’t be the final trend when it comes to encouraging black education on social media. Turner said he hopes to involve more faculty and student organizations in the future when it comes to starting trends like this. Turner said he has also made it a priority to incorporate African-American women in a social media trend for the near future.