by Dr. Tiffany Caesar
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, the Oakland Arena experienced a surge of HBCU alumni as more than 19,000 fans packed the stadium to witness the basketball battle of the Tigers – Tuskegee University’s Golden Tigers versus Morehouse College’s Maroon Tigers. Tuskegee beat Morehouse 68-55. However, positivity won as the NBA honored HBCUs in Oakland. Before the game, Oakland native Goapele sang the Black national anthem, “Lift Every V oice and Sing,” by James Weldon Johnson, in honor of Black History Month. New Orleans music maker PJ Morton was on the piano during her soulful rendition. He followed with his beautiful cover of The Star Spangled Banner. Many other celebrities, including Jennifer Hudson, Common, Spike Lee, and Martin Luther King III, graced the arena. They blended in the crowds only to be highlighted as the rotating video camera found them in the audience. For one day, the stars we see on TV were a part of the Oakland community.
Oakland was the center of many community initiatives during the NBA All-Star Game. The NBA Foundation has a long history of helping HBCUs and investing in non-profits focused on economic opportunity for Black youth. Over $100 million has been invested in communities to create a positive impact. As the NBA Foundation website shares, “(I)nvestment in youth empowerment aims to address systemic barriers to success for underserved communities.” By providing grants to non-profit organizations that focus on financial literacy, career readiness, leadership development and more, the NBA shines like the brightest star.
In addition, NBA player Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks gave nine $25,000.00 scholarships to students at his alma mater, Oakland High School. At Oakstop, Jaylen Brown held a series of community events and shared more information about OaklandXChange, an initiative to support Black businesses in Oakland. Though the NBA All-Star games were primarily located at the San Francisco Chase Center, Oakland also promoted activities surrounding youth empowerment and economic advancements.
The HBCU-Classics game was intense and energetic as the audience members followed the players back and forth across the basketball court as Taylor Rooks provided commentary. The timeouts were entertaining with sing-alongs that included Keisha Cole’s “Love” and Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk.” The crowd was live as they were swag surfin to the iconic song by Fast Life Yungstaz.
Morehouse and Tuskegee, accompanied by their bands, played old and contemporary songs, even the popular sound by Tyler the Creator, “Sticky.” The cheerleaders encouraged their teams with complicated formations, including pyramids, pirouettes and pops.
After the game, one player shared he was excited on the court and could not believe the energy. He was welcomed to Oakland, a proud city that has continued preserving Black culture’s legacy. The Arena felt more like a big ol’ family reunion than your standard basketball game. It was a precursor to the upcoming Black Joy Parade that embodies the same spirit. Amid the DEI controversy, banning mandates of Black History Month, the melanated audience took a break and were happy.
As an audience member, Kyle Wallace-Jordan shared, “It is great to see everyone together.” He was accompanied by a friend, who agreed with the feeling. The HBCU classic was a sign of solidarity and community – everyone truly enjoyed themselves.
Tuskegee vs. Morehouse was the fourth annual HBCU Classic. The tradition is equally as important as the NBA All-Star games. In addition, it’s a great display of the NBA Foundation’s commitment to youth empowerment, diversity and cultural enrichment. So, who is ready for next year’s HBCU Classics?
Dr. Tiffany Caesar is an Oakland-based writer, scholar, artist and activist. Her work emphasizes the preservation of Black cultural heritage institutions, Africana women and leadership, pan-African political movements, reparations and self-care. She is currently an assistant professor of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University, where she teaches African American History and Black Lives Matter: Race and Social Justice Movements. Dr. Caesar also serves as the SF Bay View Student Internship Coordinator. She can be reached at drcaesar@sfbayview.com.
