Blackburn Takeover

Last updated May 22, 2025

The #BlackburnTakeover was a student protest at Howard University in Washington, D.C. that started on October 12, 2021 and ended on November 15, 2021, to protest poor housing conditions. Leaders in this protest include Howard University students Channing Hill, Aniyah Vines, Deja Redding, Jasmine Joof, Lettirose Cargill, Cherelle Muhammad, Tyler Davis, and Elishabeth Cunningham. The #BlackburnTakeover went viral on social media platforms including Instagram and Twitter. The Live Movement, which is an HBCU coalition, helped in amplifying the protest.^[1] A primary complaint of the protesters include mold, mice, flooding and substandard living conditions in residential buildings on campus. Around 150 students erected a tent city outside of the Blackburn University Center, demanding an improvement in living conditions and representation on the university's board of trustees.^[2]^[3]

The students' demands were:

A town hall with President Wayne A.I. Frederick and the entire student body
Student trustee positions to be permanently reinstated to the Board of Trustees of Howard University
A comprehensive housing plan to remedy all issues plaguing on campus and off campus housing
Academic, legal, and disciplinary immunity for all protestors involved

Reaction

The university claimed that as a result of the protest, Sodexho food service employees of the Blackburn café were laid off.^[4]

A number of prominent figures came out in support of the student protest.^[4]

Senator Elizabeth Warren pledged her solidarity with students on Twitter
Reverend Jesse Jackson visited the school to show his support.
Rapper Gucci Mane and other performers on his record label pulled out of the university’s homecoming celebration to show support for the student’s demands.
Local lawmakers additionally showed their support, including At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George.

References

↑ Richardson, Randi (October 26, 2021). "Howard students protest over mold, mildew, mice and other poor housing conditions". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-26.
↑ Williams, Elliot C. (October 23, 2021). "Howard University Protest Continues For 10 Consecutive Days, Into Homecoming Weekend". Deist. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23.
↑ Pusatory, Matt; Arnold, Jess (October 13, 2021). "Howard University students stage sit-in over board representation, housing issues". wusa9.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-13.
1 2 "Howard University President Addresses Housing Issues, Stops Short Of Meeting Protesters' Demands". DCist. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.

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CNN: Howard students protest living conditions

https://www.cnn.com/videos/homes/2021/11/12/howard-university-dorm-conditions-channing-hill-student-intv-nr-vpx.cnn

CNN: Howard Students are Living in Tents https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/14/us/howard-university-protests-dorm-conditions

Vice.com: Howard University students stage protest over housing conditions https://www.vice.com/en/article/howard-university-students-stage-protest-over-housing-conditions/

TODAY.com: Howard Students protest poor housing conditions https://www.today.com/tmrw/blackburn-takeover-howard-university-students-protest-over-poor-housing-conditions-t235883

Rolling Stone We will not leave until our demands are met: Inside the Howard University Protests https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/howard-university-protest-sit-in-1254450/

WUSA: Howard University president addresses students amid protests https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/howard-president-addresses-university-as-campus-protests-enter-24th-day-on-campus/65-c3bde2d6-8c9d-4199-b482-aa9df7c036f5

Savannah Tribune: Howard Protests Escalate: President demands end to occupation https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/howard-protests-escalate-president-demands-end-to-occupation/

Politico: Biden made Huge Promises to HBCUs. Can he sell its students on compromising? https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/09/biden-hbcus-howard-university-protests-520391

Washington Post: Howard University Protest End with Deal https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/11/15/howard-university-protests-end-deal/

NBC News: Protest at Howard University ends with confidential agreement https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/33-day-protest-howard-university-ends-confidential-agreement-rcna5625

Our Time Press and Yahoo News: We Won https://ourtimepress.com/we-won-howard-university-protests-inspire-student-activists-across-the-u-s/

NBCWashington.com: Howard student wins NAACP Youth Activist Award https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/howard-student-gets-naacp-youth-activist-award/2981626

YRMedia: Howard student Channing Hill wins NAACP Image Award https://yr.media/arts-culture/howard-channing-hill-naacp-image-awards-miles-brown-saweetie-danny-boyd/

CBS News Texas: Texas Channing Hill wins NAACP Youth Activist of the Year https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texan-channing-hill-naacp-youth-activist-year/

Atlanta Daily World: Youth activist pushes for changes at Howard University https://atlantadailyworld.com/2022/04/05/naacp-youth-activist-of-the-year-pushes-for-changes-at-howard-university/

Dallas Morning News: Euless Trinity grad wins NAACP Award for activism https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2022/03/01/howard-universitys-channing-hill-a-euless-trinity-grad-wins-naacp-award-for-activism/

Pharell Williams pays off NAACP youth leaders college debts https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/student-debt-pharrell-williams-howard-u-im-still-in-disbelief-pharrell-williams-picks-up-the-tab-for-north-texas/287-c5752e8b-961f-4140-b35d-9679f2e7b948

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[1] Richardson, Randi (October 26, 2021). "Howard students protest over mold, mildew, mice and other poor housing conditions". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-26.

[2] Williams, Elliot C. (October 23, 2021). "Howard University Protest Continues For 10 Consecutive Days, Into Homecoming Weekend". Deist. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23.

[3] Pusatory, Matt; Arnold, Jess (October 13, 2021). "Howard University students stage sit-in over board representation, housing issues". wusa9.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-13.

[:0-4] 1 2 "Howard University President Addresses Housing Issues, Stops Short Of Meeting Protesters' Demands". DCist. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.

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