The story of HBCU Night began as a novel following the journey of a young, ambitious, and brilliant girl named Imani, who is curious about what an HBCU is. She experiences the greatest night of all time, learning about the history of HBCUs and the pioneers behind them in a joyful and exciting way.

After completing the children’s book HBCU Night, I realized the story needed to continue. I re-opened my notebook and began thinking about different elements of HBCU culture, alongside segments of “HBCU Night” that deserved to be depicted in an educational way. That’s when ideas like HALFTIME, BANDS, and many more themed nights came to mind. I knew it was time to take the exciting step of turning HBCU Night into a legendary series.

As the stories of HALFTIME (the second book in the HBCU Night series) and BANDS (the third book in the series) came to life, I recognized the importance of highlighting distinct cultural elements of HBCUs. HALFTIME follows a young and curious mind, Talib, who wants to learn more about the Divine Nine and their deep-rooted connection to HBCUs. This night becomes another on of the “greatest nights ever,” featuring a Divine Nine halftime performance paired with meaningful education (phonics, phonemic awareness and colors).

Similarly, BANDS introduces Khaleef and his class of adventurous scholars as they explore HBCU culture through the sounds of band instruments, vibrant colors, and dynamic performances. This night is yet another unforgettable experience, centered around an HBCU band competition filled with joyful learning (phonics, phonemic awareness, sight words and colors) and excitement.

I hope this series brings you, your family, your classroom, or your organization the joyful education and laughter you deserve. You can also learn more about the HBCU Night Series Read-Aloud/Performance, and HBCU Trivia Program by emailing info@hbcunightbooks.com.

Sincerely,
-Andres "Dre" Martin