Feb. 18, 2026
Spring Convocation Challenges Bowie State Students to Lead with Courage and Speak Truth to Power
It was more than a program. It was a call to action.
“I’m delighted to see this beautiful institution educating some of the greatest future Black minds, not only in America, but in the entire world,” said keynote speaker Benjamin L. Crump, president and founder of Ben Crump Law. “That’s what Bowie State represents to me,” he said.
Bowie State University officially kicked off the spring semester during its 2026 Black History Month Spring Convocation on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Convocation signals the official start of the academic year and serves as a welcome to new and returning students. At the ceremony, University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux emphasized the institution’s commitment to excellence, as Bowie State is the oldest HBCU in state of Maryland. Dr. Breaux also read the land acknowledgment, recognizing the Indigenous community native to the land where the university is located. Bowie State’s legacy of academic excellence, access and community impact was evident throughout the ceremony.
Several hundred enthusiastic students, faculty and staff attended the event at the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Center. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Guy-Alain Amoussou provided the formal opening, and Dr. Holly Fisher-Hickman, lecturer in the Department & History of Government, commended the fortitude and tenacity of African American contributions. The ceremony also featured spirited performances by the BSU Concert Choir and the T3 Triple Threat Triad, a collaborative student musical theater ensemble.
Student voices stood at the center of the Black History Month program, powerfully shaping the moment and the message. Among them were Alfred Dixon III, Mr. Bowie State University, who offered centering remarks, and senior William Kent, a double major in computer science and bioinformatics, delivered centering remarks that honored the pioneers who reclaimed and corrected the historical record of Black achievement in the United States. Their reflections grounded the audience in legacy and responsibility. Andrea Newman, Miss Bowie State, then commanded the stage with a stirring monologue that captivated the audience, embodying the resilience, brilliance and creative spirit that define the Bowie State community. Their collective energy prepared the stage for a keynote address that would rise to the moment.
“I’m going to speak truth to power. We have an obligation to our ancestors during Black History Month,” Crump said. “It’s not only critical that we celebrate Black history, but it’s necessary that we learn the lessons from our history, because it will sustain us and propel our progress in the future.”
Crump addressed what he described as recent attacks on Black history, literature and culture. He said states including Tennessee and Texas have banned works by authors such as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker and James Baldwin. He also referenced efforts in Florida to limit Advanced Placement level Black history courses and laws revising how the U.S. Civil War is taught.
“Can you imagine young people like yourselves being told by their teachers and classmates that slavery wasn’t bad for your ancestors?” he said. “Can you imagine the psychological and generational trauma?”
Crump reminded the audience of the sacrifices made by earlier generations.
“Your grandparents cleaned other people’s houses and cared for other people’s children so you could have a better chance,” he said. “We have to be like Martin Luther King, Jr. and speak truth to power, just like his Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
Crump paraphrased King’s letter, noting that legality does not determine morality. He cited slavery, segregation and recent immigration enforcement raids as examples.
“You must call them out when you see First, Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights being violated,” he said.
A powerful conclusion brought the entire gathering on stage and the audience to their feet. “If we don’t support each other, who will?” emphasized Crump. “We don’t need the government to save us. Bowie State University is giving you everything you need to succeed. Are you going to rise to the occasion?”