The Atlanta Hawks created a night to remember with “HBCU Night presented by Chase.” From start to finish, State Farm Arena was filled with the essence of being at an HBCU. The evening opened with the Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” followed by the national anthem. The spirit continued with high-energy music and dance performances from Mahogany-N-Motion, the official dance team of Spelman College, and the Morehouse College House of Funk band during halftime.
The day began with a blood drive hosted by the Hawks, Chase, and the American Red Cross, followed shortly after by a panel presented by Chase titled “Evolving the Community: Building a Legacy.” The panel featured several HBCU alumni, including La Keisha Johnson (Co-founder of the HBCU Culture Legacy Foundation), Torian Robinson (Director of Business Development at Alkeme Health), and Rashida Winfrey (VP, Senior Business Consultant at Chase). Each panelist emphasized the importance of what HBCUs have done and will continue to do for the community. Mrs. Johnson spoke about falling in love with the process of becoming who you are unapologetically. Mr. Robinson stressed the importance of staying connected to the community that shaped you. Mrs. Winfrey reinforced the message of owning your space and knowing you belong in every room you enter. It was truly a blessing to be in attendance.
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The Atlanta Hawks capped off the festivities with a strong win over the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers. All-stars Trae Young and Dejounte Murray led the squad, combining for 59 points, 17 assists, and 12 rebounds. New addition Saddiq Bey proved his value, coming up clutch with 19 points after being inserted into the starting lineup. With a 49-point second quarter and an 81-point first half, the Hawks appeared poised under interim head coach Joe Prunty coming out of the All-Star break. In the post-game press conference, both Trae and Saddiq highlighted the importance of finding their “rhythm and flow.” Excitement is building to see what the Hawks can do as they move into the second half of the season.
From top to bottom, the Hawks once again showed they know how to put a night together for the #TrueToAtlanta fans. “HBCU Night presented by Chase” hit on all cylinders.
