Robert R. Taylor, Forever Stamp, Booker T. Washington, and Tuskegee University......

Image of Robert R. Taylor U.S. postage stamp. Courtesy of United States Postal Service.

From the Tuskegee University Website:

"TUSKEGEE, Ala. (January 23, 2015) —The most prolific contributor to Tuskegee University’s structural design and the architecture and construction school’s namesake will soon be remembered with the launch of a U.S. postage stamp. On Feb. 12, the United States Postal Service will issue a limited edition of the Forever Stamp of Robert Robinson Taylor. The stamp is the 38th addition to the service’s Black Heritage series.

"Robert R. Taylor's historic and stellar legacy and association with Tuskegee University is already etched in the annals of American history. With this stamp, it will be permanently etched in all of world history," Johnson said.

Taylor is believed to have been both the first black graduate of MIT and the country’s first academically trained black architect. Recruited by Tuskegee’s first president, Booker T. Washington, Taylor came to the university in 1892 and spent nearly his entire career teaching, developing the architecture and construction trade program, and designing more than 20 campus buildings until his death in 1942.  

Legacy for students and nation

Tuskegee’s Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science is named after him. Daya Irene Taylor (no relation), interim dean of the school continues to marvel at the significance of Taylor's contributions to the university. She believes the stamp recognition could have a long-lasting impact.

"Acknowledging the contributions of black architects like Taylor is paramount to building the future generations of leaders in design and construction,” she said.

Many of Robert R. Taylor’s Tuskegee structures such as Armstrong Hall, Emery residence halls, Rockefeller Hall, Tantum Hall, White Hall and the Willcox buildings still stand and are used to this day. He was also the architect of The Oaks, Washington’s home and modern day historic site.

“These buildings were an inspiration to our past alumni in the building trades and they remain as student-built icons that motivate our current students to excel,” Daya Irene Taylor said. “Now, through the launching of the Black Heritage Stamp in his honor, Robert R. Taylor will be an inspiration not only to the Tuskegee University community, but to the country as well."

What A GREAT DAY!

What I Know For Sure Thursday: Ain't No Bond Like The Tuskegee Bond....

(This post is about the Historically Black Colleges and Universities experience. So, if you went to a HBCU, Enjoy. If you didn't  go to a HBCU, learn.)

People who attended Historically Black Colleges or Universities, typically LOVE their schools. The love runs so deep until people will almost come to blows if you talk to much trash about their schools. I vividly remember one of my friends, whom I met at Michigan State, saying something about Tuskegee that I did not appreciate, and I will not even repeat the things that I had to say to her. We happened to be visiting Cincinnati at the time, and I was driving, and she almost got her butt left right in Cincinnati while I made my way back to Michigan. You don't talk badly about Tuskegee.....

All TU People!

Now, I have seen the bond among people who attended other HBCU's, but Ain't No Bond Like The Tuskegee Bond. For some reason, our bond runs deeper than most.

I saw Sabrina while driving in DC, and I had to stop traffic in order to speak to her:
Three TU Women

Many people who attended Tuskegee feel that this tight bond exist because of the location of the school. Tuskegee is located in a very small town and the only thing in the town is The University. There are no outlets for fun except what the students create, and boy did we create a lot of fun. Many are convinced that the fun that we created caused us to bond and bond deeply.

Two TU graduates and an adopted member!

I have heard others who think that the Tuskegee bond is spiritual. They believe that something about the founder, Booker T. Washington, being buried on the campus, caused us to bond with the University on some type of spiritual deep level that we just can't shake.

Four TU graduates

I'm not really sure why, but Ain't No Bond Like The Tuskegee Bond....

Brandi with three TU ladies

When Tuskegee people run into each other, even if they did not know each other in school, there is some sort of excitement in the air. We will hug and normally scream and talk like we have been knowing each other forever. And, if there is a lot of us together, we will talk and reminisce about Tuskegee and forget that there are other people in the room. The love is real and genuine. Also, if you marry someone, or date someone, or hang around someone who went to Tuskegee, you will get adopted into our family and the bond, and you really don't have a choice about the matter.

TU Grads

Many people, even those who went to other HBCU's, do not understand the Tuskegee bond, and many think that we are some type of Cult. This always make me chuckle.

For instance, in DC, we are fortunate to have a TU graduate who is an event planner. And, this weekend for the Delta's Centennial celebration, Chee Chee, the TU event planner, threw two parties. Now, if you went to Tuskegee, you would definitely try, with all of  your might, to attend one or both of these parties, because Skegee folks would be in the house, and we were. At the parties, all of the TU folks gravitated to one part of the room and we hugged, reminisced, sang Tuskegee songs, and literally forgot that other people were in the room. Man, it was literally like a mini homecoming. Love was all over the place. 

Two TU graduates!

I know other folks who went to HBCU's, and their bonds are deep, BUT...

What I know for sure on this Thursday is Ain't No Bond Like The Tuskegee Bond!

It's CRAZY and not easy to understand, but IT IS GOOD!

Peace, My People.

I'm going to leave you with one of our FAVORITE school songs: Ball and Parley!

What if Booker T. hadn't?

Booker T. Washington

This past weekend I traveled to Tuskegee, Alabama for the GHOE. The entire MONTH before Homecoming every year, I get so excited. People start calling to make Homecoming plans.

At homecoming, I had the opportunity to reconnect with so many people whom I met during my formative years. The impact of meeting people from all over the world, coupled with the experiences that we shared at Tuskegee University, helped to shape me into who I am today.

Sometimes, well, a lot of the time, my brain will work overtime thinking about ideas, people, words, etc. Last week, my brain would not stop thinking about Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee's first President.

I shared my ideas with a few people at Homecoming this past weekend and some stated that I was thinking a little too much, and a few stated that they really hoped that they were answering their call.

My idea is What if Booker T. Washington had not been determined to walk about 300 miles to attend Hampton University to further his education? What if Hampton had not answered the call to allow the young Booker T. into the school? Then, Booker T. may or may not have answered his call to go to Tuskegee and establish what we know today to be one of The Greatest Universities around.

Without Booker T. answering his call, then many people's lives may be quite different:

Maybe, George Washington Carver would not have had a place to do his great research in agriculture, and where would we be without that research...

Guy on the front row, in the middle, is George Washington Carver!

Maybe, Lionel Richie would not have met the other "Commodores," and we may not have the song "Brick House." Imagine the world without "Brick House."

The Commodores

Maybe, Tom Joyner would have never gotten the confidence to believe that he could be "The Fly Jock:"

Tom Joyner

Maybe, I would have never had the experiences that cultivated my love for teaching, reading, and writing. Imagine all of the students that I wouldn't have reached.....

Being in this band taught me about difficult work, perseverance,
dedication, commitment, and reward!

One of my MANY dear, life-long friends whom I met at TU
who keeps me grounded!

These guys are images of perseverance.
So happy that I met and learned from them at TU!

My saxopone section leader
who taught me about taking leadership seriously!

These guys all live in the DC area, and I feel a sense of security 

knowing that they are near and we share that common "Tuskegee Bond!"

So, in order to answer your call, you must know your calling! Well, how do you know your calling? Think about what it is that you love to do. Make no excuses, and do it often, and see what will happen.

Answering your calling is not just about you, but it's also about all of the people who are connected to your calling.

Booker T. Washington is in my collection of people whom I revere, because he did not shy away from difficult tasks, but "answered his call" and many people's lives, including his own, have been changed forever.

We must "Answer" people!!!!!!!

Enjoy this week, and get busy.