Student Stories

Marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities are undeniably one of the most important parts of the campus culture. HBCU marching bands are increasingly showcased on major national stages, highlighting their talent and cultural significance. Southern University’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl, Arkansas Pine Bluff’s appearance on WWE SmackDown, and Jackson State’s participation in the Rose Bowl are just a few examples. Alabama A&M represented at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and this year, Alcorn State will perform during the Thanksgiving festivities while Morgan State will take the stage at the Rose Bowl. These opportunities celebrate the rich traditions of HBCU culture and serve as inspiration for students. Beyoncé’s 2024 Christmas Day performance with Texas Southern’s band further emphasized the impact and visibility of HBCU bands on a global scale. These high-profile performances showcase the excellence of HBCU students and create a national platform to celebrate their culture, leadership, and impact. By highlighting these moments, we continue to uplift HBCU communities, ensuring their contributions are recognized and their voices are heard on a broader scale.

Dr. Taylor Whitehead is the Director of Marching and Pep Bands at Virginia State University (VSU). Dr. Whitehead’s journey and inspiration for music began around age 4 or 5 when he attended his first HBCU Homecoming at Virginia State University. He gained his passion for music and marching band by watching the VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band perform. Both of Dr. Whitehead’s parents attended Virginia State University, unknowingly creating a beautiful legacy for their family. Coming from a small town, Meharrin, Virginia, he always longed for city life, which made Howard University his number one choice for undergraduate studies. Ultimately, his purpose was much bigger and led him to follow in his parents’ footsteps, attending Virginia State University for his undergraduate degree. Upon graduating from VSU, he became a high school band director in North Carolina for 20 years, and after that, he transitioned to college marching band direction. He started as assistant director at Virginia State University in 2013, became the official band director in 2022, and continues in that position today. As band director of such an incredible institution, Dr. Whitehead instills leadership skills, grit, and resilience in his students.

 “Everything I do is about motivation. HBCU band culture is very competitive, which results in some of my students beginning to doubt their skills. I’m a cheerleader every day by encouraging them to greatness,” says Dr. Whitehead. It takes a lot of hard work to be a marching band member, from choreography to musicianship and precision. Students have to juggle all of these responsibilities while also maintaining their school priorities.

Dr. Whitehead’s relationship with The Andrew Goodman Foundation began during the 2024 election season. Our HBCU Cohort launched our HBCU Band Initiative to support a marching band for one of our network schools for one game. Dr. Whitehead was introduced to the project by our VSU Campus Team, Andrew Goodman Campus Champion Shandra Claiborne-Payton, and Andrew Goodman Ambassadors Camille Tucker and Shanneka Claiborne. Dr. Whitehead already wanted to do something to encourage his students to vote, so he felt like the opportunity aligned perfectly for the band as student leaders on campus. The VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band curated a performance video to encourage their campus to vote, creating a VOTE formation on their football field with their bodies. Please watch the video here (which has gained 16.1k views on Instagram). Through the process of creating the performance, he was able to speak to the students about voting and use the time to educate them more about the process and why their vote is important.

In their rehearsal for their election day performances, he specifically remembers that students were learning about the electoral process and how many votes it takes to become POTUS. The day after Election Day, they had a corporate performance at Bank of America, highlighting what Historically Black Colleges and Universities do for society. On the way to the performance, the bus was as quiet as a mouse. Students felt disappointed after the election results. They felt as if their votes were not important and all of their hard work was wasted. He talked to his students and encouraged them to know that their vote does count and they should participate in all elections, including state and local. Since then, there has been less uncertainty, but students have been reemerging since the new presidency started.

Looking ahead to 2025, Virginia will hold its gubernatorial election and numerous local races across the state, giving voters a chance to make their voices heard and influence leadership on both a state and local level. These elections are critical, as they set the stage for policies that will affect everything from education to healthcare and infrastructure. And with the midterm elections just around the corner in 2026, the upcoming races will be an essential stepping stone for shaping the future of both Virginia and the nation. Dr. Whitehead is already planning to encourage his students to get involved, stressing the importance of civic participation and the power of voting. As someone who is deeply committed to motivating students, Dr. Whitehead is dedicated to ensuring that his students understand their responsibility as informed voters. His work emphasizes the critical role civic leaders play—not just in elections but on campus and in communities where their leadership can make a lasting impact.

The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s HBCU Cohort addresses the growing challenges posed by the anti-DEI agenda, which threatens the principles that Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long championed. As institutions dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, and educational equity, HBCUs are especially vulnerable to policies that undermine these values. The Cohort is actively planning initiatives to support students as they navigate these challenges, raising awareness about the critical importance of maintaining DEI policies in educational spaces. These efforts include educational campaigns, advocacy training, and strategic partnerships with national organizations to safeguard the future of HBCUs and ensure that their students continue to have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gabrielle Slaughter is The Andrew Goodman Foundation’s Lead Program Manager: HBCU Strategist. Not only that, but she is also an alumna of the Andrew Goodman Vote Everywhere program, where she was an Ambassador at Spelman College. Gabrielle graduated from Spelman College in May of 2020 with a degree in Political Science. She currently resides in Los Angeles where she supports our Andrew Goodman HBCU Cohort alongside her puppy, Seven.