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Black Educators Create Digital 'Hillmantok University' On TikTok
- Thread starter Rollie Forbes
- Start date
Dorian Breh
Veteran
On TikTok 
Remember when "ownership" was a buzzword
Remember when "ownership" was a buzzword
get these nets
Veteran
Thanks
I love this
I love this
On TikTok
Remember when "ownership" was a buzzword
Yeah god forbid black people use social media to be proactive
You laugh, but that's where the young people are. However, I can see this going the way of the LLC movement.On TikTok
Remember when "ownership" was a buzzword
Dorian Breh
Veteran
God forbid creators maintain control and copyright on their content
I’m guessing you missed the part where they’re educators
get these nets
Veteran
Only opposition to this would be from social media grifters and their followers.
They had an open lane for years to post random, unsubstantiated bits on that platform. To young audiences who dont know better.
College professors putting up lectures (and reading lists) of up to date research on that platform makes the real information more accessible.
They had an open lane for years to post random, unsubstantiated bits on that platform. To young audiences who dont know better.
College professors putting up lectures (and reading lists) of up to date research on that platform makes the real information more accessible.
I would love to see the Hillmantok concept continue to improve and ultimately become an actual, recognized online university that caters primarily to Black students and working adults.
and they get to keep their day jobs 
Let A Fro Be A Fro
Superstar
That thumbnail is not very encouraging. The two female instructors are teaching "courses" on makeup and posing for the camera. Yeah, there's absolutely a shortage of those types of videos online. Thanks, Dr. Thotsalot.
The website gives a better picture than the video. There's numerous history courses offered in the next semester. Quite a few are Latino history, though. They're really light on the STEM side of things. There's no math or pure science courses offered. They offer a few computer courses, some are legit IT courses. Others are basic intro to AI. One is some course bird babble course titled "Exploring Spirituality through Tech".
There is potential here, but more STEM courses are needed. Also, some of these teachers aren't even professors/instructors at a real school, just influencers using the hashtag.
The website gives a better picture than the video. There's numerous history courses offered in the next semester. Quite a few are Latino history, though. They're really light on the STEM side of things. There's no math or pure science courses offered. They offer a few computer courses, some are legit IT courses. Others are basic intro to AI. One is some course bird babble course titled "Exploring Spirituality through Tech".
There is potential here, but more STEM courses are needed. Also, some of these teachers aren't even professors/instructors at a real school, just influencers using the hashtag.
HillmanTok, TikTok's accidental university taught by Black educators, is a hit with students
A network of Black educators, experts and content creators came together to form HillmanTok University, for courses on more than 400 subjects.
www.nbcnews.com
HillmanTok, TikTok's accidental university taught by Black educators, is a hit with students
A network of Black educators, experts and content creators came together to form HillmanTok University, for courses on more than 400 subjects.
Professor Leah Barlow's post for her students, running down the course plan for her Introduction to African American Studies class, including work from Audre Lorde, left, and Gil Scott-Heron right, turned into a TikTok phenomenon. Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images; TikTok
Feb. 7, 2025, 11:39 AM EST
By Maya Eaglin and Nicolle Majette
Class is in session at HillmanTok University, a virtual and symbolic online institution that’s bringing together millions of curious learners and academics.
But this university is unlike any other: It fully exists on TikTok.
And it was created by accident.
In late January, Leah Barlow posted a welcome message to her real Intro to African American Studies class at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on TikTok. In about a week, the video mapping out her course for her 36 students reached almost 4 million people.
“I was just looking for a way to engage, but this launched something that is much bigger than me,” Barlow said.
Thousands of commenters jumped at the idea of attending class, joking that they somehow “automatically enrolled” in the course.
“Homeworks due tomorrow?? Wait hold on!” one person replied.
“Dr. Barlow, are there any extra credit opportunities?” another wrote.
Barlow’s videos suddenly inspired a network of Black educators, experts and content creators to form HillmanTok University, where they are sharing their expertise in more than 400 subjects that range from baking to chemistry.
HillmanTok has now expanded to a website with a course catalogue featuring hundreds of offerings for spring 2025. Students can take a range of classes such as Forensic Pathology, Raising Chickens for a Sustainable Future or even We Got Food at Home.
Millions of people have been tuning in to creators posting clever class introductions and engaging lesson plans. Some lessons can fit in TikTok’s 10-minute video limit, while other instructors use the TikTok Live feature for longer lectures and to allow class participation.
Cierra Hinton is a sixth grade math teacher by day, but after the bell rings she’s HillmanTok’s co-founder. She said she was inspired to take action after watching Barlow’s video.
Hinton coined the school’s name, a reference to Hillman, the fictional historically Black college featured in “The Cosby Show” and its spinoff, “A Different World.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Hillman,” Hinton said.
HillmanTok aims to bring the experience of an HBCU to an online community.
“Here at HillmanTok, you are now able to connect with people of high esteem that are able to just teach because they love to teach, they want to teach, and they want to connect with people,” Hinton said.
Creating that community has come with its own challenges. The original HillmanTok account was hacked while Hinton was attempting to receive blue-check verification.
As a result, Hinton was locked out, forcing her to create a new page.
But the new account is rebuilding and now has more than 100,000 followers.
Another challenge is the future of TikTok in the United States. The app is currently not available for download on Apple’s App Store, and is operating only for existing users via an extension approved by President Donald Trump.
If TikTok goes away, the HillmanTok team said they’re prepared to migrate the courses to a different platform.
“We have contingencies upon contingencies,” Hinton said. “HillmanTok is so important to us that we are worried about all kinds of things.”
While HillmanTok may live in the digital space right now, its organizers have big dreams to formalize the institution in the future.
“Build it — you be the thing,” Hinton said. “If you build it, then people will come.
CodeKansas
Superstar
This shyt finna get co-opted to Hell and back.
Gonna check in on this in a few months and see if I'm wrong.
I like the idea, though.
Gonna check in on this in a few months and see if I'm wrong.
I like the idea, though.
MajesticLion
Veteran
Willingness and ability do not supercede the fundamental issues of ownership nor the physical/legal defending of it.
That basic mistake has kept people stuck in the same loop for far too long. Smarten up.
That basic mistake has kept people stuck in the same loop for far too long. Smarten up.