Historically Black at UNC crafts student media projects

“Where connections are made, people are informed, and the masses are entertained,” is the phrase that has remained the motto of Historically Black at UNC since the organization's first Instagram post.

The student media group with a diverse catalogue of content was established three years ago by alumna Krystal Lacayo. HBUNC started out by producing weekly news segments to inform Black students and any students interested in learning about campus opportunities for people of color. It has since expanded to larger media projects such as the Black UNC yearbook and their rendition of Love Island, a popular dating reality TV show. 

“We started doing HBUNC Replay, which is where we go to different events, and we do social media promotion for them at the events and post and talk about it afterward,” Addison Truzy, the organization's current president, said. 

Truzy also said that other student groups, including the Union of Black Men, the Black Student Movement and Black Ink Magazine, have been instrumental in working together with the organization.

When Truzy first joined, she said HBUNC had the "bare minimum" of a team: a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer and three news anchors. She said that today, the organization consists of about 50 members. 

Two of those members include outreach coordinators Melanie Cabrero and Savannah Ransom. They network for community projects; act as a line of communication between other members and participating groups and present information about HBUNC at events. 

Compared to her last semester when she first became involved in the organization, Ransom said she has seen an increase in her responsibilities. Truzy said  the organization has definitely shown intention to do more this academic year, partly because of their growth.

“Especially now, we have tried to make this Black History Month as memorable as possible,” she said.

Those interested in joining HBUNC can apply through a form linked on the organization's social media. Students can work as anchors, editors, graphic designers, videographers, photographers or script writers.

Truzy said HBUNC aims to bridge the gap to help incoming Black students find a space at UNC, regardless of administrative actions or changes.

“We want to foster a community where people are able to have access to resources that are typically not shared with them,” Truzy said. 

Christian Lopez, a UNC sophomore, said HBUNC does a good job at cultivating community.

“I always see a lot of their promotions and their banners and fliers outside through campus and mainly in the Pit,” he said. 

In mentioning HBUNC's Love Island — composed of weekly episodes posted on the account's Youtube — Lopez laughed, saying he likes the show but doesn't know the participants' names very well.

After a quick Instagram search of the contestants on HBUNC's Instagram, he announced: 

“I want Chris to win.” 

In addition to the segments, HBUNC's Executive Producer NaTasja Jeter, said that last semester, the organization also conducted projects including interviewing Black faculty and conducting tours of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. 

“I'm hoping we can get back to that stuff as well, because that's just as important as everything else that we're doing,” she said.

Jeter said that even the club’s less serious content is a form of activism, saying she loves her work at HBUNC because of her ability to push young girls, especially young Black women, to explore who they are.

“I think something that's so powerful is still being able to find joy and laughter in times of chaos,” she said.

@dailytarheel | university@dailytarheel.com