BET announces it will broadcast a new primetime news special examining student loan debt and its disproportionate impact on African American students. The special is the first nationally-televised hour-long town hall aimed at the hot button student loan crisis. Hosted by political strategist and advocate, Angela Rye, this Town Hall looks to sound the alarm and pose solutions toward affecting change to what has become an American crisis. “YOUNG GIFTED AND BROKE: Our Student Loan Crisis” airs Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET.
For all students of color, especially African Americans, obtaining a college education can become financially crippling from high levels of unmanageable student debt. Our experts blame many causes, ranging from expensive for-profit colleges that aggressively market to poor students of color, to a widespread lack of financial literacy among first generation college students. Currently, the total outstanding student debt amount in America exceeds $1.5 trillion, mainly held by students from middle and lower-income households. Without a plan of action, this issue will only get worse for African Americans.
This one-hour Town Hall will feature analysis and commentary from policymakers in the CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS (CBC), experts in the education field and student borrowers impacted by this crisis.
SCHEDULED PANELISTS INCLUDE:
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Chairman, House Education and Labor committee
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), co-sponsor with Sen. Bernie Sanders on a student loan debt cancellation bill currently in Congress
Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), former National Teacher of the Year Award recipient, committee member House Education and Labor
Wayne A. I. Frederick (MD), Howard University President
Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post Higher Education Reporter
Michael Arceneaux, Journalist and New York Times Bestselling Author
Tiffany Jones, The Education Trust Director of Higher Education Policy
Jessica Brown, Founder, College Gurl.com – student financial planning website
FEATURED GUESTS:
Jesse Williams, Actor and Activist, spokesman for “Scholly”, an app that helps students find college scholarships
Christopher Gray, founder of “Scholly” scholarship app
John King Jr. CEO, The Education Trust; former Secretary of Education – Obama Administration
Brian Bridges, Author of UNCF Report “Fewer Resources, More Debt”
Loan Debt Burdens Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities”; UNCF Vice-president of research and member engagement
Morehouse Class of 2019 graduates, recipients of the Robert Smith gift to pay for their entire class’s student debt.
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