Howard University & HBCU Excellence: The Definitive DC Guide
The complete guide to Howard University, the HBCU experience in Washington DC, and the legacy of Black excellence shaping the nation's capital.
Howard University and the broader HBCU ecosystem have shaped Washington DC's political, cultural, and intellectual life for over 150 years. From the founding generation of Black political leadership to today's senior congressional staffers, cabinet officials, journalists, lawyers, and cultural figures, Howard and HBCU alumni form one of the most influential professional networks in the nation's capital.
This guide is the comprehensive starting point for understanding Howard, HBCU culture in DC, and the legacy of Black excellence that defines this city.
Quick Answer: Why Howard Matters in Washington
Howard University is the most influential HBCU in the United States by virtually every measure: alumni in elected office, federal appointments, congressional leadership staff, Fortune 500 executives, media leaders, and cultural figures. Founded in 1867, Howard has educated more Black professionals in DC and nationally than any other single institution.
Founded: March 2, 1867
Location: 2400 Sixth Street NW, Washington, DC 20059
Enrollment: Approximately 12,000 students
Notable alumni: Thurgood Marshall, Vice President Kamala Harris, Toni Morrison, Stokely Carmichael, Andrew Young, Phylicia Rashad, Taraji P. Henson, Chadwick Boseman, Anthony Anderson
Schools and colleges: 14, including the only HBCU College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, and School of Law
The Howard Legacy: 150+ Years of Black Excellence
Howard University was founded in 1867, just two years after the Civil War ended, by members of the First Congregational Society of Washington. It was named for General Oliver Otis Howard, head of the Freedmen's Bureau, who helped secure the federal land charter.
The university opened with a mission unprecedented in American history: to educate freedpeople, Native Americans, women, and white students together at a time when most American institutions practiced strict segregation. From its founding, Howard's purpose was the creation of an educated Black professional class that could lead America.
Key Eras in Howard's History
1867-1900: Founding era — building the academic foundation and law, medical, and theological schools
1900-1950: Mordecai Wyatt Johnson presidency and the rise of Howard Law as the center of civil rights legal strategy
1950-1970: Howard Law's strategic role in Brown v. Board of Education through Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton Houston, and the legal team
1970-2000: Cultural prominence — Howard becomes synonymous with Black excellence in arts, journalism, and professional life
2000-present: Modern era of strategic growth, presidential leadership, and renewed national prominence
The Howard Experience Today
Academic Excellence
Howard offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across 14 schools and colleges. The university is classified as an R2 Doctoral University (high research activity) by the Carnegie Classification. Notable programs include:
Howard University School of Law — one of the oldest law schools in DC, central to civil rights legal history
College of Medicine — the only HBCU College of Medicine, training Black physicians for over a century
School of Communications — a leading source of Black journalists, broadcasters, filmmakers, and PR professionals
School of Business — accredited by AACSB, producing Black executives and entrepreneurs
Cathy Hughes School of Communications — named after the Radio One founder
Campus Life and Culture
Howard's campus, known as "The Mecca," is centered in the LeDroit Park / Pleasant Plains neighborhood of Northwest DC. Campus traditions include Homecoming (one of the most-attended HBCU events nationally), the Yard as a central gathering space, step shows, and the Bison athletic programs.
Howard's Influence on Washington Power
Howard alumni populate Washington's power structure at every level:
Politics and Government
Vice President Kamala Harris (Howard '86) — the highest-ranking Black woman in U.S. history
Multiple current and former members of Congress
Senior staff across the White House, federal agencies, and Capitol Hill
Mayors, judges, and elected officials across the country
Law and Civil Rights
Thurgood Marshall — Supreme Court Justice and chief architect of Brown v. Board
Charles Hamilton Houston — architect of the legal strategy that ended legal segregation
Pauli Murray — pioneering civil rights lawyer and theologian
Media and Culture
Toni Morrison — Nobel Prize-winning novelist
Cathy Hughes — Radio One founder, the largest Black-owned broadcast company
Hundreds of journalists, anchors, and editors across major newsrooms
Entertainment
Chadwick Boseman — actor, "Black Panther"
Taraji P. Henson — Emmy and Golden Globe winner
Phylicia Rashad — Tony Award winner, current Dean of Howard Fine Arts
Anthony Anderson — actor and television host
Other DC-Area HBCUs and Black Institutions
While Howard is the most prominent, DC's HBCU and Black higher-ed ecosystem includes:
University of the District of Columbia (UDC) — the District's public HBCU, located on Connecticut Avenue NW
Bowie State University (Maryland) — Maryland's oldest HBCU, located in Prince George's County
Coppin State University (Maryland) — Baltimore-based HBCU with significant DC alumni
Morgan State University (Maryland) — Baltimore's flagship HBCU
Hampton University (Virginia) — though in Hampton, deeply connected to DC professional networks
The Black Professional Class in DC
Washington DC has the highest concentration of Black professionals of any major U.S. city. Several factors contribute:
Howard, UDC, and proximity to other HBCUs feed talent into local professional life
The federal government has historically been one of the largest employers of Black professionals in America
The District's 40%+ Black population sustains a robust Black business, cultural, and political ecosystem
Generations of Black families have built multi-generational wealth and influence in DC
HBCU Homecoming Season in DC
Howard's Homecoming, held annually in October, is one of the most-attended college events in the country, drawing 50,000+ alumni and visitors. It's both a campus tradition and a national networking event for the Black professional class. Key events include:
The Yardfest concert
Step shows and Greek life events
The Homecoming football game at Greene Stadium
Alumni reunion gatherings
Citywide parties and brand activations across DC
FAQ: Howard University & HBCUs in DC
What does HBCU stand for?
HBCU stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities — institutions founded before 1964 with the principal mission of educating Black Americans. There are 107 HBCUs in the United States today.
Is Howard University an Ivy League school?
Howard is not in the Ivy League (which is an athletic conference of 8 northeastern schools). However, Howard is considered part of the "Black Ivies" — an informal grouping of prestigious HBCUs including Howard, Spelman, Morehouse, Hampton, and Fisk.
Who founded Howard University?
Howard was founded in 1867 by members of the First Congregational Society of Washington, with major involvement from General Oliver Otis Howard, head of the Freedmen's Bureau.
What percentage of Howard students are Black?
Approximately 85-90% of Howard's enrollment identifies as Black or African American. The university also has international, Latino, and other students, reflecting its founding mission of multi-racial education.
How does Howard rank among HBCUs?
Howard consistently ranks #1 or #2 nationally among HBCUs by U.S. News & World Report and other rankings, with Spelman College frequently sharing the top spot.
What's the difference between Howard and UDC?
Howard is a private research university founded in 1867. UDC (University of the District of Columbia) is the District's public HBCU, founded in its current form in 1977 as a land-grant institution. Both are based in DC, but they serve different student populations and missions.
What to Watch Next
Howard University and the HBCU ecosystem are entering a period of renewed prominence:
Federal investment in HBCU infrastructure and research is at historic highs
Major philanthropic gifts from MacKenzie Scott, Michael Bloomberg, and others are reshaping HBCU endowments
Howard's strategic plan for the next decade includes major capital projects and program expansion
Cultural prominence continues to grow through alumni in entertainment, journalism, and politics
For ongoing Howard and HBCU coverage, follow our Howard & HBCU section. Subscribe to The DC Insider for our weekly briefings on DC politics, culture, and the Black professional class shaping Washington.
This guide is maintained by the Washington DC Magazine editorial team. Last revision: May 2026.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
