Why HBCUs Matter: A Conversation with The HBCU Crew Author Bridgette Hickman

From Reading in The Middle by Annisha Jeffries

February 10, 2026 · 38 min · Season 3 · Episode 7

About this episode

Annisha Jeffries talks with Bridgette Hickman about the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in children's literature.

In this episode of Reading in the Middle, host Annisha talks with Bridgette Hickman, author of The HBCU Crew, about introducing young readers to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. They explore HBCU history, culture, and pride, discuss the characters Monet, Keni, and CJ, and examine why representation and empowerment matter in middle-grade books. A must-listen for librarians, educators, and families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Annisha Jeffries

Guest: Bridgette Hickman

Topics covered

HBCU history
representation in literature
middle-grade books
empowerment
young readers

Keywords

HBCUs
Bridgette Hickman
The HBCU Crew
middle-grade literature
representation
empowerment
young readers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Books & works: The HBCU Crew