Meet the Kings & Queens of HBCU Chess!

HBCU Chess has a long but largely undocumented history. During the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic hosted by The Black Odyssey, six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (known as “HBCUs”) gathered to participate in the 2nd annual event. Hampton, Howard, Morehouse, and North Carolina A&T, each fielded two teams. While Florida A&M University (FAMU) only sent two players, Caleb Parker won the individual title. The venue was the Georgia Insititute of Technology, which is just a few miles from the Atlanta University Center (AUC).

Last year, Morris Brown College hosted the event, and the participants could walk the hallowed grounds where W.E.B. DuBois wrote his inspired book, The Souls of Black Folks.

Morris Brown College, site of the inaugural HBCU Chess Classic
All photos by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum

This year, the event’s venue lacked a cultural connection, but the excitement was still present as some of the returnees traveled as long as 22 hours to attend the event. During the event, The Chess Drum’s Daaim Shabazz spoke with the Presidents of four HBCU chess clubs (and one club member) and asked them questions about their respective clubs, their growth, and their participation in the HBCU Chess Classic. Many ideas were articulated… from a social media blitz, to a lawn chess set, to community service activities. Let’s hear what each of these presidents had to say!

Caleb Parker, Florida A&M University

Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
HBCU Spotlight: Florida A&M

Nicolas Perkins, North Carolina A&T

Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
HBCU Spotlight: North Carolina A&T

Cassidy Sparks, Howard University

Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
HBCU Spotlight: Howard University

Breon McCray III, Hampton University

Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum
HBCU Spotlight: Hampton University

Jamila Thompson, Spelman College

Video by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum

Morehouse College Chess Club

Alan Cowan (Morehouse ’23), The Black Odyssey


Video interview courtesy of The Black Odyssey
Editing by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum

See you next year!

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