Photo Courtesy of NAACP
Pharrell Williams just made a few NAACP student leaders very “Happy.”
On June 17, During an NAACP panel about the Black student debt crisis at the St. Regis hotel in D.C., Williams announced that he would be paying off college debt for five NAACP youth leaders.
The Virginian rapper announced just hours before his three-day “Something In The Water” festival.
The student NAACP leaders getting their debt canceled include Robyn Hughes, Southern University (Junior), Damarius Davis, North Carolina AT (Alumni), Jamie Turner, Norfolk State University (Alumni), Channing Hill, Howard University (Senior) and Devan Vilfrard, Florida A&M University (Senior).
Wisdom Cole, NAACP’s National Director of Youth and College, said
, “Pharrell forever changed their lives. This was a powerful moment. Now just imagine if President Biden made this a reality for all student debt holders in America.”He continued, “Student debt continues to disproportionately plague the Black community and crush opportunities for so many Black people. It is time to reduce the racial wealth gap, it is time for President Biden to fulfill his promise.
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Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP, shared his reaction to Williams’ generosity on Twitter, writing, ‘Right after @Pharrell surprised young NAACP leaders by paying off ALL their student debt, someone asked ‘what are you going to do now?’ One student tearfully responded, ‘I’m going to law school.’ This is what it’s about—unlocking opportunities for those historically oppressed.”
The Biden administration and The U.S. Department of Education extended the pause for student loan repayment until August 31, 2022.