This past summer, audiences witnessed one of the most refreshing portrayals of young Black love in years. Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil, captivated viewers across generations and backgrounds, offering a romance that felt both authentic and overdue. With Howard University playing a central role in the narrative, the series struck an even deeper chord for the Bison community.

Abigail Gitau, a freshman at Howard, reflected on how the series reshaped her pride in her new campus. “It definitely made me feel proud of where I go,” Gitau shared. “You see this girl who's accomplishing all these things and it makes you think, that’s what you’re going to get out of Howard as well. I feel like it set the standard for what a typical Howard student is.”

The show’s influence was not siloed to belong on the screen. Cast members, Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr., embraced their roles as cultural ambassadors, appearing at the NAACP convention in North Carolina this past July. There, they spoke directly with young Black leaders, embodying the very values the series ignited.