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The Fall of Hillmantok
Hillmantok: Discover the challenges faced by this TikTok initiative in promoting Black education. Join the conversation and subscribe for updates!
Dale Harris
February 18, 2025
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MAIN STORY
HillmanTok: Where TikTok Meets Black History
Hillmantok University emerged as an accidental educational phenomenon on TikTok. When Dr. Leah Barlow, an African American Studies professor, posted a video for her students, it unexpectedly went viral. This sparked the #Hillmantok movement, where Black educators began sharing free courses on the platform. Inspired by the fictional Hillman College from "A Different World," this initiative grew into a community akin to an unofficial online Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
Subjects Covered:
Over 400 topics from African American history to financial literacy.
The Growth and Challenges
Hillmantok quickly developed a structured approach:
Structure: A course catalog, a dedicated website, and a significant TikTok following. However, growth brought its own set of challenges:
Challenges: The original account was hacked, and internal discord among creators emerged over leadership and direction.
@hillmantok_university Thank you Dr. Barlow for unintentionally starting an education revolution! No one owns Hillmantok it is a collaboration of creators and th... See more
The Drama Unfolds
The drama escalated with:
Exclusions and Accusations: Some educators felt sidelined, leading to public disagreements about the use of the Hillmantok name and accusations of personal gain.
Current State of Hillmantok
Despite the turmoil, Hillmantok persists in its mission, continuing to offer free educational content. There's a concerted community effort towards unity and a more democratic leadership style. However, concerns about sustainability loom with TikTok's uncertain future in the U.S., prompting plans to potentially shift to other platforms.
Looking Ahead
Hillmantok is both:
A Testament: To innovative education via social media.
A Cautionary Tale: Of the complexities in managing community initiatives.
The focus now is on resolving disputes to uphold the educational mission while ensuring adaptability, so the project maintains its longevity and integrity beyond TikTok.
@rageoftau A warning. #hillmantok #hillmantokuniversity #hillmantokhbcu
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Ella Mai
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