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Strawberry Letter

Info You Can Use: Interview focuses on debt-free education, wealth-building, and long-term financial planning.

Strawberry Letter

iHeartPodcasts

Relationships, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 23 May 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Douglass Fort.

Founder of The Blerd Academy (Black Nerds), a wealth-building and scholarship program for high-achieving Black youth. The conversation explores Fort’s personal journey, the mission of his organization, and the broader impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

🔑 Key Topics & Highlights

  1. The Blurd Academy Mission
  • Founded to support academically gifted Black students in securing scholarships to HBCUs.
  • Has helped students earn over $8 million in scholarships since 2016.
  • Focuses on debt-free education, wealth-building, and long-term financial planning.
  1. Douglass Fort’s Personal Journey
  • Grew up in East Palo Alto, California, during the crack epidemic.
  • Survived being shot twice and turned his life around through education.
  • Attended Jackson State University, where he became an honors graduate and started his first nonprofit.
  • Credits his transformation to mentorship, faith, and the supportive environment of an HBCU.
  1. Empowering Black Youth
  • Fort emphasizes outcomes over talk—showing success stories to inspire belief.
  • Encourages students to pursue entrepreneurship and homeownership early.
  • Advocates for using HBCUs as a strategic path to success, especially for students who qualify for elite schools but may face high debt.
  1. Scholarship Criteria Example (Jackson State)
  • 3.25 GPA + 1130 SAT or 23 ACT = Full tuition.
  • Higher scores can lead to full ride including room, board, and books.
  1. Economic & Social Impact of HBCUs
  • HBCUs produce a significant percentage of Black professionals:
    • 70% of Black doctors and dentists
    • 50% of Black lawyers
    • 60% of Black teachers
  • Fort and McDonald stress the undervalued role of HBCUs in shaping Black excellence.
  1. Support & Funding
  • The Blurd Academy is self-funded through merchandise sales at ProudBlackNerds.com.
  • Fort encourages others to support by purchasing merch and spreading awareness.

💬 Quotes & Reflections

  • “We exist to build a healthy community that is Black, educated, resourceful, and determined.”
  • “Create a small business to fund your dream business.”
  • “Let’s use our money efficiently to make long-term economic gains.”

#STRAW

#BEST

#SHMS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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