The HBCU Good Trouble Takeover celebrates release of JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE documentary about the Civil Rights Icon and Georgia Congressman, in theaters and on-demand July 3

(Black PR Wire) WHAT:  The Good Trouble Takeover is a 4-hour, online NBA 2K20 tournament between six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and premiere-a-thon to support the release of JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, a documentary about the Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon.

Celebrities, entertainers, professional athletes, HBCU leadership, political influencers, activists and the filmmakers are joining forces for a night of esports fun and an educational celebration of the film’s release and to underscore the importance of voting in this critical election year, especially amongst young African Americans.

One of the most anticipated highlights of the event is the first-of-its-kind virtual HBCU Esports tournament. This winner-take-all NBA 2K gaming competition, in part, tackles the education, sports, and technology divides that many HBCUs are struggling to overcome because of the pandemic. The tournament will serve as a gateway to excite and engage HBCUs and their students about this platform, thereby exposing them to existing and future opportunities for gaming to help with sustainability in enrollment, visibility and a pipeline to scholarships and resources from this billion-dollar sport.

 In the spirit of making #GoodTrouble, HBCU gamers will finally have their spotlight on a global landscape with this livestream event and show the world why African-American gamers will be a major force in Esports. Moderators include Larry Ridley (NBC sportscaster/former voice of Madden) and Renee Montgomery (WNBA). Celebrities, entertainers, and professional athletes will pop in the stream during this monumental gaming experience to wish the HBCUers good luck, provide commentary, etc.

The gaming competition will be interspersed with clips from the film, frank conversations about the power and value of the young, African-American vote and celebrations of Congressman John Lewis, especially his tireless efforts on The Voting Rights Act of 1965.

 According to a Tufts University study, student voting turnout from HBCUs fell nearly 11 percentage points between the 2012 and 2016 elections. This represents the largest drop amongst minority-serving and women higher education institutions (Thomas et al., 2017).

WHO: NBA 2K20 Tournament Schools
● Fayetteville State University
● Hampton University
● Johnson C Smith University
● Lincoln University
● Southern University
● Virginia State University

Panelists and Appearances
Dawn Porter, Director
Erika Alexander, Producer
D.L. Hughley
Bill Bellamy
Charles Oakley
Terry Cummings
Everson Walls
Chris Broussard
Etan Thomas
Areva Martin
Jasmine Burke
Shaun Robinson
Nicci Gilbert
Karen Ceesay
Kayla Brianna
George Lynch
Emerald Garner
Fredro Star (Onyx)
Thomas Dortch (100 Black Men of America, Inc.)
Nikki Giovanni (poet) Kym Whitley
Sheryl Underwood
Renee Montgomery (WNBA)
Mayor Steven Reed (Montgomery, AL)
Jasmine Sanders
Flip Murray
Tyrone Poole
Takeo Spikes
Dr. Mike Sorrell/Paul Quinn College President
Dr. Kevin James/Morris Brown College President
Jeff Clanagan/Codeblack Entertainment
Kwame Jackson
Lloyd Pierce (Atlanta Hawks/Coach)
Larry Ridley
Talent Da Comedian
Brock Vereen

WHEN: 
Sunday, July 5, 2020
6-10 pm EDT

WHERE: Twitch, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Youtube, Mixer and more
twitch.tv/compete4ever
youtube.com/compete4ever
mixer.com/compete4ever
facebook.com/gaming/compete4ever

DETAILS: Media credentials required, please contact:
Tracey Pennywell
traceypennywell@hbcuheroes.org
818.749.0198

Valerie Harris
valerie@creativepr.biz
404.966.2445

References
Thomas, N. B. I., Connors, I. C., Gautam, P., Gismondi, A., & Roshko, A. (2017). Democracy Now: A Report on U.S. College and University Student Voting (pp. 3–17). Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tuft's University.