In an atmosphere where our education system is being attacked and politicized, Black educators are coming together to reclaim it on TikTok with HillmanTok.

Inspired by the fictional HBCU in the classic sitcom, A Different World, HillmanTok offers engaging courses on variety of subjects, provided by Black academics.

It all started with Dr. Leah Barlow, an African American Studies professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), known as @afamstudies on TikTok, started using the platform to engage with her students about assignments.

Soon, other TikTokers  and other Black educators and professionals started engaging including 6th grade math teacher Cierra Hinton, who was inspired by Barlow. She made a reaction video to Barlow’s and soon a revolution began.

“I commented under one of the videos saying ‘I love it here!’ because I really do,” Hinton told ESSENCE. “And when I was seeing all of these Black professors flooding my timeline, it felt like being at an HBCU.” 

  Black academics began creating their own courses. HillmanTok offers more than 400 courses on everything from African American fashion, hip-hop history and Black Economics to Spades 101, AI, real estate and baking. 

Hinton says the mascot was inspired by marvel character King T’Challa, the Black Panther and the university’s colors were influenced by the hit 80s/90s show.

There is also a dedicated TikTok page and website for the university with a full staff that includes student advisors. Hinton clarified in a recent video that  HillmanTok is not associated with TikTok or TikTok University. 

According to the site, enrollment is closed for the spring but fingers are crossed for summer and fall enrollments.