Pharrell Pays Off Five Students’ Debts At An NAACP Panel
Pharrell Williams changed the lives of five students during an NAACP panel Friday (June 17).
The superstar producer was on the panel discussing the student debt crisis for Black students when he announced that he was paying off all of the student debt for five students who attended Southern University, Howard, and Florida A&M, as well as alumni of North Carolina AT, and Norfolk State.
NAACP National Director of Youth and College Wisdom Cole, said per Uproxx, “Pharrell forever changed their lives. This was a powerful moment. Now just imagine if President Biden made this a reality for all student debt holders in America.”
Meanwhile, NCAAP President and CEO Derrick Johnson also added to the conversation by posting photos of the students when they found out their debt was canceled. He then directed his response to President Joe Biden who has promised during his campaign that he would be canceling student debt, “It’s your turn now to do the same for all Americans plagued by student debt.”
Take a look at Johnson’s tweets below of the young leaders and his call to action to Biden:
Priceless. The moment 5 young NAACP leaders learn @Pharrell is cancelling all their student debt.@POTUS, it’s your turn now to do the same for all Americans plagued by student debt. pic.twitter.com/hAQWh0wW0a
— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) June 17, 2022
Right after @Pharrell surprised young NAACP leaders by paying off ALL their student debt, someone asked “what are you going to do now?”
— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) June 17, 2022
One student tearfully responded, “I’m going to law school.”
This is what it’s about—unlocking opportunities for those historically oppressed.
