‘Higher Learning‘ depicts a collection of portraits of African Americans students at HBCUs or aspiring towards higher education. The collection aims to reinvigorate positive portrayals of HBCUs in pop culture, highlighting their historical resilience and empowerment. It underscores the significance of preserving and elevating these institutions as pillars of leadership and social progress. Additionally, three of the paintings prominently feature my son. I hope that through these portraits, he can envision himself as a successful college student, contributing to the normalization of higher education within him and my community. This body of work serves as a progression from my previous show, ‘Super Rich Kids,’ by further portraying young black individuals in a positive light. It aims to highlight the positive aspects of our culture and emphasize the significant contributions of African Americans to society.