HillmanTok, TikTok’s accidental university taught by Black educators, is a hit with students

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February 7, 2025

By Maya Eaglin and Nicolle Majette, NBC

Professor Leah Barlow’s post for her students, running down the course plan for her Introduction to African American Studies class, including work from Audre Lorde, left, and Gil Scott-Heron right, turned into a TikTok phenomenon. (Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images; TikTok)

Class is in session at HillmanTok University, a virtual and symbolic online institution that’s bringing together millions of curious learners and academics.

But this university is unlike any other: It fully exists on TikTok.

And it was created by accident.

In late January, Leah Barlow posted a welcome message to her real Intro to African American Studies class at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on TikTok. In about a week, the video mapping out her course for her 36 students reached almost 4 million people.

“I was just looking for a way to engage, but this launched something that is much bigger than me,” Barlow said.

Thousands of commenters jumped at the idea of attending class, joking that they somehow “automatically enrolled” in the course.

[…]

Barlow’s videos suddenly inspired a network of Black educators, experts and content creators to form HillmanTok University, where they are sharing their expertise in more than 400 subjects that range from baking to chemistry.

HillmanTok has now expanded to a website with a course catalogue featuring hundreds of offerings for spring 2025. Students can take a range of classes such as Forensic Pathology, Raising Chickens for a Sustainable Future or even We Got Food at Home.

NBC has more details.

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