Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) has joined the list of historically Black colleges that have been represented on the big screen. The highly successful film, “Girls Trip,” brought in over $30 million in its opening weekend, and stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish.
Produced by FAMU alumnus Will Packer, the film essentially focuses on four women who became friends in college and have since reunited for a “girls trip” to Essence Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Tallahassee school was founded in 1887, and plays a key role in this film as the location where the main characters develop a friendship. Even though the film is fictional, it presents its viewers with the reality of the bonds and connections that take place among students on HBCU campuses.
Carmen Cummings, a 1984 graduate of FAMU, says, “There was a message in there about friendship and the importance of friendship, and trust and how a lot of the time we establish, what we may not realize, are lifelong friendships at these institutions.”
The film has attracted box office crowds since its premiere, a significant number of Rattlers among them– alumni and students.
Angelique Fullwood, a senior at FAMU, viewed the movie at Governor’s Square Mall near the college’s campus. She was taken by surprise when she saw that her school was a part of the film’s storyline.
“I had no idea and it was just really cool to see,” says Fullwood. “Everyone in the theater screamed and cheered, and we started (Rattler) hissing and doing our Rattler fingers.”
