Browsing: I hope to help talented young Black people spend less time trying to find the door and more time preparing themselves to walk through it.

       I whispered those words to an HBCU journalism student whose hands were shaking as she looked up to address Vice President Kamala Harris and Keisha Lance Bottoms in the White House’s mock briefing room. Moments later, her nerves gave way to sharp, well-researched questions. Watching her and her fellow HBCU students rise to the occasion confirmed what I’ve long believed: talent has never been the problem. Access is.