Howard University Students, you pass it everyday on your way down the hill walking away from the School of Business. It’s across from the Ira Aldridge Theater and always holds an array of snacks, treats and drinks. It’s something that’s almost always at your disposal through rain, shine, cold and heat—have you ever stopped and asked yourself who’s serving you behind that snack cart and why they’re there.
The snack cart is owned my D.C. resident Fahmatalie N.; she has been serving the Howard community since 1994. She adores the community just as much as they adore her and even get’s called “auntie” and “sister” by Howard students.
Junior journalism major, Nyah Hardmon, walked out of her first class of the day and approached Fahmatalie’s cart of treats.
“I come here almost everyday after my first class on Tuesdays” began Hardmon, as she held her Nature Valley bar and Gatorade from Fahmatalie’s cart.
“I often don’t have time to garb breakfast and she always is here when I get out of class.. she’s amazing.”
Hardmon isn’t the only student Fahmatalie has impacted with her cart of treats and snacks. With being outside of Howard’s Ira Aldridge Theater for over 20 years, and counting, she continues to make a small, yet substantial impact for those around her.
Watch below to hear her tell her story, why she’s at Howard and how the pandemic impacted her business.
Behind the Process
The minute Dr. Patton told me and my colleagues we had an hour to go on campus or around D.C. to gather a story, my. Mind began racing with what is happening around, around D.C. and in the news in general. My first thought was that it was campaign season at Howard University, students were bound to be on the yard campaigning and telling showcasing their platforms. As I walked through Howard’s yard I realized that I we were in the middle of a class period, meaning barley anyone would be outside. Pressed for time, I made up my mind that I would interview the first subject I found and make a story out of that. That’s when a came across the Howard gen that often get’s taken fro granted— the Black business right outside of the Ira Aldridge Theater on campus.
When I found Fahmatalie, she was more than willing to speak to me and let me tell her story in a digital format. Although, I wished I would’ve had more time to talk to her and get to know her, her presence alone exemplified a substantial part of the Howard community that often gets ignored—the Black businesses that continually shows their support.
The experience of searching for a story was a little nerve-racking and uncomfortable, but I loved being pushed out of my comfort zone. One of my colleagues, MeKayla Pierre, had sentiments similar to mine when completing her assignment. Watch below to see what story she came up with and how this process was for her.
In Black and Write 