Lions and Tigers and Bears! The Meaning Behind HBCU Mascots
via FAMU.edu
What makes a community feel seen, strong, and connected? Shared values, a common goal, and shared identity. So do the images we rally around. Mascots, colors, and mottos are not just logos. They carry meaning, history, and a vision for the leader you can become.
The mascot tradition did not start as big costumes. The word "mascot" comes from the French "mascotte," meaning "lucky charm." Teams once relied on people or animals they believed brought fortune. Over time those charms became symbols that stayed. They became traditions. They became the thread connecting one generation to the next. Players graduate. Coaches retire. Buildings get renovated. But the mascot remains. It holds memory and pride.
At HBCUs, symbols hold a deeper significance. These schools were built with purpose, community, and possibility in mind. A Rattler, a Pirate, a Bear, a Bulldog, or a Bison carries history, geography, and a shared mission. These mascots are reflections of spirit. They tell us something about the kind of student the institution hopes to shape. Here are the stories that show what those symbols stand for.
via rattlernation.blogspot.com
Florida A&M University
Mascot: The Rattlesnake
Colors: Orange and Green
Motto: Excellence With Caring
The history of the Rattler has roots in Florida’s unique geography.
In 1891, FAMU moved from the grounds of Lincoln Academy to Highwood Plantation. The land was alive with wildlife, including rattlesnakes. Instead of letting fear drive them away, FAMU embraced the symbol, and the rattlesnake became their inspiration. A rattlesnake moves strategically. It stands its ground, it strikes when necessary, and it fights to survive.
A group of rattlesnakes is called a rhumba, and you can almost feel the poetry in that image. The idea of a collective rhythm, shared movement, and complete synchronization.
Orange represents energy and confidence while green represents growth and renewal. Together they convey a message of progress and purpose. The Rattler reminds students to move with intention, defend their dreams, and pursue excellence with care for their community.
Photo by Mark Sutton via hamptonpirates.com
Hampton University
Mascot: The Pirate
Colors: Reflex Blue and White
Motto: The Standard of Excellence
Hampton University sits on the Virginia Peninsula, surrounded by water. The Pirate feels natural. Pirates are bold, adventurous, and independent thinkers. They chart new waters. They lead with courage.
A group of pirates is called a crew. That word says everything. A crew survives by trust. By loyalty. By shared direction. No one sails alone.
Reflex blue suggests depth and stability. White communicates clarity and integrity. Hampton’s Pirate is not reckless. It represents strategic leadership. Pirate Nation shows up strong on game days, but the energy extends beyond athletics. The Pirate reflects a culture of resilience, scholarship, and confidence. It asks students to step forward, take calculated risks, and uphold the standard of excellence together.
via ncatsualumni.org
North Carolina A&T State University
Mascot: The Aggies
Colors: Blue and Gold
Motto: Excellence in Action
Aggie honors A&T’s land-grant foundation and agricultural roots. It signals hands-on learning. It represents leadership grounded in practice. Blue stands for loyalty and trust. Gold signals achievement and value.
But there is also legend.
According to campus lore, a bulldog kept on the school’s farm once charged onto a football field after a disputed call and went after a referee. Whether embellished or entirely true, the image endured. The bulldog became a symbol of fierce loyalty and refusal to back down.
A group of bulldogs is called a pack. A pack protects its own. A pack stands firm.
The Aggie identity carries both meanings. Practical excellence and fearless protection. When four A&T freshmen helped spark the Greensboro sit-ins in 1960, they embodied that spirit and lived out "Excellence in Action" courageously. The Aggie legacy asks students to turn their knowledge into meaningful action.
Getty Image via draftkings.com
Morgan State University
Mascot: Benny the Bear
Colors: Orange and Blue
Motto: Growing the Future. Leading the World
Bears are an iconic mascot. Think of all the famous bears you know: Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, Kung Fu Panda (pandas are bears, too!). Bears symbolize strength, protection, and steady resilience. Morgan’s mascot, Benny the Bear, represents grounded leadership. Constant and reliable.
A group of bears is called a sleuth. That feels fitting. Leadership requires steadiness, deep thought, and strategic pacing.
With school colors representing a fiery orange and a calming blue, Morgan’s Bears represent the balance between power and purpose. The Bear stands as a reminder that leadership is about the long game. Consistent and deepening with time.
Howard University
Mascot: The Bison
Colors: Blue, Red, and White
Motto: Veritas et Utilitas — Truth and Service
Howard’s Bison carries layered history.
When Howard launched its athletic program in 1892, the football team did not have uniforms. A connection to Harvard enabled the team to compete by providing them with uniforms. By 1920, the program moved to the varsity level and became known as the “Thundering Herd.”
Under head coach Edward Morrison, Howard went undefeated and untied, winning three straight Black National championships between 1920 and 1922.
During this era, the name shifted. First, the Bulldogs; then, the Bison. The 1923 yearbook titled "The Bison" marked the first official reference to the name.
The inspiration drew from the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers. African American troops admired for resilience and fighting spirit were nicknamed Buffalo. Morrison, who served as a sergeant in the Army, chose the American counterpart, the bison.
Bison are highly intelligent, collaborative, resilient, and powerful.
A group of bison is called a herd. A herd moves together, protects its young, and withstands harsh climates.
Howard’s logo has evolved through the decades, including the charging bison designed in 1974 and a community-driven redesign in 2015 that invited the entire Howard family to answer the question, “What makes you a Bison?”
The symbol remains rooted in truth, service, and collective strength.
The Meaning Behind the Mascot
If you are an alum, your mascot lives in your memories, your friendships, your Homecomings, and your growth. It accompanied your late nights, your exams, your wins, and your breakthroughs.
If you are a prospective student, look closely. At the mascot. At the colors. At the motto.
What does that symbol say?
Does it align with who you are?
Does it reflect who you are becoming?
What kind of community does it invite you into?
Decision Day represents commitment. A meaningful one. It is choosing a community, a mission, and a culture that will shape your undergraduate years and influence the rest of your life.
When you say yes to an HBCU, you step into a wealth of history and endless future possibilities. Choose the message that moves you.
Order your HBCU gear now to make sure it arrives in time for Decision Day photos, announcements, and celebrations. Your moment is coming. Be ready for it.
Love and Leggings,
Bibi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bibi Mama is a first generation Beninese-American actress born and raised in Mansfield, CT. Growing up she watched her father, an English professor and author, continue the Yoruba oral tradition through storytelling, which inspired her. She earned her B.F.A. from Howard University and recently finished her MFA at the Old Globe/University of San Diego MFA Graduate Acting Program.
1 comment
Go fellow Bison! Learned a lot.