The lives, voices and existence of Black students at UVA are a living memorial—one that carries a weight far greater than any landmark, plaque or inscription the University could ever erect. Our presence demands the University remember not only who built upon this land, but who continues to live, learn and make meaning in it.
In late 2025, the rise of the “quarter zip” on TikTok emerged as a light-hearted joke about professionalism, social mobility, and “leveling up” within the Black community. The trend framed the quarter zip as a visual representation for maturity, respectability, and success. But beneath the humor lies something familiar within our community. This fixation on fashion as a vehicle for social mobility, a concept that is not new; and is rooted in a long history of policing Black bodies and presentation in the United States.
