For Tahir Murray, founder and CEO of clothing brand Legacy History Pride, success isn’t just defined by dollar signs; it’s about the impact. The Howard University Alum and entrepreneur is leading a cultural movement through fashion, building a brand that celebrates the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) while reimagining what it means to wear its pride on your chest.
Growing up watching his grandfather, who came from Trinidad and Tobago in search of the American Dream, Murray says. “He was a shoe cobbler and opened a shoe repair store that later became a sneaker shop. My dad worked in it too. That store was more than a place to buy shoes, it was a hub for community, for connection, for culture.”
It was in that small family-owned space that Murray first saw the power of style as a vehicle for storytelling and transformation. That lesson would carry with him through college and beyond, inspiring the birth of Legacy History Pride, a brand rooted in heritage and driven by purpose.
When Murray stepped onto the campus of Howard University, as a freshman, he immediately noticed a difference in the apparel offered at the institution’s bookstore. Murray recalls, “Going to the bookstore my freshman year, I definitely saw just a lack of representation when it comes to just the design and quality of goods we had in the bookstore compared to other schools and compared to PWI’s”
Instead of complaining, Murray got to work. He set out to design products that matched the vibrancy, excellence, and cultural power of HBCUs, creating gear that not only looked good but carried deeper meaning.
“LHP is about matching the energy of the HBCU experience,” he explains. “ So my main focus was how can I create products and build a brand that matches the energy that is rooted in the HBCU spirit and rooted in black culture.”
Attending an HBCU didn’t just shape Murray’s creative vision, it resonated in his spirit. He describes his time at Howard as a transformational chapter, one that gave him the courage to lead with authenticity and purpose.
“You really learn how to be unapologetically yourself,” he says. “Being around people who are committed to building you up, not just as a student but as a person, gave me the confidence to understand who I am and what I stand for. HBCUs will humble you, but they also prepare you for the world like no other place can.”
While Murray’s brand is known for its bold designs and high-quality apparel, he wants to remind people that LHP is more than just a clothing company. It’s a platform for social impact.
“We’ve partnered with the Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance on philanthropic projects, and one of our biggest collaborations was with Black Lives Matter,” he shares. “That initiative allowed us to give a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships to Black and Brown students and HBCUs students.”
Tahir Murray is only walking in the footsteps of his grandfather, but he’s carving a new path. One that honors tradition while pushing the boundaries of style, storytelling, and social change. Legacy History Pride isn’t just a brand; it’s a movement. And through it, Murray is proving that success isn’t measured by what you make, but by what you leave behind.