Lifestyle
SpelHouse Homecoming 2024 owes me nothing
As I’m sure your social media channels have informed you, that is SZN’s Homecoming in African America. The last time we spoke, I informed you that certainly one of my children had made a life-changing decision on the age of 8 about where she desired to take her educational talents after highschool – Howard University. That hasn’t modified, but I’ve since taken a visit to the one homecoming that I feel will change his mind – SpelHouse.
For those that do not know, SpelHouse is a portmanteau of Spelman College and Morehouse College, two historically black colleges (HBCUs) situated across from one another across parking garages in Atlanta. Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, together with Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse School of Medicine, make up the Atlanta University Center, a consortium of faculties situated in Atlanta’s West End community. You really should come visit sometime.
And there really is not any higher time than to come back down for homecoming weekend, because let me let you know something, homecoming at black colleges are the perfect years ever. I’ll attribute a few of that credit to social media and the way in which all of us who attended and/or graduated from our various institutions have brought our experiences to the masses. What was once, a minimum of in SpelHouse’s case, a largely alumni-oriented affair has now change into a part of the October event in Atlanta. People from near and much come to the Morehouse and Spelman campuses and enjoy the enjoyment, excitement and positive Black College experience.
Almost yearly I’m going to Atlanta (normally) in October to fulfill my homies within the country where we grew from boys to men. There’s something magical about being back on campus – it makes me feel higher. Seeing people I’ve known for over 20 years still remember me as a child in French class warms my heart and soul, a lot in order that I actively hunt down the identical people yearly. I walk slowly through the streets of campus, stuck in the gang of people that studied in the identical buildings as me or frolicked on the Strip (I feel young people call it “The Promenade” now…kids) or know exactly what I mean , saying “Club Woody.”
Lifestyle
SpelHouse Homecoming 2024 was every part it must have been. The weather wasn’t great, so we were all in a position to wear shorts and T-shirts, which is vital because where two or more Black people gather within the name of going home, the temperature rises. I do not know the way many tens of hundreds of individuals were there (schools are getting a little bit weird with their estimates lately – taking that under consideration, I feel there have been about six million people there), however the sun was beating down and it was hot.
This is particularly problematic when crossing the Middle Passage – I do not know if that is the official name for absolutely the gridlock that is attempting to get from Westview Drive to West End Avenue via Wellborn Street, but whoever got here up with that was stuck on the landing – since it felt prefer it took over an hour to travel 20 feet in either direction. But you understand what, the sensation of being there with all those beautiful Black people was value it.
I really like every minute of coming home. I really like being on Spelman’s campus on Friday and leading as much as the tailgate experience we are going to all have that Saturday. I really like walking down West End Avenue and stopping at every tent full of food, alcohol and DJs and partying with countless people I only see yearly at a family dance, but we greet one another like best friends. I really like meeting latest individuals who I actually have apparently known for over twenty years. I really like my class of 2001 and Sepia Soul, an event I missed a lot over the break that I purchased a ticket for this 12 months before I even knew if I used to be actually going to Atlanta for prom. I really like the blokes from my 1997 freshman summer program, the Center for Excellence in Science, Math and Engineering, who I see yearly and who all the time appear to be doing much more vital things than the last time I saw them. Likewise the mentors the show has given us who proceed to check us younger guys though a few of them literally rule the world at this point.
Look, I’m sure for those who went to an HBCU somewhere in African America, you think that your return house is for the perfect. Some of chances are you’ll even call your homecoming the best homecoming on Earth. It could also be certainly one of them, but there is barely one House of Spells and all who may attend it stand within the shadow of magic each time. I’ll should take my kids there soon (for a couple of early hours) to indicate them what it’s wish to be in a spot where good vibes and delightful souls meet in the center. And then we all know of course that my boys are going to Morehouse (my daughter already has her designs on Spelman – you understand, SpelHouse, honey and all). Everything else is uncivilized.