Last week Howard welcomed its annual Homecoming events. I'm not sure if it's just age or school making me anti-social, but I honestly wasn't interested in attending any of it. I hate crowds and am not really interested in spending lots of money on entertainment right now, a sista gotta prioritize.
While I was all set to do business as usual (books, papers, more books), there was a change of plans. Making good on my birthday wishes, my sisters came out to the DMV for the week and coaxed me out of my cocoon and into attending a few of the festivities.
On Tuesday evening I got to celebrate my little sister's 25th at the Poetry showcase where my big sister was actually one of the celebrity performers. After a day of school and meetings, I made it to the Lincoln theater just in time to hear her voice booming through the venue's speakers as I made my way inside and to my seat. It was cool to witness the campus of undergrads and older onlookers mesmerized by her craft. Clean metaphors and hypnotic movements drew the audience to listen keenly to her reflections on life, music, and our roles in much needed healing and global transformation.
A few more poets, Talib Kweli, and one interesting interpretive dance later, we were chauferred to the Washington Embassy hotel for a really fun girls night. Over brewskies (raspberry flavored ginger beer), snacks, and birthday cake, we laughed, reminisced, and helped make memories on my DMV turf.
Later that week we attended other events, including the fashion and step shows. It was an interesting array of performances. I must say though, I walked into the fraternity and sorority showcase with the images of School Daze and Stomp the Yard etched in my mind; I did learn, however, that church shoes can make quite the noise! While I was definitely among the older few amid the sea of high jumping, growling, and skee-weeing young lads in the crowd, MC Lyte was one of the hosts, so I did feel somewhat at home!
At the end of it all, I can't say that I changed my mind about wanting to be a part of the Homecoming madness, but I was truly grateful for my more personal opportunity to have some reminders of home. I had a great time travelling around the DMV with my siblings and inserting family quality time into my hectic study routine. If the alumni and college kids get the same feeling from celebrating their affinity for the University that I got when celebrating the love of family, then I can truly understand and respect all the hooplah and excitement for their version of coming home!
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