There's No Place Like HOMECOMING AT FAMU BY ZERLINE HUGHES SPRUILL
Superseding the energy of the PWI homecoming experience, HBCUs have turned the century-old observance of migrating back to alma mater on its head. The annual football-centered fall event that centers football around reuniting with classmates and faculty is mixed with ancestral and modern traditions of the Black diaspora and Americana. Today, institutions like Florida A&M University coordinate fashion shows, tailgates, concerts, a call to chapel, color guard performances, step shows, and so much more, to create a spirit that makes it irresistible for alumni to miss the week-long party of the year. "It’s like a family reunion on steroids," said Dr. Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, FAMU vice president of university advancement. "If you're someone who loves family, it feels like a big hug. When you come back here, your soul is at ease. I think there are other homecomings across the country that do the same, but there is no better homecoming than FAMU.”
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