By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.
College days for me are in the distant past. I enjoyed them and the experience will be forever etched in my mind.
I can recall with a smile on my face the Saturday that my Uncle Pap and my Dad drove me to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte NC. Going away to college was a big deal for me. Pulling up in front of the campus was awe inspiring. My very first impression was that there were a lot of buildings.
Questions galore popped into my head like what classes would I take and what would Freshmen Orientation entail? Additionally, I was a student-athlete, and I wondered about my tennis teammates. I didn’t realize at the time that I would be on two championship teams with them. The overarching question was would I adjust to college life?
My four years at Johnson C. Smith University were life-changing. I could not have written a better script. I will be forever grateful to the faculty, staff and student body for giving me a platform from which to launch my professional life. Looking back, I had the president of JCSU as one of my mentors.
There were so many activities and programs that I attended that were filled with knowledge and information. Of course, there were fun times as well. One of those fun times was homecoming.
Pageants, parties and parades along with the football games made each homecoming a special event. Every homecoming brought hundreds of alumni, friends and supporters to our campus. I thought, “People love coming back to campus.” I observed old friends seeing one another and the genuine affection they had for JCSU. I guess as an undergraduate student, I didn’t realize the full impact of returning to homecoming at Johnson C. Smith University.
This was not my first homecoming as an alumnus. However, this arguably was one of the best ones. Maybe because I am much older, and these moments mean more to me now.
Homecoming 2024 started for me on Friday, October 18th. Walking into the hotel, I immediately saw some of my classmates. We took pictures and exchanged contact information. Our class meeting was a great combination of business and fun.
On Saturday, October 19th, we played Shaw University located in Raleigh NC at our Irwin Belk Stadium. We defeated them. Our campus was a place of joy and happiness. The “block” as we called it back in the day was packed with people and pride. It was an indescribable feeling knowing that I was a part of this special day.
If you attended an HBCU, you probably have a similar story. It is my opinion that Historically Black Colleges and Universities are as popular as they have ever been. Enrollment is trending upward as well as funding levels. Graduation rates too are at an all-time high.
HBCU homecomings have always played an important role in giving alumni and friends a place to celebrate accomplishments and accolades. All of us come back with stories about our life after college. We talked about our families, communities and jobs.
Another part of HBCU homecomings is the number of non-HBCU folks that they attract. It is because we talk so passionately about our schools that they want to come and see the excitement for themselves.
HBCU homecomings have garnered a lot of attention because of the bands and their performances. Halftimes at Johnson C. Smith University homecoming games were fun because our band always showed up and showed out. We can’t forget the cheerleaders who would always lead us in cheering our team to victory.
One of the keystone moments over time was when our former teachers would say how proud they were of us. Those were and still are “feel good” moments. So now, another Johnson C. Smith University homecoming is in the books filled with smiles, hugs and joy.
This column is dedicated to my classmates and teammates at Johnson C. Smith University.
