Homecoming is a largely broadcasted event throughout high schools and colleges in America. This event is classified as a form of folklore because it is passed down from generation to generation throughout the American culture. Mizzou was the first college to ever have a homecoming. Because they were the first to initiate it Homecoming is a very big deal amongst Mizzou students, alumni, and fans. This has been my first homecoming at the University. The African American community on campus participated in a separate itinerary of events. The week began with students preparing outfits, posters, and plans for the fun filled weekend.
Thursday was the begging of the events. The LBC massacre homecoming ball took place in a hotel where hundreds of Mizzou’s African American students joined to eat, dance, and reveal the winners of homecoming court. Every one dressed in formal clothing the males wore suits and ties and the females wore formal evening dresses. The court consisted of popular males and females that sought to gain recognition from their peers. There was a pair chosen from each grade. The winners won a sash and a crown. After the revealing ceremony was over everybody began to dance to ethnic modern music until the ball was over.
Friday, the day before the game, friends and family of the students began to arrive to join in on the festivities. The campus of over 30,000 students began to quickly flood with eager and excited foreigners. The homecoming comedy show was the first event planed for the day. Everyone joined in Jesse auditorium to be entertained by some the most entraining famous African-American comedians. After the comedy show everyone went to their friends dorms to prepare their selves for the homecoming parties that where taking place. The females wore provocative clothing, make up, and spent hours arranging their hair. The parties did not begin until ten o’clock that evening. As an observer I noticed the behavior of the men and women at this event. The female’s dances in a circle with their immediate friends until a male would approach them for a dance. The pair would dance until the song is over, potentially exchange contact information and continue this process with many people until the party comes to an end. The party ended at three o’clock in the morning. Everyone danced to their cars and began to discuss how much they fun they had experienced.
The most intense day of the weekend is Saturday, which is game day. As I walked out side all I saw was swarms of yellow as almost every person on campus supported the school by wearing the traditional school colors. The parade began that afternoon. The parade consisted of thousands of Mizzou fans that walked the streets of Columbia with music and festive cheering. After the parade was over the African-American Greek steep show began. Greek fraternities and sororities joined in the quad to perform rehearsed steeps and dances. Former fraternity and sorority members form chapters as far back as 1965 came to join the performance. The crowd roared in excitement as the steppers preformed intensely. After the step show many people went to the game to whiteness the Mizzou tigers claim victory over America’s number one ranked college football team of the year. After the game was over the opposing team walked sluggishly to their cars as the Mizzou fans ranted and raved around the campus to their next destination. There where dozens of parties where young college students from almost every college in Missouri attended. Students swarmed the small town of Columbia until the sun arose.
Sunday was basically a rest day as the friends and families packed up to return back to their homes and school and the students began to recoup from the intense weekend.
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