At Clark Atlanta University, the tailgate experience is the heart of homecoming week. Last Saturday allowed alumni, students, family, and friends an opportunity to fellowship over music, line dancing and tasty food.
As the CAU Panthers clawed their way to victory against Allen University 17-14, thousands of fans could hear speakers dropping 808’s, catch the vibrant aroma of Southern barbeque, and enjoy the smiles of thousands of Panthers representing Black excellence.
Food trucks offering cuisine spanning an array of cultures lined the tailgate area. Attendees strolled between tents sharing hugs as they reconnected with familiar faces. The scene reflected the many ways the Clark Atlanta community comes together to celebrate a special weekend.
For Rae Warner, a 1998 CAU graduate, homecoming means one thing: family.
“It’s a gathering of everybody from when we were in school to when we graduated, to living life, and coming back home to see family,” Warner told Capital B Atlanta.
Warner, who currently serves as the school’s associate director for new student and family programs, is no stranger to the value of staying connected and celebrating her CAU family.
As a member of the university’s Alpha Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., this year’s homecoming held special significance for Warner. Having crossed in the spring of 1996, she gathered with her sorors to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their line.
When reflecting on her favorite homecoming memories, Warner was quick to recall one that always brings her joy: “Strolling in the AKA tent.”
Across campus, as a sea of Panthers celebrated in red and black, the official school motto plastered on posters still stood out: “I’ll Find a Way or Make One.”
Marvin Richardson, a Sacramento, California native, embodies that spirit of perseverance. After transferring from a community college, he began a new chapter at CAU, where this year marks his second homecoming.
“Blessings,” the junior accounting major told Capital B Atlanta when asked to describe homecoming in one word.
The tailgate reflects the sense of belonging he sought when making the transition to an HBCU.
“The community of it, it’s just a humongous family,” Richardson added, “It’s just indescribable, you have to just experience it.”
LEFT: Marvin Richardson came to CAU for a sense of belonging. RIGHT: For Camille Cooper, an aspiring corporate lawyer, homecoming represents a time to network and make connections for her future. (Ethan Dorsett)
KC Baker, a 1999 CAU graduate, attends the tailgate every year to catch up with old friends.
“This is the family that raised me from a teenager to a man — CAU all day,” Baker said.
Homecoming has also become a time when alumni like Baker have the opportunity to pour into students. A simple conversation between a student and an alum could lead to a valuable new connection or future career opportunity.
Camille Cooper, a junior business administration major with a concentration in management, explained these encounters are what makes homecoming meaningful to her.
“It’s a good feeling seeing all the alumni come back and give back to students that are on campus and making those connections.”
Cooper, an aspiring corporate attorney, said, “My favorite part about CAU homecoming is seeing all the successful alumni and getting a glimpse of where I could be in a couple of years.”
Ethan Dorsett is a junior mass media arts major with a concentration in journalism attending Clark Atlanta University. This article is part of Capital B Atlanta’s journalism partnership with HBCU reporters.
