Nostalgic moments: I left my college classes early because my brother called me to help him sign up for his classes. I walked onto his campus and into the bursar's office and shook my head. He looked at me with puppy eyes and thanked me for coming to his rescue. After we finished with his class selection, we walked around campus so he could get acclimated with his college. We walked near the football field where he was approached by the coach. They asked him to come to football tryouts. He was ecstatic. He called me everyday after tryouts to tell me they tried to kill him but he was a strong black man. He made it through tryouts and became a Morgan Bear.

Then there was a Bowie Bulldog that captured my attention. He played wide receiver for Bowie State University. We started dating and I would drive to Bowie for his homecomings.

Yes, I dated a college football player and wrote his football jersey number (88) on my facebook. I am embarrassed to admit that.

One year, Morgan and Bowie played against each other. I was conflicted on who I would root for. So I rooted for both. Morgan scored and I cheered. Bowie scored and I cheered.

A few years later, my little cousin debated about what school he would attend after high school. He came to me and asked my thoughts. I suggested Morgan State University, an HBCU and the school my brother attended.

He told me a week later that he chose Morgan State because he had a full ride scholarship and wanted to stay in Maryland. I was proud. I promised him I would be attending his games. In 2019, I would witness the last homecoming he would play. Most of my family went to the homecoming game and watched him score an infamous touchdown. There was a joy in his eyes to see his family cheering him on while he played his heart out. A joy and smile I will never forget. We danced with the cheerleaders, visited the quad and celebrated at the block party.

In August 2020, my little cousin was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. I miss him and homecomings will never feel the same but in some weird way, homecoming will make me feel closer to him.

This year, I am celebrating the life and memories of my little cousin at MSU homecoming. I look forward to the homecoming parade and game. I am celebrating educated black men this year at homecoming. College homecoming time is here and is a great fall activity. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) homecomings are more than just football games. We can say it's a family reunion! From the Quad to the field, there's a celebration. We celebrate education, traditions and future. We celebrate nostalgic memories, joys and sorrows. We celebrate being young, gifted and black!

So what ya'll wearing to homecoming? Here's the schedule for HBCU homecomings:

2024 HBCU HOMECOMING SCHEDULE:

October 5

October 12

• Alabama A&M

• Tennessee State

• Fort Valley State

• Morris Brown

• Virginia State

• Central State

• Alcorn State

• Alabama State

• Lincoln University of Missouri

• Morgan State

• Delaware State

• Miles College

• Texas Southern

October 19

• North Carolina A&T

• Southern University

• Mississippi Valley State

• Grambling State

• Howard University

• Albany State

• Clark Atlanta University

• Johnson C. Smith University

• Bowie State

October 26

• North Carolina Central

• Bethune-Cookman

• Arkansas-Pine Bluff

• Norfolk State

• Prairie View A&M

• Hampton University

• Savannah State

• Morehouse College

• Benedict College

• Florida Memorial

• Elizabeth City State University

• Fayetteville State

November 2

• Florida A&M

• Jackson State

• Allen University

• Virginia Union

• Shaw University

• Wiley College

November 9

• Tuskegee University

• Winston-Salem State

• Edward Waters College

• Fisk University

• Eastern Shor