People are coming back because of the feeling they had. This is what they know to be community and family.”

Celebrating and Continuing The Divine Nine’s Howard Roots 

The birthplace of five organizations of the Divine Nine, Howard’s 100th Homecoming Anniversary reminded members of the University’s role in their legacy.  

Members of the Divine Nine organizations gathered at their second annual Divine Nine Fundraising Brunch to celebrate the impact of Black Greek Letter Organizations throughout the University’s history. Alpha Kappa Alpha raised the most funds with $12,284 with 120 donors, giving them the bragging rights to the Crystal Bison Trophy until next year's Homecoming.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was created in May 1930 on Howard’s campus, its collective mission to support and elevate the community-oriented missions of the nine organizations. Five of the fraternities and sororities were founded at Howard: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, and Zeta Phi Beta.  

For the first time in decades, all nine organizations are active on The Yard. During the brunch, Omega Psi Phi member and Basileus Preston Jones cited his fraternity's current work on The Yard as he delivered greetings on behalf of the current board of the NPHC. “We started our Service Summer campaign a few months ago and have led over 15 programs,” said Jones at the breakfast. This year, 362 donors raised $31,300 dollars across eight organizations. 

Members of Delta Sigma Theta’s Alpha Chapter Paulette Brown, Esq. (B.A. ’73), Patricia Baranco, DDS (B.S. ’74), Valarie Dargan, Ph.D. (B.A. ’74), and Suzanne Randolph Cunningham, Ph.D. (B.A.’74), gathered during the alumni brunch. Baranco, Dargan, and Cunningham celebrated their class’s 50th anniversary. 

“Back in the day, wherever your family migrated...you went back down to Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and what has happened now is that Homecoming has become the family reunion,” said Randolph Cunningham, who was honored at this year’s Charter Day as a Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement Awardee. “People are coming back because of the feeling they had. This is what they know to be community and family.” 

Recalling their fondest memories of Wheatley Hall or bringing the step show back in 1973, Baranco, Dargan, and Cunningham are also celebrating 52 years as Deltas. “I made three decisions as a very young woman that have served me into my senior years; one was attending Howard University, number two was being an educator, and three was Delta Sigma Theta,” Dargan said. “These three things continue to enrich my life.” 

This year’s Homecoming Greek Step Show had over 2,700 attendees and was hosted by social media star and comedian Bendadonnn. To honor the Yard of Fame theme, all nine organizations performed using concepts from films with Black stars. Alpha Phi Alpha won the fraternity title for their version of “Bad Boys” and Alpha Kappa Alpha’s portrayal of the cult classic “Bring It On” lifted them to victory in the sorority category.  

The other organizations also created well-choreographed performances full of precision and energy, kicking off with Iota Phi Theta’s portrayal of “The Wiz.” Stepping in religion habits, Sigma Gamma Rho used “Sister Act” to highlight their commitment to sisterhood. Deltas Sigma Theta leaned into “Stomp the Yard” to demonstrate the multi-level aspects of sorority life. “Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson introduced the brothers of Omega Psi Phi via video, whose “Drumline” based routine included a surprise cameo from Howard’s “Showtime” Marching Band. Zeta Phi Beta stunned the crowd with their haunting version of “Us,” and Phi Beta Sigma gave their rendition of Ice Cube’s “Barbershop.”  

One Week Worth One-Hundred Years

Throughout Homecoming week, the 14 schools and colleges prepared their own festivities to unite their former and current scholars. 

As the week continued, more alumni-based events throughout the 14 schools and colleges commenced as Bison increasingly returned to the Yard. On Thursday, The Hilltop – also celebrating their centennial anniversary – conducted a seven-hour immersive workshop led by its prestigious alumni for media professionals in the Blackburn Digital Auditorium. Topics included political reporting tips, building careers in sports, exploring careers in Black media, and transferring skills at The Hilltop into other non-media careers. 

Returning alums included CBS News’ Michelle Miller (B.A. ’89), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. (B.A. ’84), State Affairs editor-in-chief Alison Bethel (B.A. ’88), and VOX’s Jonquilyn Hill (B.A. ’13). Senior Afia Barrie, The Hilltop’s Variety editor, said it was important to gather Hilltop alumni as their success serves as an “affirmation of the newspaper’s legacy.” 

“The Hilltop is such a great example of the best of Howard, so for [our anniversary] to coincide with Homecoming’s, it means a lot,” Barrie said.  

Darlene Nowlin (B.A. ’87), a former sports editor for The Hilltop, said the newspaper serves as a running transcript of Howard’s history. “I appreciate the efforts of all of our alumni who were involved in preserving our history. I was able to see some of my actual clips from decades ago. It’s important to the history of the University,” Nowlin said. 

On Wednesday, The Intercultural Affairs and LGBTQ+ Resource Center hosted its ninth annual Lavender Reception in the Blackburn Ballroom to gather and celebrate Howard’s queer community. Nine students were awarded scholarships this year from the Lavender Fund: Jeremy Allman, Marvens Belidor, Tiana Malcolm, Joshua Burns, Chloe McNeill, Joshua Odam, Jasean Robertson, Elisabeth Wilson, and Ivann Angu. 

During the event, David Bennett (MBA ’22), vice president of development and alumni relations, gave remarks about being the first openly gay cabinet member that is a Howard alumnus. He attended the Lavender Reception with his partner, Michael Hargreaves. 

“The Lavender Fund and all the great measures happening here are examples of why my partner and I can come to events on campus and be welcomed by students, faculty, and staff, where, 20 years ago, that may not have happened,” Bennett said. “This is a place of healing and hope because of our advocacy today.” 

Howard’s brand partnerships were in on Homecoming festivities too as Jordan Brand hosted student-centered panels and events in Blackburn Ballroom for their Lab 23 project, which served as a chance for students to familiarize themselves with the minds and business behind the brand. 

The “Queen of the Yard” interactive workshop and panel featured alumnae Kahlana Barfield Brown (B.A. ’04), Kianna Styles (B.A. ’18), and Jillian Hardeman-Webb (B.A. ’20). They shared experiences on being indomitable forces in male-dominated industries. “Building your own personal brand is the biggest piece of advice you should take from this,” Hardeman-Webb said. “Every meeting we’re in...we’re looking for y’all. You guys have the sauce. We need the creators.” 

The Gathering, The Game, The Glory: Thousands of Bison Attend Premiere Homecoming Events 

From Yardfest to the Homecoming football game, the centennial weekend’s grand finale gathered the past, present, and future of Howard 

While Day 1 of Yardfest featured contemporary acts such as rapper 310babbii, singer-songwriter Leon Thomas, and Grammy award-winning songstress CoCo Jones, Day 2’s festivities catered to lovers of classic R&B. 

Hosted by DJ D-Nice and DJ Quicksilva, Yardfest Day 2 welcomed Ruff Endz, Sunshine Anderson, LeToya Luckett, and Carl Thomas. Commonly referred to as Reunion Day, The Yard welcomed home its returning Bison for the centennial anniversary of Homecoming.  

In the valley of the University, family and friends enjoyed WHUT’s Fam Fest as Divine Nine members united in front of Ernest Everett Just Hall. Families and baby Bison played, completed arts and crafts, and listened to a read aloud of education books such as Andres D. Martin’s “HBCU Night: Halftime.” 

For Anike Oliver (B.S. ’01), this year’s celebrations are more meaningful than ever. She returned to The Yard just weeks after finishing chemotherapy, recovering from a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis. Homecoming isn’t just a weekend pick-me-up for Oliver: it is the motivation to keep living.  

“I’m very fortunate to be here because I didn’t know if I’d be well enough to come, but the love from my HU family – not just spiritual or calls and prayers, but even financial, physical and tangible – helped carried me,” said Oliver. 

A resident of College Park, Md., Oliver said she enjoys seeing the “Bison takeover” that commences around the nation for Homecoming festivities.  

“I was getting my nails done in Maryland, and of the six chairs, four of them were Howard alone,” she said. “We are literally everywhere.”

Returning alumni of Howard’s band, cheer, and football teams mingled on the sideline of the battle against Tennessee State Tigers. The cheer and band Bison returned to turf as they accompanied the Howard Showtime Band’s halftime performance, shelling out muscle memory moves from their days as students.  

Former cheerleader Corey Cook, Ph.D. (B.A. ’94), returned to Greene Stadium to celebrate his 30-year anniversary.  

“Howard has worldwide reach, no matter the field you’re in. Someone within six degrees of separation has come along and made an impact that makes people look at Howard differently,” said Cook, a Chicago native residing in Los Angeles. “They know someone who came and represented before me.” 

During halftime, The Royal Court was introduced to the Showtime Band’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Butterflies,” the moment christened by the singing of the Alma Mater. Special guests included producer Just Blaze, rapper Freeway and legendary beatboxer Doug E. Fresh. Drummer Queen Cora Coleman (F.A. ’02) also performed during the halftime show. The only woman to perform in Prince and Beyonce’s halftime show, Coleman was the very first female drum captain of the Howard University Marching Band. The Bison would drop their Homecoming game, falling 27-14 against the Tigers. 

Feeding the Bison Spirit

The Young Alumni Brunch and Alumni Jazz Brunch were the final events of the centennial week. Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, delivered the closing Homecoming sermon at Chapel service in Cramton Auditorium. 

Haynes' sermon followed a theme of "Headwinds During Homecoming," based on a story of Jesus continuing to preach and perform miracles even after he was rebuked by worshippers in Nazareth. Haynes noted that many leaders came out of Howard University and went on to change the world, even when confronted with the headwinds of injustice, intolerance, and ignorance. 

"We're in a country that is continuing to generate headwinds that reflect the hypocrisy in the practice of democracy," Haynes said. "There are moral headwinds that we have to be honest about." 

While Bison split from the herd and head back home, Homecoming’s festivities will continue in several instances. The Class of 2004 will continue their fundraising efforts until the end of the calendar year. Many Bison will come together again, this time in the name of civic engagement during the 2024 elections. After all, Homecoming is an annual culmination of all things Howard: that legacy is not only about the past, but fuel for the future, too. 

“It’s really great to see that Howard is still producing the best of the best because when we came in, that was the standard. We are still leading in medical fields, the arts, engineering, you can tap into any industry and find us, which was really inspiring,” said Foster. “Our culture is only going to get better and better and attract more students to our school. It’s something we love to see.”