‘We never lost a party’: At Howard, homecoming is a rite of passage

“Ain’t no tellin’ where I may be
May see me in D.C.
At Howard homecoming
With my man Capone, dumbin’ “
— “Kick in the Door,” The Notorious B.I.G.

Immortalized in songs (and simply by word of mouth), Howard University’s homecoming week draws thousands of people to The Mecca every year. The crowds on main campus, affectionately called The Yard, will encompass generations of students, alumni and those just looking for a good time: old friends and new families, former marching band members and faculty, Black Greeks and former athletes — a community bonded by fellowship.

This year’s celebration marks Howard’s 100th anniversary celebration. In 1924, the university welcomed alumni back for its first homecoming built around a popular annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Lincoln University. Though the festivities now take place in October, and Howard now plays different schools each year for homecoming, the tradition of coming together each year has remained.

There’s a saying in the Howard community, “We never lost a party,” and homecoming offers evidence of that assertion. Take a look at Howard homecoming traditions over the years.