SpelHouse Homecoming, the joint celebration between Spelman College and Morehouse College, happened this past weekend in Atlanta. If you’ll remember, last week, I had to ask God for a little assistance because in the forecast even up to the day before the event, there was a strong chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, two days out-of-towners make the most of during #HomecomingSZN.
But as they say, closed mouths don’t get fed. They also say, speak so that you may be heard. Ask and ye shall receive. GP, are you with me?! While it is popularly known that neither rain nor snow can stop the ’House, it sure as hell can put a damper (pun intended) on it. I even bought a poncho because there was no way I was going to be walking around with an umbrella. It’s too hard to hold multiple cups of fine brown liquors with an umbrella.
Anyway, I sent up a prayer. And others did, too. And while nobody I know won the biggest Mega Millions lottery in history, we may have gotten something a bit more priceless:
It didn’t rain in Atlanta, or at least not in the vicinity of Spelman Lane, SW, or Westview Drive, SW, for the entirety of the world’s best tailgatery experience you can have in Black America. Yeah, GHOE ... I said it. The sun even attempted to come out a little bit. While the weather never hit the 70s, the warmth of black love and excellence definitively proved one pure and simple fact:
God loves SpelHouse Homecoming.
How else could you explain that I’m 10 almost 20 years removed, but the vibe’s still in my veins? The joyousness and camaraderie must be one of the things the good Lord appreciates and enjoys most every October in Atlanta. I have no idea how many folks return for homecoming each year, but the mere sight of the enormous crowds is enough to give you an anxiety attack. If you have claustrophobia, walking through the middle of West End Avenue by the Morehouse Alumni “tent”—more like a medium sized nightclub with bouncer and doorman—would be enough to have you looking for all of the exits. But the Good Lord didn’t want anybody who ventured to The Land of Milk & Honey to go without or be even tempted to not head outside to partake of The Partaking.
Hosanna in the highest.
I know it rained in Washington, D.C., this past weekend. I was in Atlanta enjoying the enjoyance. I know the good folks who attended and graduated from Howard University would be out there making the most of it as well. I’m sure rain doesn’t stop a Howard University homecoming, either. Not only did we not get rain, we got a peek of sunshine. God looked down upon his finest creation in the category of Black Excellence—with one school founded on Valentine’s Day as a show of Black Love—and said: “This is what’s right with the world.”
Does God love SpelHouse? Of course. Because God knows that where there is SpelHouse, there is beauty and love. I don’t know what happens at other HBCUs. I’ve seen pictures. I’ve been happy with the love and celebration. I know the weather spent all week being a whole asshole, but when it counted, God intervened and said, “No, not in the West End. Not today, Satan.”
Won’t he do it? He said He would.
And He did.
SpelHouse came. SpelHouse saw. SpelHouse conquered. I can’t help but feel a little responsible. I took my shot and asked for the goodwill on behalf of all of my fellow SpelHouse family.
What can I say, except, you’re welcome.
Hey, God ... it’s me Panama. What up, doe? Good lookin’ out.