Today was an interesting day. I went over to a friend's house and spent the evening laughing, chatting, drinking wine, cooking, and watching A Different World on youtube. It was actually kindof awesome. This is a friend that I have only made within the past 6 months or so, and this is the first time that we have hung out outside of work, as well as the first time that we have hung out just the two of us. One of the reasons I like this girl is because she is from my alma mater Howard University, here in DC, but she came in with the class that started the fall after I graduated. Through talking to her, I get an entirely different perspective on the Howard experience. Although we are both gay and from the Midwest, her Howard experience was completely different from mine, and I really enjoy getting to listen to her stories, sharing with me how much the school has changed since I was there, and how much it seems to have changed for the better. While some of my issues as a student there definitely stemmed from my own personal issues, I had A LOT of issues with the institution itself and there were many things about it that I just did not like. Now, I could go on FOR A WHILE about all of the issues that I had with Howard, but I'm not gonna do that. I'd rather take this time to just think back on the good memories I have from my days there, and how hopeful I am for the continued progress of the school, or for that matter, the entire black community, in terms of acceptance and diversity. She gives me hope, and that's all that I could ever ask for.
Most of the time I try to block out my memories of being there at all, so I am appreciative of having something that gives me a reason to look back on my time at Howard and smile about. So, here's to Howard, and to the happiness of everyone there.
I absolutely love this song, and I love that they made a version on Howard's campus. Seeing an image of happy students really does bring a smile to my face. And my friend is even featured in it towards the end.
(photo above: one of the few photos of me on Howard's campus, and one of the even fewer photos of me happy on Howard's campus.)
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