Jefferson Street was filled with dancers, marching bands, umbrellas and ponchos, as Tennessee State University fans braved the rain for the annual homecoming parade Saturday.
The festivities were canceled last year, because of the pandemic. This year, people were eager to be back in the crowd, in spite of the wet weather.
Samantha Max WPLN NewsMimi Johnson cheers on a dance team with kids in the crowd.
Mimi Johnson said it’s been a long couple of years with COVID, and she’s glad to be back at homecoming. “The return is here, so we got to come out and support,” she said.
Johnson’s daughter was a freshman at TSU in 2009 when she was murdered. She said the school community rallied around her family during a tragic time.
“I love TSU,” Johnson said. “I’m going to always support my home team, no matter what.”
Samantha Max WPLN NewsDancers’ hair sways in the wind, and so do their ponchos, at the breezy homecoming parade.
Tyree Sellers IV was also excited to be back at the parade this year. He’s an East Nashville native and used to be a homecoming regular. He even marched in the parade in high school. But Sellers IV hadn’t made it to Jefferson Street “in many years,” he said, with an emphasis on “many.”
“It’s a Nashville holiday,” Sellers IV said. “This is what we do just every year. Like, people prepare for this day.”
People go all out for this, he said. “They ain’t gonna have their rent money Monday,” Sellers IV laughed, “because they’re gonna have a good time today.”
Samantha Max WPLN NewsAs the Terror Squad once said, “lean back.”
Lachelle Robertson and her kids were having plenty of fun, in spite of the rain. They got up at 8 on Saturday morning to make sure they weren’t late for the annual tradition.
“I come here every year to see the parade, and I love it. Me and my kids love it,” she said as her children ran through the crowd.
James Gray was moving a little slower with the wet weather. He and his wife had some trouble finding a parking spot and missed their granddaughters’ performance with the Whites Creek High School marching band. But they see her play the drums all the time, so they didn’t mind. They were just happy the parade wasn’t canceled, like it was last year.
“It was just bad,” Gray said. “Bad year, but, you know, we made it through it. So that’s a blessing.”
Samantha Max WPLN NewsThese cheerleaders are decked out in TSU blue, from their eye shadow to their tracksuits.
Rod Wright was grateful to see Jefferson Street filled with joy. The 2012 TSU graduate was frustrated when he learned earlier this year that the state had withheld hundreds of millions of dollars of federal land-grant money from the historically Black university.
Wright hopes to see alumni come together to financially support their alma mater, whether or not the state chips in. He said the Black community always comes together to support one another.
“It’s a shame when negativity impacts our community,” Wright said. “But for the most part, this is everyday for us. We go to these dance events. We go to football games. We show up for political candidates. We just do the things that’s necessary to keep our community thriving after all these years.”
I’m at TSU homecoming this morning for @WPLN, where people are braving the rain to come together after a year without homecoming due to COVID. pic.twitter.com/wwWqya8A9q
— Samantha Max (@samanthaellimax) October 30, 2021
— Samantha Max (@samanthaellimax) October 30, 2021
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