The Legion of Black Collegians put together a series of special events as part of its Homecoming celebrations.
On Wednesday night, members of LBC and the Gaines/Oldham Black Cultural Center’s academic fraternities came together for the first time ever to place trinkets, letters of encouragement and meaningful articles into a time capsule, which will be opened in 10 years by MU’s student body.
“It was the second to last installment of the week, and it was a way for us to find out what was on each other’s hearts and embody what we need to do in order to ensure that the same trials don’t happen to the students of the future,” junior Curtis Taylor Jr. said. “Hopefully we can be a part of breaking that.”
Taylor placed two articles into the time capsule. The first was a blueprint for the future leaders of LBC. The second was his old watch.
“I wanted to show people that time is something that is precious and priceless … something that you can never get back, Taylor said”
Senior Hasani Henderson, LBC’s 2012 Homecoming Prince, put a letter to the future members of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., into the time capsule.
“I hope to tell them to continue to achieve and uphold the ideas and beliefs that have been instilled in us,” Henderson said. “It is also a letter of encouragement for anyone who feels down.”
The event was open to all students, student organizations and members of the LBC royalty court. After the ceremony, the attendees shared a moment of prayer led by senior Thomas Stovall.
Stovall, who was elected royalty court Homecoming King, wanted his prayer to be a ghost of his platform, which encompasses service, humility, identity, fulfillment and transparency.
“It’s hard for us to be effective sometimes because we are not as transparent as we need to be,” Stovall said.
Stovall placed his glasses, which resembled those of Malcolm X, in the time capsule.
“I started wearing the glasses so I could look like Malcolm X…. They gave me a sense of security,” Stovall said. “So, I wanted people to be encouraged by them.”
LBC has held Homecoming week events since 2008. This is LBC’s opportunity to host events that allow Homecoming activities geared specifically toward MU’s black community.
Some of the events this week have included The Remembrance, which honored African Americans through a wax museum display featuring the accomplishments made during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.
The College Dropout, which was held Tuesday evening, was a five-act play that addressed the low college retention rates among African Americans in the U.S.
On Thursday, LBC’s Homecoming royalty winners were announced at the Black Renaissance Ball.
LBC’s Homecoming celebrations are very near and dear to the members of MU’s black community, Taylor said.
“From this, we’ve sprouted and grown in more ways than we will ever know,” he said.