HondaBOTB Experience

The #HondaBOTB Experience

Honda Battle of the Bands. That’s where I was on Saturday, January 25th, 2020 and let me tell you...it was simply amazing! It was an experience like no other and very different from what I have been exposed to as a band kid from the “north”. As someone who attended a PWI (predominantly white institution), I often found myself in awe of the differences that many of the bands were showcasing throughout the event. From the expressive musical styles to impressive bodywork, I sat in my seat feeling incredibly grateful to be there. I felt so lucky to have witnessed such a proud display of culture and to feel the intimate connection that these bands had with the community. It was not hard to tell that this is something people are deeply proud of and that there is space for anyone interested to show their support as well. If you don’t see it then you’re simply not paying attention.

For those who aren’t familiar with Honda Battle of the Bands, it is also known as the HBCU marching band event of the year. More importantly, the event was created as a way to celebrate and raise awareness for band programs all across our nation’s historically black college and university campuses. I’m not going to pretend to know much more than this - this was only my second time attending Honda. Out of my six years in collegiate bands, I only ever witnessed one HBCU band perform live. I didn’t attend Honda until after graduation. What a shame, right? I am, however, excited and open to learning more about HBCU band programs that make up a great part of our Fraternity and Sorority. What I would like to share with you is a bit of my experience and the lasting impact the event had on me as a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi and supporter of college/university bands. My goal is to give you insight into my Jackson State University showcasing their "LOVE" formation

#HondaBOTB experience and hopefully encourage you to seek your experience and understanding of our HBCU bands and chapters.

Before I get into details of my time in the capital of the Peach State, I wanted to share with you something that has been on my mind for quite some time. As you may already know, there were and still are a lot of hurt feelings and negative sentiments after the closure of the Iota Nu chapter in November of 2019. I went through all of our social media accounts and read every single comment, retweet, and shared post. It was very unhealthy for me to do so, but I felt it was necessary to get a grasp on the years of hurt, mistrust, and animosity within our Brotherhood. Regardless of your position on this matter, I think it is clear that we need to do better as a Brotherhood. But what does that mean? What does that look like? I am not privy to the decisions of the past and what actions past councils have taken. All I know is that we can do more to learn about different communities within our Fraternity, respect the differences that make us such a diverse organization and promote each w/ TBS National Vice President for Colonization & Membership, Erika Pope

other as advocates and Brothers. I don’t pretend to be the smartest person or to have all the answers. So I asked for help. I reached out to Brothers for their thoughts and opinions on the matter and there was one piece of wisdom that kept coming up. “Immerse yourself in the culture and be open to learning about the beauty of what makes another community different.” This was my inspiration for fighting to ensure that Kappa Kappa Psi had representation at Honda from the National Council. It wasn’t me or someone from “Nationals” being there. It was about someone having the heart and courage to show up, show their support, and be open to learning about things they aren’t familiar with. I’ll be transparent and share that I was a bit scared about what might happen, but I am so incredibly happy that our council supported this effort. So, let’s get into the details of the event.

A couple of Brothers and I grabbed some lunch before the event started. I really wanted to try the “Old Lady Gang” restaurant, but it was packed. I don’t mean, “it’s going to be a 30 to 45-minute wait” packed. I mean “line out the door

w/ KKPsi Colony Advisor and Eta Omega Alumnus, Rassii Elliott

with no wait time available” packed. Maybe next time. We grabbed lunch and drove around the stadium to find some parking. We should have planned better because it took us a bit longer to find parking, but luckily you can always count on there being empty spots at the local Wal-Mart. We head over to the arena and you can already hear the cheers and celebration taking place and we weren’t even that close. You know it’s about to be a good time when you can hear the crowd from blocks away. We finally get to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and it is glorious with its shimmering silver walls and glistening windows. Our seats were in the 300-level (#nosebleeds) so we made our voyage to the top of the stadium. Fast-forward past all the heavy-breathing and panting...we finally get to our seats to enjoy the show.

The event showcases “The Final 8”, which are eight HBCU band programs that are selected to perform and represent their alma maters in Atlanta. The selection process for “The Final 8” includes two separate processes: the “first four” bands are selected by public voting through online polls and the “final four” are selected by a committee. “The Final 8” that performed at the 2020 Honda Battle of the Bands are:

“The Marching Tiger Band of Distinction” - Benedict College

“Marching 100” - Florida A&M University w/ TBS National Vice President for Special Projects, Siobhan Wilkes

“World Famed Tiger Marching Band” - Grambling State University

“The Marching Force” - Hampton University

“Sonic Boom of the South” - Jackson State University

“Blue and Gold Marching Machine” - North Carolina A&T State University

“The Marching Storm” - Prairie View A&M University

“Aristocrat of Bands” - Tennessee State University

Band after band, show after show, I was blown away -- quite literally at moments -- by the level of enthusiasm, pride, and musicianship the groups put on. They put everything out on the field and reminded me how incredibly powerful music is. Beyond the show factor, music brings people together, gives people purpose, and gives people a voice in which to express themselves. I often found myself scooting to the edge of my seat so I could be that much closer to the bands because I was drawn by the music and musicianship that each group showcased. Each of the shows intricately incorporated aspects of a powerful Prairie View A&M University showcasing their "PVU" formation

opening statement, a moving ballad segment, an exciting dance break, and an unforgettable closing number. Furthermore, some shows even took the opportunity to call people to action, such as going out and voting or simply sharing your love with others during tough times. There were moments where the bands would build from chord to chord and you could feel the music in your bones. The bandmembers were so dedicated to the dances moves that you felt compelled to stand up and applaud them with all your might. The music was moving, inspiring, and simply insightful. During many of these performances, I also found myself reflecting on our Ritual and the lessons that we often read and take for granted. How powerful is it that in a stadium full of people from all across the country we are connected by our love for music and college/university bands?

Look, I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know how to stop the hurting or heal the wounds. All I know at this point is that we can do better. We can step up and really lean into our values and lessons and open ourselves up to learning about new things and unlearning the toxic practices that have tarnished our past and hurt our members. We can push ourselves to strive for greatness, strive for inclusion, and to strive for the advancement of each other through music, leadership, service, and Brotherhood.