University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff M4 Musical Marching Marching Band
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Posted By: Victorio Loubriel on September 09, 2012 As I am a Howard University Alumnus, we have a tradition exampled by our 15th President and now President Emeritus - my friend, H. Patrick Swygert. President Swygert visited and spoke at Hampton University and then went on campus to meet the students first hand. As moved amongst the students, he gave them Howard University pins and said, "We extend our arms and embrace our surrogate families". I strongly believe and vow this tradition above all when I visit many HBCUs and have always felt I was amongst family. HBCu's share a common bond which no other institutions in this country or the world can equal. Ours is bond of our race's struggle, which transcend, sports, fraternities, sororities and associations. Our is a bond as we so proclaim "AEQUUS-AEQUUS-AEQUUS". I was honored to be the photographer commemorating the six HBCU marching bands consisting of: Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Grambling State University, Hampton University, Howard University, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Many felt that as a Howard Alumnus, I would give my Alma Mater the center stage. However, when I saw the University of Arkansas at Pine Pluff (UAPB) M4 Musical Marching Machine and consider our civil rights struggle, the Little Rock Nine and as my English professor, Toni Morrison once said, "William Jefferson Clinton was our 1st African-American - I knew UAPB was going to be my center piece. Many of you have seen my UAPB center piece taken of the entire band in band formation with the White House in the background. UAPB was the only band I photographed this way. On that day, it was 17 degrees (wind chill between 7 to 11 degrees), yet UAPB showed its spirit as if it were spring day. As I spoke to various band members, I mentioned that this photography wasn't just going to be that day; this photography was more about history and 30 to 100 years from now thereon. I will probably be gone in less than 30 years, but these band members will forever proud as they will be grandfathers and grandmothers. They will show their families how they were honored to be my featured marching band and they marched in our first African-American President Inaugural Parade. Their decedents and UAPB Alumnus will see their school in museums, centers for cultural studies, HBCUs and of course the President Obama Presidential in Illinois. Within 600 yards of where UAPB's M4 band posed is Constitution Hall and in 1939 who refused Marian Anderson a concert because she was African-American. Instead Marian Anderson gave her concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial and also not very far from UAPB's M4 Band posed. On the very lawn where UAPB posed, people like Frederick Douglas, Marin Delany, and Mary McCloud-Bethune walk across and yes even Dred and Harriet Scott passed on his way for their case before the United States Supreme Court. On this very spot, our race's slaves crossed as the White House was built was being by their enslaved hands. The piece you're seeing I have titled "Marching into History". Many may wonder why I chose a piece of photography from the rear as my center piece. How history is told depends upon who's telling it. On this day, I personally got to see something that even the members of UAPB M4 band didn't see - I got to see them Marching into History. When I saw this, I was and still am proud of them, I felt a personal pride that I had done something special as we extend our arms and embrace our surrogate families. Even now, as its 3 and half years later - this historical photography will have a meaning to not only these band members, as they have probably graduated, it means something to their alumnus and to all of us. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will also forever be my alumni band - I am forever part of them and they are forever part of me. On January 23, 2009, I was privileged and stand humbled by the almighty, that I witnessed and commemorated The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff M4 Band march off and cast civil rights shadow forever theirs into history….. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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