More about culture than competition, HBCU classics are like a family reunion in the Black community

As a crowd made its way into the nearby football stadium, a father watched his two sons toss a ball back and forth. Hot dogs sizzled on a smoky charcoal grill nearby.

- Alanis Thames.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. (AP) — The music from a DJ's live set a few yards over was so loud it reverberated off the ground as lyrics from "Before I Let Go," the hit by the soul band Frankie Beverly and Maze, prompted tailgaters to break out in dance.

This particular intersection of sports and culture was outside Hard Rock Stadium, where the historically Black universities Florida A&M and Jackson State were playing in the annual Orange Blossom Classic. The outcome of the game meant bragging rights for the next year, of course, and the tailgating here had many of the same trappings you might find at a game in the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten.

The reasons for attending this multi-day event are about much more than that.

HBCU Classics are a beloved staple in the Black community. More than just competitions, they are a gathering point for fellowship as well as a means to spotlight and celebrate the rich history tied to HBCUs. 

"Family reunion," Maya Brown said with a laugh.

A graduate of the HBCU Bethune-Cookman, she traveled from Atlanta to Miami for the Orange Blossom festivities.

"This is everyone getting together with friends and family that you haven't seen in a while," she explained. "It's just one big family reunion. Even though you may not have gone to FAMU or Jackson State, just coming together as one HBCU."

Special games pitting one HBCU against another have existed since the early 1900s when Black people created their own spaces to exist and celebrate themselves within the confines of a segregated society.