A Weekend of Classics

The Circle City Classic weekend, 

held the first weekend in October, is an event 

that's grown exponentially since its 

inauguration in 1983.

At its core is a football game between teams

from traditionally black colleges, with a band contest

between the schools' bands during the half-time.

From these events add on the CCC Parade

and a schedule that includes a plethora of pageants, 

clinics, concerts, luncheons and breakfasts.

These pictures are from the Circle City Classic 

Pep Rally, featuring the marching bands 

of the Central Kentucky University Thoroughbreds 

from Frankfort, Kentucky, and the 

Central State University Invincible Marauders

from Wilberforce, Ohio. I was doing a volunteer stint

at the Circle Theatre Friday night, so got to see the

Marauders. They performed a version of the

Star-Spangled Banner that was warm and mellow,

free of the histrionics that can be a part of

our national anthem.   

Of course, there was the usual contingent 

of drum majors, cheer squads, flag bearers, and 

dancing girls, like the pretty Tiara shown above.

Children, sitting on the curbs or held by their parents,

were enthralled by the sound of the brass 

and drums (as were their parents).

Just about every day, Indianapolis news is often 

dominated by the tragedy of another shooting, 

another young person, usually an African American male, 

dying at the hands of another. It happens so often

we tend to forget that the majority of people are working

hard to put their kids through school so they can 

become educated and productive citizens of the world.

These kids -- the musicians, the dancers, the flag

bearers, the steppers and line dancers

are representative of their parents' and neighbors'

efforts put the lie to the image we see too often.