A lot has been made of Mississippi Valley State University’s Mean Green Marching Machine accepting an invitation to play at the Presidential Inauguration Parade of President Donald Trump. Most of the comments have been on the negative side. The question is how could the university and marching band support this divisive president? How can the university and band support a political party that is destroying many of the things that helped propel our Historically Black Colleges and Universities?
The answer to me is simple. I remember Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, like it was yesterday. I was a media person covering the FAMU Marching “100” in the inaugural parade of President Barack Obama. It was freezing cold, slightly raining at some points, long delayed because of a medical emergency, and historic at the same time.
I remember sitting in formation for nearly two hours after leaving the various security clearing positions. Because of the long line of parade performers, we were not able to go back to a warm shelter because of the medical delay at the swearing-in ceremony. We ran in circles, huddled up, and told jokes to pass the time away.
I also remember looking around during that time. We were in Washington, D.C. at one of the most sacred events on Earth. It was a historical moment. It was a moment that only happens once every four years and not everyone has been invited to participate in the historic event. That performance ending near Pennsylvania Avenue with the President of the United States and the first family saluting our band is one of the most patriotic things I’ve ever taken part in.
Not every band has on their resume that they have marched in an inaugural parade. It is an honor not to be taken lightly. It will forever be a part of the history of the university.
Most importantly, for the college students who march in the band, it will be an unforgettable adventure. First, I must admit that the bus ride from Ita Bena, Mississippi will be a long one. A Google map search indicates the ride will be over 15 hours. However, college students bond and pass the time. With the little time this younger generation spends actually socializing, it is much-needed face-to-face interaction. It will be a time they will never forget.
The anxiety of the security measures will be exciting once they are done. Going through the Pentagon parking lot they will have to disembark their bus, let the police dogs on, walk through a very sensitive metal detector, and then reload the bus. They will all have to attain Secret Service clearance in advance. There will be no doubt they will be at an official presidential event.
The entire parade route will be littered with military, federal agents, and every law enforcement officer known to man. They will be staggered two-deep and about six feet apart for the duration of the parade route. Additionally, military snipers will be on most federal buildings to prevent any attacks. That left a lasting impression on the gravity of the event that remains to this day.
Finally, when they walk past the president’s grandstand with bulletproof glass, they will realize how integral a part they will play in our country’s history. That can’t be taken for granted and can never be taken away from either the band members or the university.
While some still contend that Mississippi Valley State should not attend the Presidential Inauguration Parade and support President Donald Trump, I offer this suggestion. Mississippi is one of the lowest-funded higher education systems. Even the larger schools like Mississippi State complain of the deficiency in funding. If that school is complaining about its deficiencies, imagine the plight of the little HBCU in western Mississippi. One thing we do know about President Donald Trump, he is known to support his supporters. This could result in a shot in the arm that Mississippi Valley State sorely needs.
I’m sorry but I feel they shouldn’t preform for him. Trump would also use that as an advantage for himself. Stating, “Look, I have black schools that support me!” Just the same as when he stated he gave to HBCU’S ( which was very little) and then turned around and took money away from programs. Yes this is an honor but not for a person who clearly doesn’t care for minorities in the first place. Look what happened to Chrisette Michele when she sung at his inaugural ball.
All money ain’t good money ? the comparison of the Obama administration and that inauguration to the Trump administration is not a good thing to do. This man has no intention on doing anything for anyone other than himself. And his rich friends, so if you think that by them marching in this inaugural parade, it’s going to make A difference for themYeah you watch and see.
While there is nothing that justifies the decision of MVSU accepting the invitation to perform in the inauguration events, I still expected cogent and intelligently presented arguments. This article failed in doing even that.
Indeed, the article’s attempt to justify this egregious choice failed from the moment the event was referred to as sacred. Historic, yes. Significant, undoubtedly. Sacred it is not, nor should it be.
In this country, our Constitution enshrines the separation of church and state and generally speaking, sacred refers to reverence for a deity. If there is ever a time in history we should avoid anything that can, in whole or part, reference reverence for a deity it is the inauguration of a man who not only thinks of himself as a god, but has convinced many within his cult that he is.
Secondly, people are not opposed to MVSU’s participation merely because Donald Trump is divisive. To narrow opposition to a single offense is myopic, uninformed, and insulting. Donald Trump is not merely divisive, he is a convicted felon, had associated himself with violent White Nationalists who have openly spewed hatred toward Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, and Muslims. He has fomented violence and a deadly insurrection against our country. He has displayed infidelity to three wives, has been accused of rape more than once including that of a 13-year-old girl, defrauded millions from both his so-called charity and the students of his so-called university. He has cheated hundreds of contractors out of millions for work performed resulting in many having to shutter and thousands of families to lose their source of income. He is vulgar, disrespectful, and contrary to a deity, he has disrepected the Bible and admittedly has not ever asked even God for forgiveness. He tauts religion now only because Evangelicals and the so-called Christian Rights are a large block of votes. He has, in effect, mocked the religion of many.
To add insult to injury, Trump has not only paid homage and befriended brutal dictators, his admiration for their ruthless power ultimately disclosed his desire to be dictator as well, if only for one day. One day is all it takes to attempt to enshrine himself and his family or appointed line of cronies with permanent presidential powers.
During the 1950-60s civil rights movement, thousands of children and teens were sacrificed their safety and very lives to stand against racism. They were beaten, attacked by dogs, sprayed with high pressure hoses, and were jailed. In 2024, rather than be taught courage and commitment to a broader cause, racial dignity and justice, these young college students are be coddled and protected from missing a fun trip, sight seeing, and passing a presidential viewing stand where bullet proof glass will remind them that hate, violence, and the proliferation of guns by the Trump supported NRA has escalated to a point that such protection is needed. Indeed, so much hate and violence has been stoked by Donald Trump and those groups he supports, that the band members themselves could be mowed down by a high speed car in an area where an equal level of protection won’t exist.
Yes they’d miss the sight seeing, the experiences, and what should be a degree of pride; and yes, they’d miss the commraderie that would come with a 15-hour bus ride. But far greater commraderie emerged between young members of the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s while engaging in nonviolence training demanding voting rights and an ending segregation. Meaningful commraderie arises through working and sacrificing together for a common cause, not being crammed together on a bus for more than half a day.
But instead of supporting these young men and women as they take a stand against their own demise, instead of using the opportunity to teach them this country’s racial history and current efforts to roll back the clock, instead of reminding them of the Project 2025 agenda that denigrates every aspect of their lives and reverses their freedom, instead of giving them tools to counter the attacks against their freedoms, for the sake of the egos of a few adults, they’re being mollycoddled and told they can’t possibly bypass a great bus trip to DC.
Time will tell about the fallout from this decision. It may have done more harm than good. Yes, the invitation has put MVSU on the map, but it has also alienated millions. Some those whose sense of dignity is offended may be donors who have more than a few options to support an HBCU that honors our brutal history in this country and current state of affairs. Those donors may refuse to pay homage with their dollars to a demagogue who, until he needed the Black vote, has exhibited in business and politics, a profound disrespect for African Americans, Muslims, Hispanics, and immirgrants of color.
To participate in this inaugural parade and march reverently past the presidential viewing showing respect to a man who has shown none toward them, is the height of self-hatred and disrespect. This may be a decision made for MVSU but it is one that reflects on every decent American.