By Zakaiya Williams with the SGJC Student News Network
BALTIMORE – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), held their annual HBCU basketball teams tournament at the CFG Bank Arena, located in downtown Baltimore.
The tournament is the nation's oldest Historically Black Athletic Conference, for both Women's and Men's Basketball Teams. This year, there were six teams in both the women’s and men’s in the northern division as well seven teams each in the southern division. Most of the small college athletic schools are from Virginia, the Carolinas, and Maryland.
Baltimore is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference city, home of Division 1-level HBCUs Morgan State University and crosstown rival Coppin State University.
Nevertheless, the city turns on the charm and welcomes the throngs of visiting alumni, students, and friends because they give the local economy a shot in arm because of their eating, drinking, partying, and sightseeing.
The Lord Baltimore Hotel, about a four-minute walk from the arena, held many excited guests for the weekend. A security guard expressed how the Baltimore natives and many people from all over, travel to the city to watch the tournament and how nice it is to see so many people come together to watch the sport.
“It’s great to see the hotel bar packed, it’s almost exciting in a way,” said the source who spoke on the condition not to be identified. “Everyone comes together to have some playful trash talk or grab a drink, just enjoying the energy regardless of race or where they’re from.
“It’s just a nice thing to witness here.”
When speaking to other guests, many were just excited to have fun, laugh, and have as many drinks as possible, even if buzzed.
The excitement of the competitive sports tournament, brought together many people who ended up getting more than just seeing basketball games; they gathered wonderful memories as well.
The writer is a student in the School of Global Journalism and Communication.