As the catfish frying oil popped, the children of Southern lifers played.

While TVs showed afternoon games, the song “Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly and Maze blared. Millennials and members of Gen Z alike sang and danced to the 1981 hit. There were also songs from Beyoncé.

Laughter and love were contagious from Swan Avenue to Harding Boulevard for a sea of fans in the Columbia blue and gold of Southern University. Before 27,487 people filled the seats of A.W. Mumford Stadium for a rivalry showdown against Jackson State, the majority of those folks indulged in the tradition of a tailgate on The Bluff last Saturday.

The Southern tailgate is not just a cultural staple but also a “beacon for the Black community” in Baton Rouge, said avid tailgater and Southern graduate Varick Willia

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