Carver Yellowjackets enjoy an elegant prom night at the Golden Great Gatsby Gala

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D.

The Jazz Age was a period in the 1920s in the United States that was characterized by a carefree philosophy of pleasure, wealth, youthful exuberance, and freedom, as reflected in the novels of such writers as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes. With its earthy rhythms, improvisational style, fast free-flowing beat, jazz symbolized this decade of liberation. 

The Golden Great Gatsby Gala embodied this atmosphere of freedom and joy on Saturday, May 11, at the S & G Event Center located at 8017 North Point Boulevard. The event center was lit with gold and white high-backed glossy seats, black, white and gold floral styled feathers, pearls, gold sequin runners, black and gold balloons, and white gossamer ceilings.

Prom royalty included Prom King Hassan Crawford, Prom Queen Nikiya Jacobs, Prom Prince Isaiah Screen, and Prom Princess Asianna Myers. The teachers who organized the prom included Patricia Hutchison, prom advisor, Crystal Davidson, Kashemi Henry Ferguson, and Kenny Anderson. Dr. Thyais Maxwell, principal, and Dewayne Tillman, assistant principal, crowned the prom royalty after the students voted. 

Dr. Maxwell enjoyed the prom this year. “It was an awesome event! The students looked amazing. The venue was beautiful,” said Dr. Maxwell. “The food was great and the the deejay made it a fun time! I’m grateful the students and staff enjoyed it.”

Prom advisor Patricia Hutchison was pleased with the outcome of the Great Gatsby Gala this year. “I think the prom was great! The kids had a nice time, and I loved the setting, the food and the 360-degree photography,” said Hutchison. “Mrs. Cherry Teal at S & G Event Center provided the decorations, and we provided the deejay. I loved it!”

Kashemi Ferguson had only good things to say about this year’s prom for Carver Nation. “The kids had a good time. This is the first time that the committee did not have to show up early and decorate the venue and set up the food,” said Ferguson. “All we had to do was pay Mrs. Cherry Teal, and she took care of the decorations. It was very convenient.”

According to Crystal Donaldson, “Prom went very well this year! Maybe I am biased since I was on the committee, but the students enjoyed themselves. They stayed on the dance floor.”

The dance floor was graced by style and grace that glittered during the Harlem Renaissance. The ladies sparkled in sequined gowns of fuschia, black, red, crème, Carolina Blue, royal blue, and navy blue. The gentlemen strutted in black and purple dinner jackets, black tuxedos with red shoes and accessories, hunter green, and royal blue with silver accents.

1. J. the Deejay provided a variety of music from current grooves to distant beats from the streets. “Skee Wee” by Sexy Reel, “Faneto” by Chief Keef, “No Hands” by Roscoe Dash, “El Reggaton” by Sera’ Mejor, and “Nightmares/Dreams” by Meek Mill, rocked the house. Other tunes included “Swag Surfin’” by Fast Life Youngstaz, “Wipe Me Down” by Boosie B., “I Bet You Won’t” by LeVel and Mouse, “My Shirt,” “Hit the Quan,” by iLoveMemphis, “When I See you,” by Fantasia, “Candy Rain,” by Soul for Real, “Before I Let Go,” by Maze, “Soulja Boy” and “I Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert, kept the dance floor packed nonstop.

Sometimes the males danced in circles and rapped back and forth to one another. Also the females danced in circles, primping in their cell phones, snapping selfies and chanting back and forth to one another. At other times, Jonathan Gakeri or other leaders pulled the whole group onto the dance floor to groove together. Some couples stayed on the dance floor all night. 

Cell phone lights were clicking and recording, making memories that will never be forgotten.