I remember being a little girl and gushing over my older cousins and family friends at their prom send-offs.
I was fascinated every time.
I wondered, how did normal teens become glittering royalty overnight?
I would pose next to my cousins for pictures and dream about the day I would become a princess too.
My mom and I love prom season so much, we used to drive around Homewood and Flossmoor on the day of H-F prom and search for send-offs.
We would ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at the dazzling dresses and big balloon arches, and discuss what I would have on my big day.
It wasn’t until high school that I started to notice that my favorite tradition is not universal.
Send-offs actually became a trend within Black Chicago neighborhoods in the early 2010s according to a 2014 Chicago Tribune article, and became a custom in Black families across the country.
“One mom noted that it was a coming-of-age ritual for Chicago’s African Americans now like a quinceñara or bar mitzvah is in other communities,” wrote photojournalist Brian Cassella.
Send-offs aren’t meant to be an excuse to have an extravagant party, they’re a way for Black families to gather and celebrate their teens transitioning into adulthood.
However, I would disagree that they are equivalent to other cultures’ coming-of-age rituals.
Yes – prom sendoffs do have similar aspects to these traditions, but I would argue that another Black tradition is more important.
While many grads may have a graduation party to celebrate their accomplishments, it’s common in many Black households to have a trunk party instead.
Much like send-offs, trunk parties also became popular in Chicago, then spread across the US in the early 2010s, according to another Tribune article from 2017.
They’re sort of a mix between a going-away party and a graduation party. Family and friends come to trunk parties to wish graduates well as they head off to college.
Guests typically leave gifts, cash and advice for the future.
The name “trunk” party came from the idea that guests would bring necessities to fill the trunk of the student’s car before they leave for school.
I love trunk parties because they celebrate Black students continuing their education.
They’re a chance for family and friends to pour into grads, to shower them with love and encouragement before they face adult life.
They’re also a chance to serve your community.
Non-profit organizations like UCan Chicago, and True Believers Community Connections host annual trunk parties where people can donate necessities to grads in need.
Both send-offs and trunk parties are a way to celebrate the academic success of Black teens and are cherished by families across the country, including my own.
I’m so excited that I get to take part in these rites of passage.
To the class of ‘26: congratulations! It’s finally our turn to celebrate our successes, and keep these traditions alive.
