In the 2006 film “For One Night,” actress Raven-Symone stars as high school senior Brianna McCallister, who struggles to unite her high school by planning the school’s first integrated prom. The film is based on the true story of Georgia’s Taylor County High School, which began having separate proms, one for blacks and one for whites, after the school integrated in 1970. For 31 years, students would attend the annual functions based on their race.

That is simply not the case for the Illini Union Board’s African-American Homecoming tradition, said Mercedes Allen, junior in LAS and marketing communication chairperson for the event.

“We actually encourage other people of other races and cultures to come,” Allen said, who added that the African-American Homecoming is so named, not because it is only for blacks, but because the sponsored festivities are a “reflection of African-American culture.”

Allen used the event’s step show as an example, saying “stepping” is a type of dance performance usually done by black fraternities and sororities. He added that the step performance and other African-American Homecoming activities simply celebrate the University’s homecoming with events that honor black culture.

He said this homecoming tradition does not replace other University homecoming events and while some people may only attend the one or the other, “the African-American Homecoming is not intended for that.” The events are part of the University’s complete homecoming schedule and still share this year’s “Feel the Nois” theme.

But would some non-African-American students still feel uncomfortable attending the predominately black attended event?

“I wouldn’t,” said Felicia Braude, junior in Business. Braude said she usually doesn’t participate in any homecoming event, but still thinks African-American Homecoming is a good idea.

“I think it’s a positive experience,” she said.

Others think the event is targeted to black students, but still welcomes everyone.

Alexandria Powell, freshman in Engineering, said when she mentioned the African-American Homecoming to a friend, who is not black, her friend joked about Powell “segregating herself.”

Powell said she still thinks that, like “Black House” and other black organizations and programs on campus, the African-American Homecoming just brings more blacks, who may not get to find one another on the large campus, together.

She said, still, students of other cultures should still come.

“I feel they’re welcomed,” Powell said. “At least, I invite them.”

Those planning on sharing the experience can expect a number of traditional and new activities, Allen said. There are four different events in all.

On Thursday, the annual African-American homecoming pageant, where Mr. and Ms. U of I participants are honored, begins. Friday is the annual fashion show at Foellinger Auditorium, which continues the series of festivities, followed by the newly added step show performance and traditional Homecoming CRCE party on Saturday.

Allen said the entire schedule took almost two semesters to plan.

Last semester, interested students attended a general meeting to sign up for committees and meet board members. After that, students began planning and scheduling for this year’s homecoming events.

“The way that the events are run are in a very democratic way,” Allen said. He added that the process has created an African-American Homecoming tradition that is always different and never dull. He said the ultimate purpose is “to get back to the essence of black culture.”

In case students have somehow missed the bright green flyers and posters around campus, Allen and other “Feel the Nois” representatives have already begun stationing booths and sponsors around the quad and Illini Union. The members have been passing out publicity and freebies for the African-American Homecoming and other “Feel the Nois” events all week.

Allen said no one should have preconceived notions of the African-American Homecoming’s title and the only way to know what the events are really like is to come to them first.

“(Students) should come out and experience it for themselves and then form a bias,” said Allen.

Tickets for the African-American Homecoming and other homecoming events can be purchased at the Illini Union Ticket Central, Assembly Hall Box Office and at the door. Discounts are given to advanced purchases to those with student IDs.