MILWAUKEE — It’s a celebration for graduates of African descent.  

The Kente cloth ceremony is a tradition at colleges across the country. In Wisconsin, the longest-running ceremony happens at Alverno College. Since its inception 27 years ago, nearly 860 students have taken part.

“We’ve had Muslim ladies, we have anyone who is of African descent,” said ceremony organizer Adekola Adedapo. “We opened up because originally it was only for African Americans, but diversity just kept coming and coming.”

Adedapo is Alverno College’s Multicultural Programs Coordinator. She looks forward to the Kente ceremony each year, especially the singing and African drumming.

“There is cleansing, there is preparation, there are libations, there are salutations, there is honoring,” she said. “There is the graduates giving back their gratitude to their families.”

Dr. Clarissa Lawrence has taken part in three Kente ceremonies. After 10 years of pursuing her degree, she is now a nurse practitioner in Brown Deer. She also runs a telehealth business and an at-home care service for those unable to come to her clinic.

“I love helping people,” she said. “Being out in the community, I saw the need for more nurses and more nurses of color like me.”

Lawrence’s African roots guide her in everything she does. The bestowing of the Kente cloth was an emotional experience for her, especially because of who supported her throughout her educational journey.

“All three ceremonies were dedicated to my husband,” she said. “He was the one who presented the Kente cloth to me.”

As she scrolled through photos on her cellphone of her in her cap and gown, hugging her children, she reflected on what the Kente ceremony means for future students of color.

“They’re able to see all these graduates that look like them,” she said. “My son was able to see a Black man get his doctorate in education.”

Alverno College has two other ceremonies honoring minority students. Latinas Con Fuerza celebrates students of Latinx descent. Students of Asian heritage can participate in Asian American Rite of Passage.

For more information about each ceremony, including the necessary applications that must be filled out to take part, click here.