It’s prom season, and Oakland youth are celebrating. Driving through the streets on Thursday evening, many residents might have noticed an influx of stretch limos invading the town as prom revelers gathered together to share rides and expenses on their trip to Jersey City for an evening of festivity at the Hyatt.
The Oakland Journal usually promotes “Think Local”, but we have to agree that this was an excellent choice. With beautiful facilities and expansive views, it’s fitting for those celebrating this milestone to be overlooking the Big Apple across the river. Capitol of the free world, it embodies the hope of the young looking to “make it anywhere”, and it is the apex of human diversity.
Prom originally came about as middle class parents wished to replicate the formal social dances the upper echelon held for their children. That was back near the turn of the last century. In 1936, a book of practical suggestions for junior-senior proms was published, but by that time the automobile was beginning to impact how this event would evolve. Students with cars were creating a generation more independent than their parents’, and the prom began to be more a celebration than the exhibition of social skills.
The 1950s and the post war economy began the trend toward more elaborate proms, and concerns and complaints soon followed. The New York Archdiocese advocated that proms be de-emphasized back in 1961. While in 1954, Woodbridge, NJ guarded the exits to prevent drunk driving on prom night.
The local high schools recently took an active step in reminding students about the dangers of drunk driving . Representatives from various organizations in the community came to the schools to demonstrate the tragic consequences of drunk driving. Modeled on a national program, the two days of events brought home important reminders at this time of year.
There are few parties in life that have the excitement of prom. It’s not the food, the music, or the setting, its about the people you share it with. It’s a communal good-bye to childhood, hello to the world. It’s a celebration of the past and a celebration of the future. For many, there are two really big parties in life, their prom and their wedding. Hopefully allowing some years in between for smaller, but still memorable, parties, gatherings and reunions.
The prom is a rite of passage for parent’s too. As Oakland parents gathered together to see the revelers off to prom, there was the very familiar shout to, “Have fun”. And the just as familiar follow-up, “But not too much fun.”. The children have become young adults who will be voting and eligible for military service. Some will soon be leaving home for school, or travel, adventure or work, and prom is the beginning of the letting go process.
-Read John A. Ianacone’s Goodbye to Indian Hills
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