b y Jenny Swift Copyright ©2026 Spring break was fast approaching. You could feel it in the general atmosphere of one of the HBCUs, where three friends were planning a trip to Atlanta. It was common for students there to travel to the city for what was known as “Freaknik”—a sort of spring break—which drew more than 250,000 people each year, all eager to create memories that would last a lifetime.  “I’ve heard they close off entire streets,” said Kiara, one of the friends who