The Root Recommends: CIAA

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You have a couple of days to plan -- get thee to Charlotte. Stat. Often referred to as simply CIAA, the annual all-black Central Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C., is a must-attend event for many folks in the know. The athletic conference includes 13 black schools -- including Bowie State, Winston-Salem State and Virginia State. In addition to the main event (or perhaps more important than the main event) are the parties, events and expos that occur throughout the duration of the tournament, which run from Feb. 28 to March 5.