Harlem march turns 50 African American Day Parade’s seen half-century of progress
The African American Day Parade — launched in the impactful 1960s — is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking a half-century as a vibrant lasting symbol of black unity and achievement.
The highly anticipated procession — taking place Sunday along Adam Clayton Blvd. from W. 111th to W. 136th Sts. in Harlem from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. — will feature celebrities, religious organizations, labor unions, sororities and fraternities, marching bands and dance groups “from over 12 states and many countries.”
“This is our platform to reclaim our identity,” exclaims parade Chairman Yusuf Hasan. “I want people to understand that being African-American is an experience and a strength as opposed to a skin color and a struggle. AADP has been a platform to represent us in a positive way, and we’re excited to do this for a 50th year!”
Opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Adam Clayton Blvd. and 111th St., there will be preparade activities at noon at the 125th St. reviewing stand.
Performances include Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress/singer Melba Moore, who will sing the anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the high-energy “Orange Crush Roaring Lions Marching Band from Lincoln University, one of the two historically black colleges and universities in Pennsylvania.
On the route, the parade theme, “Integrity and Transparency Equals Good Government,” will be represented by individuals and organizations that have made “key contributions to furthering the dignity, determination and excellence of the African-American community through politics and government.”
Among the pioneering political figures who have been named grand marshal are Mayor David Dinkins, New York’s first African-American mayor; former Congressman Charles Rangel and Leah Daughtry, two-time CEO of the Democratic National Convention.
A number of other leaders, such as Civil Court Judges Machelle Sweeting and William Franc Perry have been given marshal status for the parade.
The parade organization, which has “Power Through Unity” as its organizational theme, was founded in 1968 by two community groups — the Afro-American Day and the United Federation of Black Community Organizations. The first parade was held a year later.
Harlem community leaders Livingston Wingate, Conrad Peters, Jacqueline Peterson, Abdel Krim, Cenie Williams, Ennis Francis, Joseph Steele, Piankhi Akinbaloye, Bernice Bolar, Adeyemi Oyeilumi, Lloyd Mayo, Leonard Davis and Abe Snyder (the last living founding member) organized the inaugural 1969 procession.
The 1960s, a notable time for black communities in the U.S., were marked by AfricanAmerican unity and progress in the midst of major social upheavals — including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963; passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther Jr. in 1968 and subsequent riots in Harlem and across the nation; as well as the clenchedfist Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
For information, visit africanamericandayparade.org and follow the parade organization on social media.