African American Day Parade

Floats from the Zulu parade roll down St. Charles Avenue

First of all, as a native of New Orleans, I am a Parade Snob. Yes, I admit it. I will always look down on parades and festivals that in my eyes that just do not compare on the same level with New Orleans.


 Blaine Kern, the founder of Mardi Gras world, has become the greatest architect of parade floats, in all the country, if not the world.


Blaine Kern Mardi Gras World Float

Today is the annual African American Day Parade in Harlem.  Here's the background info on African American "Parades" in Harlem.

The first African Americans who moved to Harlem were pursuing a future for themselves and their yet to be born descendants.

Race people.

A trio of "Northeasterners" on 127th Street in Harlem, c.1930

Black Cross Nurses, in the 1922 UNIA Parade (Corbis)

So in order to build on the solidarity of this upward movement, towards success and economic wealth within a segregated society, African Americans gathered together in counsels, societies, and unions based on their trades, professions, religious and political beliefs. This was more than just a parade- it was a PAGEANT.


Annual Youth Parade, UNIA, 1924

Marcus Garvey, the great leader of African Americans throughout the Americas led UNIA parades through Harlem in the 1920's.(United Negro International Association.)

Not sure what has happened what the African American Day Parade. The entire nation has gone super casual since The Gap introduced their line of "relaxed casual" clothing to America.

A parade in my eyes, needs to be splendid, lovely, and CLEAN. This African American Day parade in Harlem needs a dose of those three things. I don't feel a pump in my pride as an African American at all.

And the police presence is bananas. You would think something was really going on, besides Negroes walking up and down the street. But I guess in some ways African Americans coming together, is still an act of civil disobedience.

SOURCES
http://digitalharlemblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/parades-in-1920s-harlem/
http://www.albany.edu/updates/1998/2-11/frontpage.html