Organizers are gearing up for the 57th Annual African American Day Parade set for Sunday, Sept. 20 in Harlem. Before you head to the festivities, here are some things you need to know.
1. Black-owned businesses takes the spotlight for this year’s theme.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Good Businesses Sustain Our Future” celebrating the vital role Black-owned businesses play in creating opportunity, building wealth, and strengthening communities.
2. Be sure to catch the Pre-Parade Show.
Before the parade starts there will be a Pre-Parade Show from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the reviewing stand at West 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. The show will feature performances by community organizations.
3. The grand marshals have made major contributions to African-American culture.
Several business leaders are serving as this year’s grand marshals, including Barbara Askins, president of the Harlem Business Improvement District (BID); J. Alexander Martin, FUBU co-founder and president of the New York State Black Chamber of Commerce; Chef Charles Gabriel, founder of Charles Pan Fried Chicken; Michael Preston, co-owner of Harlem Rocket; and Cheryl McKissack Daniel, chair of the board of McKissack & McKissack.
4. This year’s parade is being lead by an HBCU marching band.
The famed Grambling State University (GSU) Tiger Marching Band is scheduled to lead the 57th African American Day Parade (AADP). The renowned marching band from the Louisiana historically Black university will appear as part of the celebration of Grambling State University’s 125th anniversary and the Tiger Marching Band’s 100th anniversary.
5. The parade will host the 4th Annual “Get Involved Community, Literacy, Health, and Culture Celebration”
This year the African American Day Parade is hosting the fourth annual “Get Involved Community Literacy, Health & Celebration of Culture” on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harlem State Office Building Plaza. The event will feature a health panel, health fair, educational activities, food vendors, giveaways, and live entertainment.
6. Wave at the politicians (and the candidates) when you see them.
Several politicians will be marching in the parade. Expect to see Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Attorney General Letitia James along with several city and state politicians. With the midterm elections in November, some candidates will be walking the parade route.
7. Get there early.
The parade kicks off at 12:30 p.m. and starts at 111th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and heads up to 137th Street. It’s best to secure your spot early before the parade starts so you can see.
8. You’ll see your family, friends and neighbors IN the parade.
Several community and national organizations along with churches, labor unions, colleges, sororities and fraternities are participating in the parade. So, if you see someone you know walking the route, give them a shout!
9. Can’t make the parade in person? It will be live streamed.
For the third consecutive year, WABC-TV is live streaming the parade on abc7ny.com. Last year, 19,000 people nationwide watched the parade online. The parade is also being featured on the HarlemAmerica Digital Network and PIPE TV.
10. Have fun!
The African-American Day Parade is a day where the community can come together for celebration and pride for our culture. Bring your family, see old friends and let’s make this the best parade ever!
Sadly, as a native New Yorker who has lived here more than sixty years this parade has never been popular. Compared to the Carribean Day Parade that started in Brooklyn in the early seventies that drew massive crowds from the very beginning that grew to over a million people and must be the largest Black celebration in our Country it is non-existent. Rather than continue to produce a parade unworthy of our greatness it should be combined with the one in Brooklyn as all African Descendants must come together no matter where the slave master dropped us off. This included the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Letting the slave master make us believe we are not the same helps him oppress us. Wake up organizers ! We are all Africans.
Sadly I must disagree with the notion that the AADP should combine with the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, even though I was born in Brooklyn.
To my knowledge there has never been disturbances such as gunshots and roving bands of thugs interfering with the AADP. The same cannot be said for the West Indian Day Parade.
It’s difficult to explain why there is such a difference between the two parades. While it’s true we as people of color should stand together as we navigate our way through what has been a perilous journey as African-Americans in this country, there is a stark and troubling difference between the two events.
I look forward to the Harlem event, but sadly I cannot say the same for the Brooklyn event.
Hopefully things may change for the better in the future.
Dean Schomburg.
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difficulty…. copy my name and open it
There are distinct differences – The African American Parade is about showing pride without twerking half naked, without getting drunk & out of control. Its about celebrating our ancestors who didn’t come here voluntarily but built this country & allowed all other ethnicities to come here voluntarily.