CRENSHAW, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — LA’s Official Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade has a new chairman, whose family has deep ties to the Southland.
“To be involved in your community, usually the first step is showing up,” Danny Bakewell, Sr., said. “So let’s show up for the parade.”
It’s a personal invitation from this architect of community pride and empowerment, from his Taste of Soul Family Festival, to his newspaper, the Los Angeles Sentinel.
“There is a great deal of trust,” Bakewell said. “The Sentinel is the number one Black newspaper on the west coast, so we have a lot of credibility in the community.”
Bakewell is committed to bringing that same excellence to Monday’s parade, which Bakewell Media and the Sentinel are proudly producing for the first time.
WATCH: LA Sentinel’s deep roots in our community
The Black press serves a critical role in the news media landscape, and Los Angeles is home to the largest African American-owned newspaper on the West Coast.
This year, actor and comedian Cedric The Entertainer has been tapped as grand marshal.
“He’s going to bring a lot of laughter and joy, and just his presence in the parade is going to make a big difference,” Bakewell said.
More than just a parade, Bakewell describes the upcoming event as a movement of love, justice, and inclusion.
He promises spectators, like those that gather every January along MLK Jr. Blvd., will be entertained and united in purpose.
“It’s a wonderful day! It’s a wonderful activity! And we’re asking the community, not just to come to the parade, but get involved, do something,” Bakewell said. “Let’s make Dr. King’s dream come true, make our own dreams come true.”
If you can’t be there in person, you can watch our exclusive, LIVE coverage of LA’s Official MLK Day Parade right here on ABC7, wherever you stream.
It all starts Monday at 11 a.m.
Want to stream LA’s Official MLK Day Parade on your TV?
Download the ABC7 Los Angeles app for Roku, FireTV, Apple TV or AndroidTV. Just search for ABC7 Los Angeles and download our free app!
ElectricforAll.org is a proud sponsor of ABC7’s parade broadcast.
LA’s Official MLK Day Parade is made possible through the generous support of its partners, including SoCalGas, Airbnb, LA County Federation of Labor, SEIU 2015, Blue Shield of California, Brotherhood Crusade, and others.
For more parade information, visit the LA Sentinel’s website.
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