{"id":229600,"date":"2025-09-15T20:38:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/229600\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T20:38:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:38:26","slug":"10-things-to-know-about-the-african-american-day-parade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/229600\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things to know about the African American Day Parade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Organizers are gearing up for the 56th Annual African American Day Parade set for Sunday, Sept. 21 in Harlem. Before you head to the festivities, here are some things you need to know.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Education takes the spotlight for this year\u2019s theme.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The theme for this year\u2019s parade is \u201cEducation is Our #1 Priority\u201d honoring individuals and organizations that have made key education contributions to the African American community including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), local schools, teachers and principals.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ee68a358-08ca-11e2-b251-0019bb2963f4.jpg\" alt=\"African-American Day Parade (39342)\" class=\"wp-image-439342\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Be sure to catch the Pre-Parade Show.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/SummerStage3311UptownDanceBM83123.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10364388\"  \/>Credit: Bill Moore photo<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. The grand marshals have made major contributions to African-American culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Several figures in education are serving as this year\u2019s grand marshals. Among them including leaders of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs): Dr. Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University; Dr. Martin Lamelle Jr., president of Grambling State University; and Dr. Patrice Ramsey, president of Medgar Evers College. Additional grand marshals include Sandra Bookman, anchor of Eyewitness News on ABC7\/WABC-TV; WBLS 107.5 FM radio personality Dr. Bob Lee; Joy Bivins, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; and the founder and CEO of the Make the Grade Foundation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DrRamseyHeadshot-Pat_R.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Patricia Ramsey (302838)\" class=\"wp-image-702838\"  \/>Dr. Patricia Ramsey Credit: Contributed<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. This year\u2019s parade will honor notable people who recently passed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This year the Harlem community lost notable people including Congressman Charlie Rangel, NAACP New York State Conference President Hazel Dukes and Harlem Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Lloyd A. Williams. All three were regularly part of the African American Day Parade and thier legacies will be honored at this year\u2019s event<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"734\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Hazel-Dukes-DSC_Parade4007BM91723-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10364924\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Hazel Dukes<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-Hon.-Charles-Rangel-and-the-Hon.-Inez-Dickens-DSC_Parade4005BM91223l-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10364929\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Charles B. Rangel and Inez Dickens Credit: Bill Moore photo<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/imageedit_7_8582702076.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10427428\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/2;object-fit:cover\"  \/>Lloyd A. Williams Credit: Michael Appleton\/Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. The parade will host the <strong>3rd Annual \u201cGet Involved Community, Literacy, Health, and Culture Celebration\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This year the African American Day Parade is hosting the third annual \u201cGet Involved Community Literacy, Health &amp; Celebration of Culture\u201d on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harlem State Office Building Plaza. The event will feature games, giveaways, a health panel, community resources and performances<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Parade.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10335090\"  \/>Youngster enjoys Sunday\u2019s African American Day parade<br \/>\nin Harlem. Credit: Benny Polatseck\/Mayoral Photography Office photo<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Wave at the politicians (and the candidates) when you see them.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Several politicians will be marching in the parade. Expect to see Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, State Attorney General Letitia James along with several city and state politicians. With the NYC mayoral and city council elections in November, some candidates will be walking the parade route.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DnPCAOLX4AA2qFv.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10334974\"  \/>Public Advocate Jumaane Williams at the African American Day Parade Credit: Office of NYC Public Advocate\/Twitter<\/p>\n<p><strong>7. Get there early.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s best to secure your spot early before the parade starts so you can see.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"321\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/d7426aa6-08ca-11e2-9269-0019bb2963f4.jpg\" alt=\"African-American Day Parade becoming just all American? (39134)\" class=\"wp-image-439134\"  \/>African American Day Parade<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. You\u2019ll see your family, friends and neighbors IN the parade.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"516\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DSC_0695.jpg\" alt=\"The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity got together after the African American Day Parade. Sept 21, 2014. (93023)\" class=\"wp-image-493023\"  \/>Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at African American Day Parade. Sept 21, 2014.<\/p>\n<p><strong>9. The weather is supposed to be nice.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s forecast is calling for mostly sunny skies with a comfortable high near 73. Be sure to bring a jacket and water.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/f8972ee4-08ca-11e2-96c3-0019bb2963f4.jpg\" alt=\"African-American Day Parade (39341)\" class=\"wp-image-439341\"  \/>African American Day Parade<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. Have fun!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s make this the best parade ever!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/48743649111_ce0f2f42b6_k.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10334975\"  \/>African American Day Parade Credit: Cyril Josh Barker photo<\/p>\n<p>Like this:<\/p>\n<p>Like Loading&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sd-link-color\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Organizers are gearing up for the 56th Annual African American Day Parade set for Sunday, Sept. 21 in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":229601,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-229600","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-new-york","10":"tag-new-york-city","11":"tag-newyork","12":"tag-newyorkcity","13":"tag-ny","14":"tag-nyc","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-united-states-of-america","17":"tag-unitedstates","18":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","19":"tag-us","20":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115210244051260789","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=229600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/229600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/229601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=229600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=229600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=229600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}