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43rd Annual African American Day Parade
Faithful African-American Day Parade participants have voiced their dissatisfaction with the gradual and consistent changes that have occurred with the parade. As the parade reached its 43rd year, many are claiming that the traditions of the parade are being phased out. The African American Day Parade was established in 1969 to promote unity and economic empowerment for descendants of chattel slavery in America. The parade allowed Americanized-Africans to showcase their annual achievements and highlight their glorious heritage, simultaneously promoting dignity, pride and unity.
The ominous police presence has disenfranchised many faithful parade participants. “The brother who started it [Benny Krim] would turn over in his grave if he knew what this parade has become,” said lifelong Harlemite and Cop Watch activist Jazz Hayden, 71. “The chief groups are the corrections, police departments—city and state. It’s become a law enforcement parade. They’re the biggest groups and contingents here—the same ones running those prisons, putting our youth against the wall, sending [them] to jail.” Hayden added, “To have all of our Black elected officials embracing Police Commissioner [Ray] Kelly [on 111th Street] like he’s doing a good thing in Harlem, and he’s somebody that we are proud of, and happy to have in Harlem, on African-American Day.” [Laughs.] “How do you do this?”
A descendant of parents who were members of the Harlem Black Panthers, Pat, 42, is furious with the increased presence of law enforcement at the parade. “We need a revolution! She exclaimed. “The pigs aren’t doing their job. Look at ’em just standing there.” She gestured toward two stationary cops who were supposed to be guiding people at the 127th Street intersection but were just jawing as pedestrians hurriedly scurried between parade partitions—until a sergeant stepped on the scene.
Another faithful parade participant, Larry, attributes the ailing tradition of the parade to political representative’s lack of interest in enforcing initiatives to address issues concerning the African-American community. “They’re whittling away at this parade, little by little. They’re destroying it, and that’s because our political representatives have fallen asleep on their job,” he said.
Fans of the parade cite the African-American Day Parade’s shortened distance and hours, ethnic relocation and increased police patrols as obvious signs of a not-so-harmonious future for Harlem.
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Von
October 12, 2012 at 10:03 am
Good Morning people, i TOTALLY AGREE..Mainly with Deborah: We need to have our people trained in these positions of LAW ENFORCEMENT 2 do just that.
I also agree with Antoine Marshall: The WEST INDIAN BLACKS should be included..cuz that means myself and my family and our many others would feel welcome too. I am WEST INDIAN BLACK & PROUD. I feel that UNITY AMOUNG OURSELVES IS 1# SOLUTION. Example: It took everyone to unite to get laws passed back then. They knew that UNITY amoung US was the ONLY SOLUTION…THAT HAS NOT CHANGED TODAY. LET’S STOP JUST TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND BECOME THE SOLUTION…ONE BIG FIST OF UNITY CAN MAKE A MIGHTY BLOW EVERLASTING.
Deborah
October 3, 2012 at 7:18 am
Typical of the police to connect African American mass parades with crime. I say more African Americans should train as police men to provide a counter argument to this racism, and give black boys someone to look up to.
The show must go on!
Sandra
October 1, 2012 at 9:09 am
I agree. New York has become a place where blacks are slowly but, surely trying to be “phased out” and it’s ridiculous. We are “not going “anywhere”. When will the racist of this state and country get that through their heads. It’s just sad that we (Black/African Americans)have to go through this c**p because of someone else’s hatred. When we “hate”, its a crime/problem, and it is controlled (taken care of right away). What do our children and our childrens children have to look forward to in this state/country? The African American Day parade used to be a wonderful fest that lasted at least 4 hours and spanned the borough. Every other nationality have their parades along 5th Ave. and are “embraced”. Ours isn’t embraced nor appreciated. We have to stand together. Unity.
gloria
September 30, 2012 at 3:38 am
I was born in upstate. I never heard of an AA parade until this article. I reared my children in Boston. I have watched W.Indians travel annually to NY, Canada, Boston, and Florida to celebrate their cultures. Why are AA experiencing such difficulties maintaining one parade?
Anthony
September 29, 2012 at 10:40 pm
I don’t know when Black people will realize that NYC is not Black friendly. They don’t want you there, they harrass you and they won’t hire you…
caz
September 29, 2012 at 5:08 pm
We have clearly reached full integration.
AMAZINGGRACE
September 29, 2012 at 3:17 pm
So sad we are so distracted. What would it take to turn this parade around?
AMAZINGGRACE
September 29, 2012 at 3:17 pm
So sad we are so distracted. What would it take to turn this parade around?
AMAZINGGRACE
September 29, 2012 at 3:17 pm
So sad we are so distracted. What would it take to turn this parade around?
Teri
September 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm
This event has long lost whatever tradition it had . It is a police parade.