*On this date in 1969, the first African American Day Parade in Harlem was held. Every September, this annual event celebrates with participants from at least 12 states as one of the largest African American parades in America. It begins in Harlem on West 110th Street and Lenox Avenue and goes north along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (7th Ave.), ending at West 136th Street.
Participants come from throughout New York City and the U.S. and include One Hundred Black Men, 100 Black Women, Brotherhood of Grand Lodges, Prince Hall Grand Lodge, National Action Network, Ancient Egyptian Order, National Society of Black Engineers, National Association of Black Accountants, NAACP, New York Urban League, Spirit of Hope-Cancer Survivors, New York Black Nurses, 369th Veterans' Association, Grand Council of Guardians, Committee For A Slavery Memorial, Millions For Reparations, Vulcan Society, African American Benevolent Society, Association of Black Social Workers, Masjid Malcolm Shabazz, Muhammad Mosque No. 7, Yorubas of North America, organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, colleges, labor unions, and religious groups, and social fraternal and sororal groups.
The African American Day Parade was founded during the American Civil Rights Movement in 1968. The main mission of the parade is to inspire a world where African Americans proclaim independence within our communities in Business, education, health, arts/culture & politics/government. The parade typically has a large viewing audience, and many dignitaries, celebrities, bands, community leaders, and elected officials attend. Past Grand Marshals have included Denzel Washington, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., David Dinkins, Shirley Chisholm, Johnnie Cochran, Spike Lee, Queen Mother Moore, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Paul Winfield, Melba Moore, and many others.
