The Bud Billiken Parade celebrated 90 years in existence on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. The parade was created by Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder of the Chicago Defender, as a Take a look at a few pictures from this year’s parade in the gallery.back-to-school event. The first parade was held in 1929 in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood.
Bud Billiken is a character Abbott created to represent love and pride for Black people. Ninety years later, the sentiment is the same, as children from across the city came together to sing, dance and celebrate who they are as they prepare for the upcoming school year. The parade is the longest-running African American parade in the United States.
This year’s grand marshall was hometown hero, comedian and actor Lil Rel. The streets were lined with families watching children from surrounding schools celebrate the theme, “90 Years of Black Excellence.”
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Check out rolling out‘s photo gallery from this year’s parade.
