Sullivan Anderson 
The school year is around the corner, and there was no better way than to celebrate at the Bud Billiken Parade this past Saturday! It was truly a beautiful day on the South Side of Chicago, and the energy was amazing on King Drive. Over 3,000 people attended and enjoyed a good time, filled with giveaways (Garretts was the highlight of my experience), food, laughter, and Chicago culture at its best.
The stars of the show were StarBandz, Luke James, Genesis Denise Hale, and the cast of the hit show “The Chi,” and other features. The Chicago Teachers Union, Jesse White Tumblers, and the Democratic National Convention were among the organizations that participated. D9 sororities and fraternities also made an appearance during the performances, trademarking the environment of Black excellence.
The Bud Billiken Parade has been a staple in the Chicago Black community for years – 95 years to be exact! VeeLa Gonzales, Director of the Bud Billiken Parade Scholarship and Royal Court Programs, cherishes her role with the parade annually. “I love working with the children of the Royal Court and the scholarship recipients every year. They represent the hope and potential that keeps the legacy and vision of newspaper publisher and Parade founder, Robert Sengstacke Abbott alive,” she eloquently stated. “The annual gathering contributes to the empowerment of our children and the community as a whole. It is a gift that belongs to us all.”
The Bud Billiken was definitely an occasion to remember. It was refreshing to witness youth being united under a positive purpose – actively pushing against the negative narrative surrounding Black Chicago youth. We look forward to next year!
By Sullivan Anderson, North Carolina A&T State University Alumna
Instagram: @SullivanGrace_
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