Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Muir High School marches in Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The dance group Miss-fits Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Cheerleaders from “Learns,” participate in Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Pasadena City College participates in Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Muir High School marching band participates in Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Muir High School marching band participates Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
A high kick comes from a member of the Muir High School marching band during Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
One of the children watching the parade plays with a bubble machine during the Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The crowd enjoys Southern California’s largest and longest-running Black history parade traveled down Fair Oaks Ave. ending at Robinson Park on Feb. 17, 2024 in Pasadena CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Thousands braved brisk temperatures and hazy weather along Fair Oaks Boulevard Saturday, Feb. 17, to celebrate Pasadena’s 42nd annual Black History Parade and Festival, its second year returning since COVID-19.
This year the parade’s theme, “Past-Present-Future Celebrating The Life & Legacy Of Jackie Robinson,” commemorated the hometown hero and civil rights activist who wore number 42 when he broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Billing itself as the largest and longest running Black history parade in Southern California, the event featured local bands, drill and drum teams, community organizations, businesses, local elected officials and was capped off by a festival at Robinson Park.
The procession was led by celebrity grand marshals and award-winning actors Michael Jai White and Gillian Iliana White; community grand marshals Danny Bakewell Jr. and Pastor Emeritus William Turner Jr; and youth grand marshal the Queen and Court of the Tournament of Roses.
“It’s back in the swing of things like it never left,” attendee and Pasadena resident Terry Jackson said of the parade’s return. “Last year it was full too and I think it’s going to grow, and that’s what we need right now.”
Jackson said he’s been going to the parade since he was a teenager, and said the most striking memory every year is the joy among the crowd and parade participants.
“It’s truly a celebration and a blessing, and that’s why I come back every year.”
The event coincides with Black History Month. Events related to the contributions of African Americans sprinkle the region throughout the month.
Black History Month is considered one of the nation’s oldest organized history celebrations, and has been recognized by U.S. presidents for decades through proclamations and celebrations.
It was Carter G. Woodson, a founder of the Association for the Study of African American History, who first came up with the idea of the celebration that became Black History Month.
Woodson, the son of recently freed Virginia slaves, who went on to earn a Ph.D in history from Harvard, originally came up with the idea of Negro History Week to encourage Black Americans to become more interested in their own history and heritage. Woodson worried that Black children were not being taught about their ancestors’ achievements in American schools in the early 1900s.
“If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated,” Woodson said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
