Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic
bud billiken parade picnic also known bud billiken day parade annual parade held since chicago illinois bud billiken day parade largest africanamerican parade united state held annually city south side second saturday august parade route travel dr martin luther king drive bronzeville washington park neighborhood end parade historic washington public park picnic festival robert abbott founder publisher chicago defender newspaper created fictional character bud billiken featured youth advice column paper david kellum cofounder newspaper sponsored bud billiken club longtime parade coordinator suggested parade celebration africanamerican life since beginning parade featured celebrity politician businessmen civic organization youth considered second largest parade united state whose focus celebrating youth education africanamerican life parade also cited backtoschool celebration marking end summer vacation resuming school chicago youth bud billiken fictional character created abbott considering adding youth section chicago defender newspaper dining chinese restaurant noticed billiken early billiken column written willard motley later became prominent novelist early name international youth listed bud billiken section newspaper every week approximately name appeared archived carter g woodson regional library chicago public library great depression abbott featured bud billiken character newspaper symbol pride happiness hope black resident character gained prominence comic strip chicago defender newspaper although character created parade begin david kellum initiated celebration unity diversity child chicago since grown become locally televised event second largest parade nation parade began august includes politician beauty queen celebrity musical performer dozen marching tumbling dancing group grown locally sponsored event one major corporate presence seen signal impending end summer beginning new school year parade sponsor raise money college scholarship local youth parade route changed year original route along michigan avenue beginning st street turned east washington park complaint north–south traffic flow caused rerouting parade route south parkway named dr martin luther king jr drive run directly park various time street repair necessitated use michigan route current route king drive route freeman gosden charles correll amos n andy first guest first parade robert abbott led first parade rollsroyce dr marjorie stewart joyner president chicago defender charity inc organized parade year numerous highprofile celebrity dignitary attended parade year including u president harry truman michael jordan barack obama joe louis muhammad ali duke ellington adelaide hall oprah winfrey aretha franklin diana ross lena horne james brown ethel water cab calloway paul robeson chaka khan billie holiday truman rode alongside john h sengstacke abbotts nephew took chicago defender mayor richard j daley parade recent parade featured popular musical act concert performer postparade picnic approximately million people saw parade including million television viewer million attendee parade included participant float vehicle parade dedicated actor comedian bernie mac star bernie mac show native chicago died hour start parade request black lgbt group participate parade declined organizer following legal action involvement lambda legal ad hoc committee proud black lesbian gay allowed participate parade following year parade marking st year saw firstever cancellation due covid pandemic scaled event held parade categorized contest participant best float best marching band take place chicago bronzeville neighborhood starting th street dr martin luther king drive southern border douglas community area south landmark victory monument continues south th street washington park route cover approximately mile km route take parade grand boulevard washington park community area notable person person invited year serve grand marshal often featuring politician musician entertainer chicago native chance rapper served grand marshal th annual parade chicago native singer chaka khan served grand marshal parade rapper ti served grand marshal rd annual parade bud billiken parade themed every year parade committee tradition began parade organizer themed parade americanism demonstrate patriotism u within africanamerican community theme year parade televised year beginning wgntv broadcast parade wciutv covered parade beginning canceled wgntv later canceled wlstv broadcasting parade since th annual parade took place august bet centric premiered parade network august wlstv aired television special st annual bud billiken parade place parade canceled due covid concern parade begin parade visitor welcomed stay washington park afterparadeactivities afterparadeactivities various festivity vendor booth post–parade festivity often include concert parade featured yung joc parade featured pretty ricky however seems neither afterparadeactivities included concert parade featured bk concert free virtually unlimited space park viewing however crowd became unruly causing concert curtailed attendee taken hospital result injury violence including two teenager shot th annual parade then–us senator barack obama served grand marshal second year row chicago mayor richard daley attended march participant included u senator dick durbin lieutenant governor illinois pat quinn rev al sharpton one float represented chicago committee included past chicago olympian bob pickens willie may diane simpsonbundy kenny johnson well son danell nicholson chicago bull mascot made guest appearance chicago defender charity underwent major restructuring myiti sengstacke–rice board president chicago defender charity bud billiken parade chair sengstacke–rice greatgrandniece robert sengstacke abbott granddaughter john herman henry sengstacke founder chicago defender charity daughter late famed photojournalist robert abbott sengstacke bud billiken club official site encyclopedia chicago entry