Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s entry in El Paso’s Black History Month Parade, held Saturday, makes its way down Copia Street. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Festival, parade celebrate Black History Month
More than 500 people celebrated Black History Month Saturday with the city’s annual parade and festival, an event with a longstanding history in El Paso.
Almost 100 organizations took part in the parade and festival, which have been held for more than 30 years, said Harold E. Howell, president of the Interclub Council of El Paso.
“This year, we had the largest turnout we’ve seen in quite a few years,” Howell said. “Last year, the wind and the weather didn’t cooperate and we had to shut down the festival. This time, it was a beautiful day, and we had a great group of participants.”
Sharon Jordan waves from The Silhouettes Civic and Social Club’s float as the Black History Month Parade rolls down Copia Street. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
The parade, which began at the intersection of Pershing Drive and Montana Avenue, made its way down Copia Street before turning onto Missouri Avenue, where it ended at Mary Webb Park, the site of the festival.
The Interclub Council sponsors and organizes the parade and festival, Howell said, as a way to show El Paso’s small black community is an important part of the city’s diverse population.
“The African-American population of El Paso is only around 3 percent, but we have a rich history and tradition here,” he said. “The parade and festival are a way of showing that the African-American community in El Paso may be small, but it’s still viable.”
Members of the A-Plus African American Postal League, Sun City Chapter, display posters featuring stamps from the United States Postal Service’s Black Heritage series. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Groups participating in the parade included fraternities, sororities, civic and social groups, and churches. The U.S. Postal Service, Chapin High School’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, American Legion Post 832 and the 62nd Army Band took part in the event, as well.
“(The 62nd Army Band) has been there faithfully for us for the past six years,” Howell said.
This year’s parade and festival theme, “Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism,” honored Woodson, a man known as the “father of black history.”
Born in Virginia Dec. 19, 1875, Woodson, the child of former slaves, devoted his life to learning and teaching others about the contributions made to America by its black population. Before his death in 1950, Woodson authored 18 books and numerous periodical articles on the history and contributions of black people in America.