Thousands cheered as they watched community members, from high school marching bands to government officials, march in downtown Lansing on Saturday in the sixth annual African American Parade and Family Heritage Picnic.
Hosted by the Capital City African American Cultural Association Inc., this years' parade theme focused on diversity and the celebration of family heritage, said Micheal McFadden, event marketer and broadcast radio personality for WWSJ (1580-AM).
"Family heritage is important, and whatever your ethnicity is, you should get excited about discovering your family history," he said.
The Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society, or LAAAGS, had an informational tent that offered genealogy information.
Mary Agnes Lipscomb, president and co-founder of the society, said the primary focus is to assist black people in researching family history.
"This is very important because we need to know where we've been in order to plan where we are going," she said.
Lipscomb said sometimes it can be hard to trace family history.
"Our history wasn't always written down, and many relatives don't want to discuss the past either," she said.
She said when they start researching, they look at family members, past and present censuses, funerals and the Internet.
Lipscomb said it's a hard task.
"Sometimes when you begin to search you won't come up with anything, but when you go back you may find a lot of information you couldn't find the previous time," she said. "It's not an easy role but well worth it."
A major attraction was the 150-member Benton Harbor High School marching band, which performed at the picnic.
Assistant Drum Major Andre Coleman said preparing for the parade took a lot of hard work.
"We have been practicing everyday for the last three weeks from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.," he said.
Drum Major Ashley Fisher said the effort was worth it when she saw the reaction from the crowd.
At the end of the parade, activities and vendors advertising food, entertainment, health awareness and African arts were set up for patrons.
Attending the parade and picnic for the first time was Lansing resident Dorresa Hicks.
"I've never been to the parade or the picnic," she said. "I've always heard they were good but just never got around to coming."
Hicks was there with Shabazz Public School Academy in Lansing and had a booth set up to inform people about the school.
"I've been here since 9 a.m. setting up, and I love it," she said. "If it wasn't for the school I probably wouldn't have been here because they opened my eyes to a lot of things that go on in the community."
Lansing resident Dyanne Clark said she has always participated in the event.
"Every year I have been involved with an organization here," she said. "I've been here with Girl Scouts before, but this year I am here with the (Sen.) Virg Bernero campaign."
McFadden said this was the dream of Rep. Michael Murphy, D-Lansing, to bring the Lansing community together every year to celebrate culture.
"Lansing doesn't always look like this on Saturdays," he said. "Only here is where you'll see thousands of people from the black community as well as others together having a good time."
