Detroit resident Avery Saddler, 16, plays the cymbals as part of the drumline for the Cass Technical High School marching band, which performed Saturday at the 11th annual African American Parade and Family Heritage Festival in Lansing. The Detroit band marched into the center of Ferris Park, in Lansing, where the festival was held, and performed a medley in the middle of a circle of festival-goers.
With more than 50 different entries flaunting floats down North Capitol Avenue, in Lansing, hundreds of spectators from the community watched the different exhibitions Saturday during the 11th annual African American Parade and Family Heritage Festival.
The parade took place in downtown Lansing with a celebration following at Ferris Park in Lansing.
Featuring a various organizations — from local fraternities and sororities to state representatives — there was something at the parade for everyone, organizer Calvin Jones said.
“The parade is an opportunity to get out and showcase and really talk about some of the great things in the community,” Jones said. “(It is) an opportunity to just get involved and to showcase the great ethnicities of the Mid-Michigan community.”
The day was a chance for locals to display not only the successes of black community members, but also every ethnic background, to enlighten the public, Jones said.
“It’s always important to educate communities about the different values that everyone brings to the table,” Jones said. “We showcase African American talent, but our goal is to showcase many cultures; we encourage those cultures to participate in the event (every year).”
Eleven-year-old Lansing resident Azailia Thomas was at the parade with her family, including her 13-year-old cousin Shariyone Thomas, and said she came to enjoy the festivities and celebration.
“I am at the parade to first have fun, second of all, see all the activities and all the shows they got going on,” Azailia Thomas said.
The parade is an important aspect to black culture and, this year, Azailia Thomas came especially to show support of the culture, she said.
“(The parade) is a stepping stone of realizing how far blacks have come through the years,” she said. “That’s very important.”
Azailia Thomas also is a former dancer and said she came to support her former dance team performing in the parade.
Shariyone Thomas said that the parade was a reminder of who she was.
“My mom always taught me to be really confident and well-spoken, so when I think about African American heritage it makes me want to celebrate who I am,” Shariyone Thomas said.
Part of celebrating her heritage includes dancing, which the parade featured in a great way, she said.
“I like the dancers the best because I love to dance and I like to be moving, so the dancers are a really good piece of the parade,” Shariyone Thomas said. “It turned out to be really nice; even though it’s very hot, it’s very nice.”
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