13^th Annual African American Parade

Sojourner’s Truth Staff

This year’s African American Parade, the 13^th annual such event, featured the usual participants – elected officials, candidates, schools, small businesses and community organizations. This year’s parade, bigger and better than ever, presented onlookers a very special group of grand marshals to lead the parade.
 

Grand Marshal Robert Easter, Jr.

At the forefront of the numerous marchers were the Youth of Toledo: IBF Lightweight World Champion Boxer Robert Easter, Jr; Quarterback Deshone Kizer, this year’s first round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns;  Zia Cooke – on the USA Olympics Basketball Team 16 and under; Jared Anderson – a boxer on the USA Jr. Olympics team; Nigel Hayes, a standout with the University of Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team in their recent two Final Four appearances and now on the New York Knicks roster; TJ Fatinikun, a defensive end with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Wayne “Bam Bam” Wallace, the number one ranked amateur youth boxer in Ohio; Jerry Easter, Jr, the top rated fifth grade basketball player in the nation; Jody Webb, a running back with the San Diego Chargers; Albert Prince Hall, the UBC North American champion; Brandon Allen of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Toledo Threat – WBCBL Basketball; Soul City Boxing and the Jones Leadership Academy Chess Club.

This year’s parade consisted of 75 different organizations including the three mayoral candidates – Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson; Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz and City Councilman Tom Waniewski in addition to most of the declared City Council and judge candidates.

The route started at the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union at the corner of Dorr and Detroit, marched towards downtown turning at City Park and ending at Indiana Avenue entertaining thousands of spectators – an audience that also increases every year.

The parade was preceded by this year’s prayer breakfast on Friday at Warren AME Church and the conclusion of the summer festivities will be on August 20 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in conjunction with the NW Ohio Rib Off. The Zapp Band will be the headliners.

Copyright © 2017 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:33 -0700.

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