By Kendrick Marshall
Chicago Sun Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Performers, politicians and local residents who just wanted to have a good time flocked to the Bronzeville neighborhood Saturday for the 77th annual Bud Billiken Parade.
King Drive was transformed into a 2-mile block party as more than 1 million people gathered for a parade that started in 1929 as a way for Chicago Defender publisher Robert S. Abbott to reward youngsters who sold the newspaper. It has exploded into the largest African-American parade in the nation.
The parade is named for the fictional protector of children, a character Abbott used in the Defender’s youth section.
From 39th Street to Washington Park, BBQ grills sent smoke through the crowd and over marching bands, dance groups and the acrobats with the Jesse White Tumblers. Vendors sold everything from bottled water to retro Air Jordan sneakers.
“This is like one big family reunion,” said Pamela Plummer, 42, of Englewood. “But we also know that it is time for the kids to get back to school.”
The wafting smell of food apparently even got to Gov. Blagojevich, who jumped out of his black SUV when the parade ended and bought a huge slice of sausage pizza.
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama waved to spectators from his blue convertible, then walked over to a crowd of small children and lifted a crying little girl onto his shoulders, prompting a woman in the crowd to yell, “Obama, pick me up!”
‘NOTHING WAS EASY FOR US’
As the more than 300 floats rolled down the parade route, a float manned by members of the Chicago Fire Department took time to honor 90 African-American firefighters who integrated the department in the 1940s and ‘50s.
“Nothing was easy for us,” said 83-year-old Henry Webster, the oldest living member of the retired firefighters group called the Ole Tymers. “It is great that the Fire Department has decided to recognize us for the work we did serving the city.”
When Webster joined the department in 1948, there were only 66 African-American firefighters serving the city. Now, there are thousands.
“The Ole Tymers were part of a generation in this country that made a lot of sacrifices,” said Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco. “They represent the rich history of this job. They are role models.”
The journey for the now-retired firefighters was not easy, as they had to overcome racism from within the ranks, they said.
“I think people need to know our history and how black firefighters were treated back then,” said 5th District Fire Chief Cortez Holland. “I think by honoring the men at a historic black parade like this is only fitting.”