Barack Obama float at 2004 parade.

The Bud Billiken® Parade and Picnic is an annual parade in Chicago, Illinois, and the largest African American parade in the United States. Since 1929 it has always been held on the second Saturday in August.^[1] The idea for the parade came from Robert S. Abbott, the founder of the Chicago Defender. It is now the second largest annual parade in the United States.^[2] “Barack” redirects here. ... United States Marines on parade. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Robert Sengstacke Abbott (1870 - 1940) was born in 1870 in Frederica, St. ... The Chicago Defender announces President Harry S. Trumans order in 1948 desegregating the United States Armed Forces. ...

Bud Billiken is a fictional character created in 1923 by Abbott, who had been pondering the possibility of adding a youth section to the newspaper. While dining at a Chinese restaurant he noticed a Billiken, which is said to be the guardian angel of youth. Some of the early Billiken colums were written by Willard Motley, who would later become a prominent African-Amerian novelist. During the early 1930s, names of international youth appeared in the Bud Billiken section of the newspaper every week. Between 1930-34, approximately 10,000 names appeared and were archived in the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library of the Chicago Public Library.^[3] During the Great Depression, the Bud Billiken character served as a symbol of pride, happiness and hope for black residents.^[4] The character gained prominence in a comic strip and the Chicago Defender newspaper.^[4] Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... Wooden statue of Billiken enshrined in Tsutenkaku Tower Billiken was a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Ms. ... A guardian angel is a spirit who is believed to protect and to guide a particular person. ... The Chicago Public Library consists of 80 branches (as of March 2006) throughout the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. History Harold Washington Library in downtown Chicago. ... For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ...

Although the character was created in 1923, the parade did not begin until David Kellum initiated it in 1929 as a celebration of the "unity in diversity for the children of Chicago", and it has grown to a globally televised parade that is the second largest parade in the nation.^[3] The parade, which began on August 11, 1929,^[5] was in large part a marketing gimmick to sell more magazines.^[4] The parade takes place in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. It starts on 35th Street and South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, near the landmark Victory Monument, and continues south to 55th Street at Washington Park. This route covers approximately 2 miles (3 km). The parade includes politicians, beauty queens, celebrities, musical performers, and dozens of marching, tumbling and dancing groups.^[4] Past attendees have included Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Joe Louis, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Paul Robeson and Billie Holiday.^[4] The parade has grown from a locally sponsored event to one with major corporate presence. It is viewed as a reminder to the youth of the impending end of summer and beginning of the school year.^[4] As such the parade sponsors raise money for college scholarships for local youth.^[4] is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Douglas is a neighborhood located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. ... The Victory Monument was built to honor the Eighth Regiment of the Illinois National Guard, an African-American unit that served in France during World War I. It is located in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District in the Douglas community area of Chicago, Illinois. ... Washington Park is a 380 acre (1. ... Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974) was an American jazz composer, pianist, and band leader who has been one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. ... Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896–September 1, 1977) was an Oscar-nominated American blues vocalist and actress. ... Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, a native of Lexington, Alabama, is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all time. ... Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York) is a popular African American singer. ... Cab Calloway, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1933 Cab Calloway (December 25, 1907–November 18, 1994) was a famous American jazz singer and bandleader. ... Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Communist sympathizer, Spingarn Medal winner, and Lenin Peace Prize laureate. ... Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), born Eleanora Fagan and later called Lady Day was an American singer widely considered one of the greatest jazz voices of all time. ...

Miss Black Illinois at 2004 parade.

This year's 78th Annual Parade took place on August 11, 2007, and was televised on WLS-TV as well as nationally on WGN-TV in addition to local coverage.^[6] In 2006, approximately 26 million people saw the parade in person or on television,^[6] including 25 million television viewers and 1.2 million attendees.^[1] The 2006 parade also included 74,000 participants and 160 floats and vehicles.^[1] is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... WLS-TV abc Disney 7 is an American television station in Chicago, Illinois and thats owned and operated by the abc-TV Network & The Walt Disney Company. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

History

The parade route has varied over the years. The original route was along Michigan Boulevard beginning at 31st Street and then turning east into Washington Park. Concern for north-south traffic flow caused rerouting the parade route to South Parkway (now named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive), which runs directly into the park. At various times, street repairs have necessitated use of the Michigan route, but the primary route is now the King Drive route.^[5] The Michigan Avenue Bridge across the Chicago River. ...

Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll of Amos 'n' Andy fame were the first guests of honor in the original parade. Robert S. Abbott led the first parade in his Rolls Royce. Dr. Marjorie Stewart Joyner, president of the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc., organized the parade for over 50 years. Numerous high-profile celebrities and dignitaries have attended the parade over the years, including U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Michael Jordan, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Duke Ellington, Oprah Winfrey, and Lena Horne.^[5] Recent parades have featured popular musical acts as concert performers at the post-parade picnic. Freeman Fisher Gozzie Gosden (May 5, 1899 - December 10, 1982) was a USA radio comedian, and pioneer in the development of the situation comedy form. ... Charles James Correll (February 2, 1890 _ September 26, 1972) was a USA radio comedian, best known for his work on the Amos & Andy show with Freeman Gosden (see). ... Illustrator J.J. Goulds 1930 drawing of Amos and Andy for New Movie Magazine Amos n Andy was a situation comedy popular in the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s. ... Rolls-Royce car may refer to vehicles produced by: Rolls-Royce Limited (1906-1973) Rolls-Royce Motors (1973-2003), which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen. ... Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the thirty-third President of the United States (1945–1953); as Vice President, he succeeded to the office upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. ... For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ... Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, a native of Lexington, Alabama, is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all time. ... “Cassius Clay” redirects here. ... Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (April 29, 1899–May 24, 1974) was an American jazz composer, pianist, and band leader who has been one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York) is a popular African American singer. ...

At the 78th annual parade in 2007, U.S. Senator Barack Obama served as the Grand Marshal for the second year in a row. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley attendeded, and march participants included U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn and the Rev. Al Sharpton.^[7] One float represented the Chicago 2016 Committee and included past Chicago Olympians Bob Pickens, Willie May, Diane Simpson-Bundy and Kenny Johnson as well as the son of Danell Nicholson. Among the celebrities were Pretty Ricky and the Chicago Bulls mascot.^[8] The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... “Barack” redirects here. ... Mayors of Chicago, Illinois, current or previous Chicago Flag The mayoral term in Chicago was two years from 1837 through 1907, at which time it was lengthened to four years. ... Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is a United States politician, powerful member of the national and local Democratic Party and current mayor of Chicago, Illinois. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American politician. ... The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the secondary chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the lieutenant governor has specific jurisdiction. ... For the Irish grocery chain entrepreneur, see Quinnsworth John Brian Patrick Pat Quinn (born January 29, 1943, in Hamilton, Ontario),[1] is a former head coach in the National Hockey League, most recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1998 and 2006. ... This biographical article needs additional references for verification. ... The Chicago 2016 Olympic bid is yet another attempt by the United States — with the support of other cities, townships and villages in the state of Illinois — to be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics. ... Kenneth Johnson (b. ... Danell Nicholson (11-15-1967) Chicago, IL. He competed in the 1992 Olympics but came home without a medal. ... Pretty Ricky is an American R&B/hip-hop group made up of brothers Diamond Blue Baby Blue Smith, Spectacular Blue Smith, Tavion LaCorey SlickEm Mathis[1], and Marcus Ramone Pleasure Cooper. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official introductory video
• Official site
• Encyclopedia of Chicago entry