Black History Month
Celebrated Locally
With Saturday Parade

by: Bobby McDonald

With warm, bright sunshine, the aftermath of a blessed rain, and spring-like temperatures, Saturday was a beautiful day to celebrate, and local residents chose the occasion to mark February as Black History Month. Lead by Hopkins County Sheriff,

Butch Adams, the parade began at 10:00 a.m., at the Cypress Center on Como Street and wound its way to an ending at Pacific Park, where residents and supports waved along the streets and shouted along the parade route.

Local politicians, public office holders, school children, and church youth groups rode a variety of conveyances and waved to the crowd, from their positions in the parade.

Carolyn Thomas, left, was led to her car, as one of the Parade Marshals, and the parade
began at the Cypress Center, on Como Street. Thomas serves on the SSISD School Board.


And, these youth carried the parade banner, at the beginning of the parade, signifying the purpose
of the entire celebration.

These youth found pleasure in riding in the back of Sheriff Butch Adam's truck, as they waved to
friends and acquaintances, along the parade route.

 

 

Ronny Glossup and his wife, Anita, left, and Rita Taylor, right, were just some of the many MLK Award recipients that
chose to ride in the Black History Month Parade, on Saturday morning.

These children celebrated their African-American heritage and waved to their friends along the route.

Thurgood Marshall was just one of the African-American Patriots that this group of youth chose
to honor on their float.

And, these two teenagers portrayed Martin Luther King, Jr. and Corretta Scott King, as they waved
and delivered King's "I Have A Dream" speach.

What would a parade be without motorcycles?


East Caney Baptist Church provided their bus and posted various historical milestones from the
windows, for the parade on Saturday.


And, this cowboy found his ride much easier to maneuver in Saturday's parade, as he celebrated the
many contributions that the Black Cowboy made in forging our nation.

Two African-American Community Leaders, Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks and Lester Henley rode in
this car and waved to the crowd along the way.

City Councilwoman, Yolanda Porter waved from this car, as the parade wound through the streets,
on Saturday.

Lonnie Ford drove the NAACP entry in the parade and had a bright smile for everyone!


Aubrey Washington, the first African-American Mayor of Sulphur Springs, waves to the crowd in
Saturday's Black History Month Parade.


And, these children had many reasons to celebrate as they represent the many advances that have
been made in African-American history.

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