OUR STORY
The African American Day Parade, Inc. (AADP) was founded in 1968 by two organizations: Afro-American Day & United Federation of Black Community Organizations. The first meeting was held at 2315 Seventh Avenue in Harlem, NY. The meeting was overseen by community leaders, Livingston Wingate and Conrad Peters. Mr. Wingate served as AADP’s first Chairman. The two men were joined by eleven other community organizers: Jacqueline Peterson, Abdel Krim,
Abe Snyder, Cenie J. Williams, Ennis Francis, Joseph Steele, Piankhi Akinbaloye, Bernice Bolar, Adeyemi Oyeilumi, Lloyd Mayo, and Leonard Davis.
These thirteen members saw a need for positive representation of the African American community. It was their vision to produce a platform for multi-sectors of the community to come together and celebrate Black American heritage, talents and accomplishments, while also honoring our ancestors. On Sunday September 21, 1969, they hosted Harlem’s first annual African American Day Parade themed “Africa’s Gift to America.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 1ST ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN DAY PARADE
Since then, the African American Day Parade (AADP) has been held
every third Sunday in September.