From Defender Newsboys to a Million Strong: The Legacy of the Bud Billiken Parade

If you grew up in Black Chicago, especially on the South Side, you know that the second Saturday in August isn’t just another summer day. It’s Bud Billiken Day—a celebration of youth, community, culture, and pride that has grown from humble beginnings to become the largest African American parade in the United States.

Whether you watched it live, lined up chairs along King Drive, or caught it on TV with your family after breakfast, the Bud Billiken Parade is more than a tradition. It’s a part of who we are.

A Parade Born from the Power of the Press

The parade began in 1929, the vision of Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the pioneering founder of The Chicago Defender—one of the most influential Black newspapers in American history. Abbott, along with editor Lucius Harper, had created the Bud Billiken Club in 1923 to support and celebrate the Defender’s young newsboys.

The name “Bud Billiken” came from a mythical protector of children, blended with Harper’s nickname “Bud.” The idea was simple but powerful: honor Black youth, uplift their voices, and get them excited for a new school year.

That first parade down South Parkway (now Martin Luther King Drive) was a modest event—but even then, it drew crowds, performers, and love from the community. Over the decades, it would grow into a national spectacle.

The Defender’s Reach Was National—So Was the Parade’s Impact

Back in the day, The Chicago Defender was more than a local paper—it was a movement. With the help of Pullman Porters, the paper was quietly distributed to Black families across the segregated South, encouraging Black migration to the North and informing readers of their rights, their heroes, and their power.

The Bud Billiken Parade was the Defender’s way of turning that mission into a moment of joy and pride—right in the heart of Bronzeville and Washington Park. It told every Black child, “You matter. You’re going to do great things this school year. And we’re here to celebrate you.”

From South Park Avenue to King Drive: The Route of History

The parade marches down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, once known as Grand Boulevard, and afterwards South Park Avenue—a road that once held mansions of Chicago’s wealthy elite and became a central artery of Black life on the South Side.

The transformation of the street mirrors the purpose of the parade itself: reclaiming space, amplifying community pride, and honoring legacy.

Each year, crowds begin arriving before sunrise. Families set up grills and tents, saving spots with folding chairs, coolers, and umbrellas. The smell of barbecue, popcorn, and Italian ice floats in the air as vendors line the streets selling everything from water to t-shirts. Children dart through the crowd. Aunties laugh. Old friends reunite. And when the drums start—you can feel it in your chest.

A Stage for Greatness

Over the years, the Bud Billiken Parade has hosted countless performers, dignitaries, and celebrities:

• Marching bands from Chicago and beyond
  
• Local dance teams and drill teams with jaw-dropping routines
  
• Beautifully decorated floats from Black businesses and organizations
  
• Community leaders and politicians waving from convertibles
  
• Royal Court winners in sparkling crowns
  
• Grand Marshals that have included Muhammad Ali, Nat King Cole, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, and more.

The parade has long been a rite of passage for local youth. It’s a chance to shine in front of thousands. A moment when the South Side becomes the main stage—and the whole world is watching.

Broadcasting Black Joy to the Nation

For decades, Chicago TV stations have broadcast the parade live, with local anchors celebrating its rich history. In the early 2000s, it was even picked up for national television, bringing the energy of King Drive into homes from coast to coast.

To see that many Black faces marching, dancing, grilling, laughing, and thriving—it’s not just entertainment. It’s empowerment.

Who Keeps It Going?

The parade is organized by Chicago Defender Charities, the nonprofit arm that evolved from the newspaper. The late David Kellum, who led parade planning for many years, helped shape its enduring legacy. The brilliant Dr. Marjorie Stewart Joyner, who served as a longtime organizer and civic leader, was also instrumental in building its reach and impact.

Today, the work is carried forward by Myiti Sengstacke–Rice, a descendant of Abbott, who serves as President and CEO of Defender Charities. Under her leadership, the focus remains the same: youth, education, opportunity, and community.

A Day of Unity, Love, and Memories

What makes the Bud Billiken Parade so special isn’t just the celebrities or the floats—it’s the feeling. The feeling of belonging. Of watching generations gather in the same spot year after year. Of knowing you’re part of something bigger, something beautiful, something lasting.

It's the little things:

• The kids dancing in front of the TV, mimicking the majorettes
  
• The uncle who brings the grill every year, even when he swears he’s retired from it
  
• The old-timers debating whose band hit the cleanest routine
  
• The little girls waving from the Royal Court float, eyes wide with pride

Bud Billiken Lives On

Ninety-plus years later, the Bud Billiken Parade is still going strong. It’s not just a parade. It’s a cultural institution. A back-to-school pep rally for the entire Black community. A living tribute to our legacy, our joy, and our future.

It started with newspaper boys. Now it draws over a million.

And it still tells every child what The Chicago Defender always said:

You are the future. And we see you.

Check out the video with the CEO of the Chicago Defender, Dr. Myiti Sengstacke-Rice.