On January 20 2020, 20,000 thousands of Houstonians crowded around Downtown in order to honor the life and epitome of the legacy of Martin Luther King Junior. Yesterday, marked the 42nd annual Martin Luther King Parade, in which began at 10 a.m. on Lamar and Smith street and extended to Bagby street. The event was hosted by the Black Heritage Society and kicked off with pivotal individuals including Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner and Grand Marshall, successful boxer and businessman, George Foreman. The parade brought in over 75 entries including an array of dance teams, social groups, first responders, military, and many more organizations.

The sense of pride and joy during today’s parade was seen and felt from the children excitingly waiting to be greeted with candy being tossed in the air from participants in the parade, to the Houstonians greeting the hands of officers and other organizations to appreciate them for their efforts within the community, to the looks of gratitude and appreciation on the individuals in which are striving to make a difference such as Martin Luther King, and to the carefree individuals striking their best moves to the groove of tunes.

Several participants within the parade shared the importance of why the parade was important to partake in. Gary Miller, 41 and head band director of Royal Marching Sound Machine at Royal High School in Brookshire Texas, stated, “I feel like this parade was very significant because of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Junior and…that we came together, and you know we are sharing unity, love, and peace. It is important because it is for the city and Mayor Sylvester Turner is back in this parade so that’s a parade I wanna be in.”

· Image of members of the band in google drive)

Jamonica Miller, a sophomore at the University of Houston and second year on the University of Houston Cougar Doll Team, also shared her appreciation for the parade by stating, “I would say being apart of this parade is important just because of the community feel and giving back. It’s a great experience, and it feels good to be around people who share the same love for Houston.” Her teammate, Brittney Marshall, a junior at The University of Houston also noted the diversity and inclusion in which is exhibited within the parade which is a very prominent factor to her.

(image of Brittney Marshalls and Jamonica Miller found in google drive)

Junior ,Christopher Jones, from Texas Southern University and second year head drum major of Ocean of Soul stated the parade was significant due to the fact,” it is black culture and that is one thing that needs to be prominent, and not even just African American history but world history.”

(Pictures of Christopher Jones found in google drive)

(picture of Texas Southern mascot can be found in google drive)

It is clear the parade marks a celebration of being the change in which we want to see in our society by exhibiting the strength and courage of Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King’s role within our society is one in which has permanently created a legacy of change in which continues to inspire not only our Houstonian’s but the world as we know it. It is an honor to celebrate the King who has continued to inspire the hearts and minds of future generations to come.