Joy reigned supreme Sunday as Oakland celebrated the past, present and future of Black culture and accomplishments.
The ninth annual Black Joy Parade drew thousands of people downtown for an afternoon of good vibes, great food and blaring beats on two stages.
The free event, themed “Black Is the Blueprint” this year, began with a parade covering about 10 blocks along Broadway and ended with a festival highlighting more than 200 Black-owned businesses, food vendors and artists.
The grand marshal of this year’s parade was Brigitte Jessica Cook, a public safety advocate devoted to violence prevention and victim protection in Oakland. Following in her path were men and women on horseback, an array of colorful lowrider cars, and assorted dancers, activists and musicians representing community organizations.
After the parade, entertainment included R&B singer and dancer Mýa, a 2001 Grammy Award winner for her collaboration with Christina Aguilera, Pink and Lil’ Kim on their cover of LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade”; singer-songwriter Nesta, a performer mixing Caribbean, R&B and hip-hop beats; and the Black Joy Choir, a local ensemble that has become a staple of the celebration.
The festival also included interactive games and projects for children, including an activity book available for download with coloring sheets, a maze and a cutout robot. Along the parade route, a diverse array of dolls was distributed to kids from a classic car.
The Black Joy Parade began in 2018 as a celebration of the community’s contributions to history and culture and has become an essential part of Oakland’s Black History Month celebrations.
This article originally published at Photos: Oakland’s Black Joy Parade celebrates community’s past, present and future.