Public Employee Press

Marching for Justice & Unity
African American Day Parade

A host of city officials and dignitaries joined thousands of African Americans — including more than 1,000 DC 37 members — Sept. 17 at the 38th annual African American Day Parade in Harlem.

“This year we had one of our largest turnouts,” said DC 37 Black History Committee Chair Kevin Smith, who is also president of MTA Clerical Employees Local 1655. “Each year this celebration gets bigger and better.” Large groups from locals 371, 420, 1549 and 1655 and the Retirees Association strengthened the DC 37 contingent, which was coordinated by Cynthia Chin-Marshall, co-chair of the union’s Black History Committee.

For the second consecutive year, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts was named Grand Marshall of the Harlem community event, which draws hundreds of thousands of cheerful spectators of all races. U.S. Congress member Charles Rangel, City Comptroller William Thompson and the Rev. Al Sharpton were among the leaders as participants paraded 31 blocks up Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 111th Street to 142nd Street. They marched under the parade’s banner message of “Unity, Justice, Dignity and Economic Empowerment.”

Members and their families celebrated African American heritage as they waited their turn to march, enjoying food, games and music presented by DJ Debonair, who excited the crowd of parade observers along the route.

The DC 37 locals joined more than 300 community and professional organizations that included TWU Local 100, SEIU1199, the NAACP, the Vulcan Society of African American Firefighters, 100 Black Men, 100 Black Women, the National Society of Black Engineers and college fraternities and sororities. The marchers came from 12 states, representing a vast cross section of African Americans. Additional grassroots groups marched for justice in war-torn Darfur and for political prisoners.

The parade’s colorfully clad dancers, drummers and glittering floats eclipsed the brilliance of the day. As the wide spectrum of African Americans — municipal workers, business owners, professionals, churches and fraternities — streamed by with dignity and cultural pride, Smith said, “DC 37 can be very proud of its role in this year’s parade.”

“Best of all we had our future labor movement — members’ children and grandchildren — holding our union banners high,” Smith said. “The children wore T-shirts that read, ‘We are on the move!’ That was really impressive, it was something to see.”

— Diane S. Williams