Black Heritage Parade set to roll down DeSiard Street on Feb. 25

Ian Robinson, Monroe News-Star
·2 min read

For the 39th year, the Renaissance Movement Committee will take over DeSiard Street on Saturday, Feb. 25 for the annual Black Heritage Parade. This year's theme is "STEM: Standing Together, Everything Matters."

The parade features more than a 100 floats each, sponsored by churches, businesses, civil and social clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities and schools, attracting between 10,000 to 15,500 spectators each year.

Committee president Herb Guillory said last year's parade featured over 200 participants, however, the committee is expecting to expand this year's participation. Guillory said the has become a staple in the community because it bridges the past and present.

"This parade is very, very important because it allows us to recognize our own Black constituents in the community," Guillory said. "It allows us to bring unity and it's also a good bit of fun. It allows us to be able to recognize people that have made an impact in the Monroe area or in Northeast Louisiana."

The Renaissance Movement Committee is a community organization that engages and emphasizes the history and culture of Africans and African-Americans, providing and promoting education and cultural opportunities for residents in the City of Monroe.

Black Heritage Parade Route
Black Heritage Parade Route

The parade returned in 2022 after the committee chose to cancel parade activities in 2021, based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, as well as Gov. John Bel Edwards' restrictions regarding large gatherings.

Registration is open until Thursday, Feb. 18. Entry forms are available online or can be picked up at the Marbles Recreation Center, 2950 Renwick St., Monroe and Benoit Recreation Center, 1700 Oaklawn Dr., Monroe.

For information about the parade, contact Committee members Herbert Guillory at (318) 280-5580, Quilwanti Lewis at (318) 348-3227, Sherry Ray Wilson at (318) 237-5949 or Kenya Roberson (318) 235-4840.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Black Heritage Parade set to roll down DeSiard Street on Feb. 25