Apply to be part of 11th annual Black History Parade Saturday

Celebrate Black History Month with a parade through downtown Aiken.

On Saturday, the Black Historical Committee brings the 11th annual Black History Parade to Aiken. The parade processional will begin on Florence Street across from the American Legion Post 212 and proceed east on Hampton Avenue, turn onto Sumter Street and end at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, 400 Kershaw St. N.E.

The parade will start at 2 p.m. Entries are still being accepted. There is a $20 registration fee, and everyone is invited to participate. There is no deadline to register.

Currently, there are approximately 30 participants, ranging from fraternities and sororities to local businesses, Masonic lodges and churches.

"This year's theme is African-American entrepreneurship. You can go back as far as you want - to slavery with the blacksmith, for example," said organizer Herbert Schofield.

The parade originated from the concept of Ricky Brown and Schofield, who were looking for a way to celebrate black history that could be shared with younger generations.

"It's important to the community because black history is everybody's history; it's American history," Schofield said. "We want to let our youth know that history happens every day. We are looking forward to the community coming out." Black History Month has been a national annual observance since 1926.

For more information or to register, call Cheronica Pope at 641-3888.

Haley Hughes has spent five years as the Aiken County government reporter with the Aiken Standard. Hughes, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, hails from Knoxville, Tenn.