Councilmember Kennedy: All Men of Good Will Welcome to Join Him in Celebrating Black History Month

In response to a dozen inquiries made to Pasadena Now about Councilman John Kennedy’s invitation to walk in Saturday’s Black History Parade, Kennedy said on Wednesday that all men of “good will” are welcome to participate.

“Certainly the focus is the uniting and uplifting of African-American men,” Kennedy said. “Men of all ethnicities, races and colors are welcome to join us in the Black History Parade in our quest to level the playing field, advance the socioeconomic interests of Black people and promote good will … all to build and grow one Pasadena forward.”

The District 3 City Councilman is asking the men to wear a black suit or black pants and a white shirt and accompany him in the parade. The men will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Charles White Park, 77 Mountain St., Altadena and march in the parade.

To RSVP for the event, contact Susana Porras at (626) 710-6067, or email sporras@cityofpasadena.net.

The men will line up for the 39th annual Pasadena Black History Parade and Festival at 9 a.m. and begin the walk down the two-mile route at 9:30 a.m.

“Each time I have sent out this clarion call, a rainbow of the brilliant have responded and walked with us Kennedy said,” Kennedy said.

The event is one of the longest-running and largest Black History celebrations in Southern California.

Wendy Racquel Robinson and Margaret Avery will serve as grand marshals. Avery, played Shug in “The Color Purple.” The 1985 role earned Avery an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She has also appeared in “Blueberry Hill,” “White Man’s Burden” and “Proud Mary” among other films.

Robinson rose to fame on the “Steve Harvey Show” and “The Game.” She has been nominated for 11 NAACP Image Awards, and won in 2014 for outstanding actress in a comedy series for her work in The Game.

Edna Bluain will serve as the community grand marshal.

Alaysia Barker-Vaughn and Elijah Gates will serve as the Community Grand Marshals. Vaughn attends Loyola Marymount University. She is active in The Black Student Union, Sisters in Solidarity Club, Campus Life Ministry Community Program and Disability Service Program. In addition, she started a nonprofit that focuses on providing scholarships to students she mentors.

Gates, a graduate of John Muir High School, attends UCLA on an athletic scholarship and his major is African-American studies. He is a mentor to Pasadena youth, he works with the Ronald McDonald House, STARS foster youth program, Union Rescue Mission and Boys and Girls Club events.