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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the Bud Billiken Parade on
495 years of parading in excellence in celebration of Chicago's
5dynamic and talented African American children; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 1929, pioneering African American journalist
7and businessman Robert S. Abbott, founder of the Chicago
8Defender newspaper, founded the Bud Billiken Parade on
9Chicago's South Side, named after the character Bud the
10Billiken, who was the mascot of the Bud Billiken Club, a social
11club for young Black people he founded in Chicago; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Robert Abbott founded the Bud Billiken Parade to
13celebrate and showcase African-American children in Chicago,
14especially through dance, music, and performance; and
 
15    WHEREAS, The tradition of the Bud Billiken Parade has
16remained to this day a celebration of Black youth in Chicago,
17with the parade traditionally viewed in Chicago's
18African-American communities as the symbolic start of the
19school year and the end of summer; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The parade has historically attracted leaders and
21celebrities from across the country to view or participate in

 

 

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1the parade, including President Harry Truman, future president
2and then-Senator Barack Obama, Duke Ellington, Oprah Winfrey,
3Muhammad Ali, Frank Thomas, Michael Jordan, Louis Armstrong,
4and Spike Lee, among others; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The management and operation of the Bud Billiken
6Parade has remained within the Abbott family, with the fourth
7generation of leadership from his grandniece, Myiti
8Sengstacke-Rice, who has continued to ensure the parade and
9associated festivities celebrate Black youth in Chicago and
10promote education and empowerment in the tradition of Robert
11Abbott through the awarding of scholarships in partnership
12with Chicago Defender Charities; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Bud Billiken Parade has historically been the
14largest Black-oriented parade and back to school parade in the
15world and the second-largest parade in the United States,
16after the Rose Bowl Parade, being viewed and attended by over
17one million people and featuring a live television broadcast;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, In August 2024, the Bud Billiken Parade will
20celebrate its 95th year, coming together to celebrate the rich
21history of Chicago's African American citizens and the
22creativity and expression of Black children; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we recognize the Bud Billiken Parade on 95 years of parading in
4excellence in celebration of Chicago's dynamic and talented
5African American children; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Myiti Sengstacke-Rice of the Bud Billiken Parade
8as an expression of our respect and esteem.