10 Things We Loved About the 2012 African-American Day Parade

10. Cute kids — Look at the poise of the little girl in the middle. She’s ready to be a leader.

Photo by Kelly Virella

9. Enthusiastic Greeks — At least six black greek organizations participated, but the AKAs and the Alphas really stepped.

8. Celebrities — Doug E. Fresh rolled through and presided over an impromptu crowd performance of his namesake dance.

Doug E. Fresh on the mic. Photo by Carucha L. Meuse.

7. The Mason’s Sense of Style — Fitted.

The Masons were fitted. Photo by Carucha L. Meuse

6. Marching Bands of Baltimore — Marching bands are to Baltimoreans what churches are to black people — apparently, everybody belongs to one. About a dozen participated in the parade, bringing the percussive noise and funk.

5. Boys with Pom-Poms — Most of the Baltimore bands featured boys and men bending gender norms by rocking pom-poms.

4. Parade-goer Flyness — Most people dressed down. Not these two.

Photo by Kelly Virella

3. Sideshows — Musicians like this one performed sideshows on the sidewalk along the parade route.

Photo by Kelly Virella

2. Hustlers and Street Vendors — People were selling everything flags to foot massages with pedicures on 125th St.

Photo by Kelly Virella

1. Togetherness

Photo by Carucha L. Meuse

About the Author

Kelly Virella

Kelly Virella lives in an East Harlem walk-up with her husband, her bicycle and her books. She's worked as a journalist for 11 years and started this website during the summer of 2011. She fell in love with New York City during her first visit here as a 16-year-old and finally made good on her promise to move here in April 2010.