In picture and sound: First annual Black Joy Parade takes over downtown Oakland
on March 2, 2018
On February 25, the first annual Black Joy Parade took over a span of eight blocks in downtown Oakland, focusing on the black experience. Over 14,000 people were in attendance, including local artists, musicians, two-time Olympic gold medalist Ruthie Bolton, and Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf. The streets were full of the sounds of cheering and dancing, and the song being played through all the speakers was “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars. To learn more about the parade and hear from the people who were there, click the button below to listen to the audio piece.
Performers from The Hundreds Unit, a Sacramento-based dance crew, get ready to dance and march in the inaugural Black Joy Parade, held on Sunday, Feb. 25 in Oakland. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
A junior member of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association waits for the Black Joy Parade to start. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Ania Davis, Lauryn Lee, and Camryn Davis, watch the inaugural Black Joy Parade from the side of 14th Street in Oakland on Sunday, Feb. 25. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Natasha Howell waves and smiles for a photo at the Black Joy Parade on Sunday, Feb. 25. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Members of the Black Teacher Project march in the Black Joy Parade. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Javon Austin, with his vuvuzela in hand, watches the Black Joy Parade as it comes down 14th Street in Oakland. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Paradise the Poet turns his gaze to the procession of the inaugural Black Joy Parade, which had just passed him by, on Sunday, Feb. 25. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
The East Oakland Youth Development Center marches in the inaugural Black Joy Parade in Oakland on Sunday, Feb. 25. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Aniyah London watches the Black Joy Parade from a perch on her father Aaron London’s shoulders. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Carol Childs enjoys the inaugural Black Joy Parade in Oakland. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Performers with Prescott Circus Theatre figure out which way to go to the finish of the Black Joy Parade procession. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
A scraper bike rider rides in the Black Joy Parade. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Adura Owolabi packages a garment for Isiko Wear during the Black Joy Parade celebration. (Photo: Drew Costley) 
Phyllis Cook, one of the co-founders of The Hundreds Unit, a Sacramento-based dance crew, dances and marches at the end of the inaugural Black Joy Parade, held on Feb. 25 in Oakland. (Photo: Drew Costley)
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Congratulations on the inaugural Black Joy Parade! It must be tough to put this together but keep on doing it! Hats off to you all I will be looking forward to to next year keep up the good work.
The opening of the Black Joy Parade was a great idea, congratulations.
It was a wonderful event. I especially enjoyed the fashion show, the belgeium waffles, the drummers and of course the diversityof people. I look forward to future event.
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