Corvette owners slowly rolled their sports cars down Copley Road in West Akron, followed by dancing cheerleaders.
Representatives from Enviroscapes then threw candy out to children as they rode lawnmowers down the street. Big Mike’s Towing & Recovery carried people sitting on picnic tables on the back of one of its tow trucks.
The Juneteenth Edition of the 50th Annual West Akron Parade brought out thousands of people of all ages June 20.
“We want this community to have something to celebrate,” said Diana Autry, one of the parade organizers. Autry previously served as president of the Buchtel Community Learning Center PTA and as board member and president of Akron Public Schools’ Board of Education.
Autry and fellow organizer Damarios Walker said the parade included 42 units in its procession, which altogether included hundreds of people. Spectators numbered in the thousands, they said.
Commenting on the level of community involvement, Walker said, “I feel great about it.” Walker, also known as “Butchie Da’Barber,” serves as Buchtel CLC PTA president and Village Keepers of Ohio Inc. executive director.
Kenmore resident Nylan Bell sat on a Copley Road sidewalk before the parade. He said he was born and raised in West Akron and has attended the neighborhood parade in past years. He added that he likes how this year’s event is a Juneteenth celebration and that he hopes that will continue in future years.
“They do usually have a Juneteenth event down on Hawkins, but this is the first parade that they had come this way,” Bell said. “This is a new route; we wanted to see how it would be.”
After the parade, Autry said participating youth groups showed how they “shine and work hard.”
“They worked all summer for this,” said Damaris Gibbons, one of the parade judges. “So, this is an extra way to let the community know exactly what they’ve been working on.”
Gibbons was born and raised in West Akron and currently lives in Kenmore. She worked as a science teacher at APS and is currently a workforce development coordinator at Stark County Community Action Agency.
Discussing Juneteenth, she said, “The United States celebrates the Fourth of July – their independence. This is our African-American Independence Day.”
Autry thanked the Summit County Historical Society for its involvement, which included hosting a June 20 festival and coordinating crafts with children at the John Brown House, as well as giving free tours of the house for part of the day.
Standing outside the John Brown House, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik called June 20 a “beautiful day, wonderful day.”
He said the organizers did a great job with the parade.
Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville, who represents the city’s third ward, had worked with the city’s safety forces to ensure side streets were blocked off along the parade route, she and Autry said.
Sommerville said Akron Police Deputy Chief Michael Miller was key in that effort.
Addressing the combination of the West Akron Parade and Juneteenth, Sommerville said, “I think it has to continue.”
Sommerville said it’s important that young people know about Juneteenth, adding, “They have to know all the rich history.”
Ohio State Representative Veronica Sims, D-Akron, rode the parade route in a blue convertible driven by her great uncle Richard Roberts.
“I think that (Juneteenth) helps to illuminate a struggle that we should never forget,” Sims said. “It also reminds us how far we’ve come.”
Sims said she’s been participating in the West Akron Parade and area Juneteenth events for years.
Roberts served as principal of multiple area schools – Buchtel, Firestone and Ellet high schools, Jennings Middle School and Fairlawn Elementary School – then as human resources director for APS.
“It’s important for our young people to know their history,” Roberts said. “With all that’s going on in the world, they’re trying to get rid of our history. We have to let them know what’s important.”
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. Sign up for the Beacon Journal’s business and consumer newsletter, “What’s The Deal?”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: West Akron a flurry of activity for parade, Juneteenth celebration
Reporting by Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Patrick Williams, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
