South Side Home Movie Project is thrilled to announce its participation in the 2024 Bud Billiken Parade!

“We feel excited to be a part of this year’s Bud Billiken® Parade. The home movies from the Ramon Williams collection offer a window into the past, showcasing the joy, energy, and community spirit that has always defined the parade. I am also very impressed by the creativity of the young students and look forward to walking in the parade together with those talented youth.”

— South Side Home Movie Project founder Dr. Jacqueline Stewart

Click here for details, photos and background on the Arts + Public Life landing page.

SSHMP will stream rare scenes of the parade between the 1940s and 1960s from its newly digitized Ramon Williams Collection on a mobile screen. The talented students of APL’s Teen Arts Council will march alongside the mobile screen with their hand-made, vibrant banners. 

Parade-goers can expect to be transported back in time with captivating scenes from the archive, such as:

• Legendary boxer Joe Louis leading the parade as Grand Marshall in 1948

• The Chicago Defender Paperboys, for whom the parade was originally started to encourage youth literacy

• Beauty Pageant queens from Chicago and other major cities

• Youth bands and community groups showcasing the parade's vibrant spirit

• Jazz pianist Dorothy Donnegan performing in the post-parade festival in Washington Park.