Pearl Fest in Bronzeville

Dianne Reeves, Lala Hathaway & Nona Hendryx!

rocked out the Little Black Pearl Fest Sunday, Aug 23, 2009.

the truth will set u free!...

Nona Hendryx ripping through her set.

The festival was held at Mandrake Park on 39th and Ellis in Bronzeville.

The festival was amazing and inspiring and the audience enjoyed the concert being right home in the neighborhood. Little Black Pearl is an arts education organization located in the Kenwood-Oakland neighborhood in Chicago.

All photos and video slide show by Aki Antonia c2009.

All rights reserved. Pop the trunk! (Click to enlarge)

Bud Biliken Day in Bronzeville '09

Bamm!! Bud Biliken Day in Bronzeville

Let me see you groovin' on the dance floor baby!

Photo slideshow by Aki Antonia c2009

Bud Biliken '09!

All photos by Aki Antonia c 2009

Bud Biliken '09 was all in the mix

with Chicago House music thumping!

Drill teams pumping!

Double-dutch jumping!

Dance Crews bumping!

To enlarge pop the trunk! (Click)

Bud Biliken Day in Bronzeville '06

Bamm! Bud Biliken Parade in Bronzeville

Photo Slideshow by Aki Antonia

Bud Biliken Day '08 in Bronzeville

Black Cowboys! Roll Em... Roll em.. Roll em!

Lots of Diversity at BB Day 08!

Are you passing out money? Yeah!!!

WOo it - WOo-it! Work it!!

Peace!

Tyler Perry! Alright now!

4th Ward Alderperson Toni Preckwinckle

Fashion Statements are always made on BB Day!

Wheels Up!!

5, 6, 7, 8!

Global Peace!

Summer in Chi town is Snowballs on Bud Biliken Day! Heaven!

All photos by Aki Antonia

(Click to enlarge)

Filled with snowballs, bar-b-que, pickles, politicians,

marching bands from Chicago and all over the country,

drill teams, beautiful majorettes,

African dancers on stilts, motorcyclists, Black Cowboys on horses,

Chicago House music crews, movie stars,

musical performers and fantastic floats....

The Bud Biliken Day Parade

is always a treat to see in Bronzeville.

Parade Route: 35th and M L King Drive to Washington Park

Time: 10:00 am

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

This year, 2009 marks the 80th Anniversary of the parade and picnic.

It was created by the Chicago Defender newspaper and is known as

one of the largest African-American parades in the country.

Families from the Bronzeville Community turn out early in the morning to line the parade route on King Drive.

Vendors and family picnics quickly fill up both side drives of the

large street that was once called Grand Boulevard.

The Bud Biliken parade also marks the effort to encourage students

to get ready to go back to school.

Bronzeville Community Market

(Click to enlarge)