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Published 01/01/2019 | Reading Time 1 min 7 sec
By BWSTimes Staff
The Rose Parade resembled more of America this year, adding more color to its lineup.
And we’re not just talking about the thousands of colorful roses that decorate the numerous, extravagant floats.
In its 130th year, an American Historically Black College and University proudly opened the new year at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, affirming the importance of America’s HBCUs.
Alabama State University’s Mighty Marching Hornets, from Montgomery, Alabama — the Civil Right’s capital of the world, honorably lead the nationally televised procession into a new chapter of its history.
In the previous 129 years of the Parade’s existence, the Rose Parade has never had an HBCU at its helm.
The Rose Parade also honored African-American historical soldiers.
A group of Black men, resembling Buffalo Soldiers — a euphemism for the African-American regiments formed in 1866, honorably marched distinguishingly in today’s procession — paying homage to America’s nearly forgotten American heroes.
Recognizing HBCUs and African-Americans’ historic participation in the US military are both favorable decisions on the behave of the Parade’s commissioners when considering America’s history in the treatment of African Americans and other communities of color.
The decision also elevates the much-needed conversations that Americans should have concerning race.
Through the marginalization of people of color, hiding its evils into the shadows and away from the public school history books, America has a past that unmistakably and habitually displayed abysmal behaviors toward the ‘other.’
It pointedly educates us all on where we’ve been as a nation and boldly introduces what’s possible among racial groups for America’s future, that is the possibility in a unified destiny of racial reconciliation.