Coordinated an African American Community Float Entry in the SeaFair Torchlight Parade

 

July 27th, 2019, after more than 30 years without an African American (AA) community float entry in the Seafair Torchlight Parade, the MLKCC established the Seattle African American Heritage Association (SAAHA) to coordinate the development of the AA Community float entry. Michele Evans, Chairperson, coordinated the float design and managed a partnership with the Seattle Buffalo Soldiers Association, National Black Veterans Association, Mt. Zion Baptist Church and other organizations and individuals to participate in the Seafair parade. The Seafair Torchlight Parade AA community float won 1st Place for Workmanship and on Saturday, August 1, 2019, at 1PM, The African American Community Float was honored to lead the start of black community parade at Umoja Fest, the Black Community Seafair Festival. 

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Float Name: “Rising Beyond'' created by Leslie Harper Miles and Michele Dudley Evans. The name represents the African Descendants of the US Enslaved (ADUSE), rising beyond limits, beyond expectations, beyond burdens, and beyond fear.  We are always RISING. 

Float Banner: Designed by Gabby and Leslie Miles depicted the voyage from Africa to America and our ability to rise beyond challenges. In the middle of the banner is the SAAHA logo in Red, Black & Green, showing the African Continent as the foundation and the US on top as the destination, with the words ”Americans of African Decent” draped across.

Committee members: Michele Evans Chair, Robert Stephens, Jordan Newbill, Leslie Harper Miles, Sierra Evans, Ken Archie, Eddie Rye Jr., Hayward Evans 

Fiscal Agent: Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Michelle Merriweather President/CEO

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Float Builders:
SAAHA contracted with Holiday Classic Float Designers to build a 33ft. long X 12ft wide X 13ft. high float based on the committee’s design.

 

Participants Riding the Float:

• King – Lacy Steele, President Emeritus and Past President of the Seattle/King County NAACP. 

• Queen – Carolyn Riley-Payne, Carolyn is a lifelong Civil Rights Activist 

• Princess– Sophia Miles, is the 2018/2019 Miss Black Washington, USA Queen.  

• Prince – Darnell French, is an IT Network Professional at Starbuck’s HQ

• Music - Michael Powers, an Award winning, internationally renowned and NW Favorite Guitarist

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School Youth/The Future:  

• Male  - Payton Barnes

• Female - Tahlia Price 

• Note – Honorary Queen (not on the float but recognized) – Mrs. Josephine Stokes

 
Float Escorts:
Wore costumes representing various professions, superheroes, and branches of the military. A few participants included:

• Patience Mizero –Astronaut

• Angela Burgess – Billy Holiday

• Jeremiah Hobbs – Pilot

• Winona Hollins-Hauge – Mahalia Jackson

• Doctor and Businessperson Enovi Chandler & Jessica Price led the float dances 

• James Mason – Black Panther

• Felisha Barnes Wakanda Warrioress                        

• Special Guest Escort Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin, Buffalo Soldiers, Veterans and Mt. Zion.
   

The July 2020 SeaFair events were canceled due to Covid-19. MLKCC in response to the cancellation redirected the float’s efforts to conducting the 1st Annual MLKCC, Inspiring Art and Performance Contest. It is listed under “In Progress”.                                                                

July 2021 MLKCC & SAAHA looks forward to once again entering an African American Float that will make our community proud, in the SeaFair Torchlight Parade.