Public Employee Press

Power through Unity


District Council 37 played a major role in Harlem's 41st annual African American Day Parade Sept. 19, with Executive Director Lillian Roberts serving as grand marshal of America's largest event to celebrate Black culture and heritage.

Roberts led the march with political leaders including Gov. David Paterson, Harlem Congress member Charles Rangel, former Comptroller Bill Thompson and others. Although 2010 is an important election year, some Democrats, such as gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, skipped the parade.

A panoply of labor unions, exuberant dancers, Black sororities and fraternities, lodges and marching bands from Cheyney University and other historically black colleges strutted up Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard from 111th Street to 136th Street.

The DC 37 Black History Committee, chaired by Deborah Pitts, president of Local 1113, organized the union's participation in this year's festivities for members and their families. This year DC 37 sponsored two floats in the parade, whose theme was "Working for Unity, Justice and Economic Empowerment."

Additionally, a number of DC 37 members worked behind the scenes to make the event spectacular. Parade founder Abe Snyder of SSEU Local 371 and DC 37 retirees Iona Allen and Arlene Tuff and Local 371 member Eunice Rucker are long-time volunteers on the parade committee. Loretta B. Jones and Frances Jones McIntosh help publicize the parade, passing out flyers on Harlem streets and drawing crowds in the weeks leading to the late summer procession. Together with the late James Webb of Local 420, they have contributed countless hours and effort to establishing and continuing a cultural tradition that has delighted young and old for decades and draws spectators from across the country and around the globe.

—Diane S. Williams