CTU Family,
The Bud Billiken parade—in its 97th year—is more than an afternoon of floats, food and music. It’s a celebration and commemoration of Chicago’s Black community, its history and future, rooted on the South Side, and one of the most beloved back-to-school events in the city.
CTU is proud to support the parade as we honor our students and help excite them about all the new school year has to offer. Join your union siblings for an exciting and fun afternoon, Saturday, August 8, as we support our students and their families and continue to call for the schools Chicago’s students deserve.
Bud Billiken Parade
Saturday, Aug. 8
Meet at 8 a.m.
35th & King Dr.
The Chicago Defender, the nation’s premiere Black newspaper, founded the parade in 1929 to spark excitement among the city’s Black youth on the South Side. Now, nearly 100 years later, the well-loved parade has become one of the city’s best-known back-to-school events and has grown into one of the largest and longest-running parades in the country, second only to the Rose Bowl.
The Bud Billiken tradition embodies the reality that public education is a project of the Black freedom struggle. Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder of The Chicago Defender, created the Bud Billiken character as a mascot for the paper’s youth club. Since then, “The Bud” has united Black Chicagoans in a celebration of our young people — music, dance, food, and laughter — a tradition in which the CTU has proudly participated for many years.
CTU will meet up at 35th & King Drive at 8 a.m. to march in the parade. There will be space on the float for members with limited mobility and for members’ children. After the parade, everyone in our contingent is welcome to picnic with us, with food and drinks provided by CTU.
You won’t want to miss this special event. It’s a chance to bond with your union siblings and colleagues, show support for your students and families, and kick off the new school year with fun and excitement.
See you at the parade!
In solidarity,
Team CTU
