The Free Press is set to bring Monroe’s rich African-American history into the digital age this Saturday with a professional live stream of the annual African-American Heritage Parade.
Commentators
Publisher Roosevelt Wright, Jr. and L Marie Brown will provide live commentary, weaving historical context and community stories throughout the broadcast.
The production will feature state-of-the-art coverage coordinated by Free Press co-owner Kita Wright and his ProWorks Productions team, complete with drones, high-resolution cameras, and stabilizing equipment to deliver a Hollywood-caliber viewing experience.
This modern celebration has humble but determined origins. In February 1974, the late Emily P. Robinson and Mary Alice Bryant launched the first parade in the face of both skepticism and snowfall. Despite having just one band and fewer than 10 cars occupying a single lane of Desiard Street, they persevered through the driving snow, laying the foundation for what would become a cherished community tradition.
They were criticized for…
