Pompano Beach’s First Heritage Parade

By Attiyya Atkins

POMPANO BEACH, FL — Black history and community are important to Northwest Pompano, so when the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Pompano Beach was canceled this year due to inclement weather — the community was outraged.

Under gray skies and light rain, local residents, marching bands, performers, and families still gathered in what was supposed to be a day of celebration and remembrance. Instead, they were met with frustration and disappointment as the City of Pompano Beach officially called off the parade due to weather concerns.

“We were ready to go, everyone was out there,” said Trenelle Jones, a community member at the event and member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Although the parade was cancelled, the celebration at Mitchell Moore Park went on as scheduled — in the rain.

Many questioned the city’s decision, especially considering the community’s visible readiness to proceed, with groups from Delt While safety concerns were cited, residents expressed frustration over what they saw as a lack of commitment to one of the few large-scale public celebrations of Black legacy in the city.

Resident Jackie Moreland expressed her frustration questioned the commission at a January 28 meeting for cancelling the parade.

“Schools and organizations put in a great deal of work and preparation for Dr King’s march and parade,” she said. “Despite all of the rain, people showed up for only to be cancelled at the 9th hour at the last minute.”

There was no thunder, lightning and no puddles.

Recognizing that disappointment, Commissioner Beverly Perkins announced a Heritage Parade and Celebration for February 17, dedicated to honoring Black leaders past and present. Perkins emphasized the need to not only continue the celebration but to amplify it.

Perkins said the parade was about “continuing the importance of Black History in Northwest Pompano.” And it did, The Heritage Parade brought together residents, artists, youth groups, and community leaders for a vibrant celebration of Black history and culture — a second chance to make good on what was lost during the MLK parade cancellation.

For many in Pompano, the event is more than a makeup parade — it’s a statement of Black perseverance, pride, and purpose.