At 10:00 AM on February 7th, Anaheim’s 46th annual Black History Parade began. It started with the Scouts, with Yorba Linda High School’s own Brielle Turner as flag-bearer and her sister, BSU Co-President Zoe Turner, leading the younger scouts.
When asked why she was marching today, Zoe Turner (12) said that a big part of her motivation is “having people who look like you be leaders in the community too.” She finds joy in leading the younger scouts in her troop and in celebrating Black excellence. It affirms for her that “you can be anything and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” 5th-year flag-bearer Brielle Turner (11) finds that “it’s so empowering just watching everyone around me excel in different areas of black excellence.”
Then came the BSU parade car, showing off their pride. Jordan McCormack (12) reflected on the experience, saying that “it felt great to be surrounded by so much black excellence.”
Another highlight was the 100 Black Men, which Niko Sanders-Williams, BSU Co-President, participates in. They marched down the street in unison, their unity and power radiating off of them with the eldest members in the front and the youngest following in their footsteps.
After the parade, attendees headed to the festival, which was vibrant, featuring stalls from Black-owned businesses, support groups, and coalitions that showcased the strength of the Black community in Orange County. There was always live music playing, with people dancing up and down the street.
Then there was the food; the stalls were lined with people, vendors, and soul food. After a full morning of standing in the sun, cool strawberry lemonade with freshly fried chicken and catfish makes it all worth it, uniting everyone with food that nourishes the soul.
2026 marks Black History Month’s centennial, and YLHS student Naomi Cheng (11), who attended the festival, thinks that “it is very important to celebrate Black History Month… this country would not be where it’s at without this population of people.”
Community, togetherness, and showing out, that is the YLHS BSU and the Anaheim Black History Parade and Festival. YLHS BSU invites everyone to learn more about Black history and culture; follow them on Instagram at @ylhs.bsu.26.
