The unmistakable sound of Uniondale High School’s Marching Knights led the 56th African American Day Parade in Harlem on Sept. 21, marking the district band’s first time at the front of the procession and its fifth year of participation in one of the most prominent celebrations of African American culture in the country.
The parade, which began in 1968 and is held every third Sunday in September, was livestreamed on WABC-TV Channel 7. It featured R&B music, the waving of African flags and a large, enthusiastic crowd.
Along with a variety of schools and organizations, the borough presidents of the Bronx and Manhattan, Vanessa Gibson and Mark Levine, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and members of the City Council were among the marchers.
Amaya Grier, 17, a senior at Uniondale High and the Marching Knights’ drum major, said the parade flew by for the musicians.
“We were all pretty proud of our performance — it’s the first time we had such a big turnout,” Grier said. “Afterwards we were all like, this is going to be a great school year, especially because it’s the first parade of the season.”
More than 100 Uniondale students — including musicians, members of the kickline and flag bearers — marched up Seventh Avenue — also known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard — from 111th to 137th street, and gave a performance that many in the crowd won’t soon forget. Spectators lined the parade route, cheering and filming on their phones as the band passed.
The Uniondale band performs “show style” — a Southern-inspired, high-energy style of marching that enhances R&B hits with horn swings and other coordinated movements. For the incoming freshmen, the participation, energy and excitement of the crowd was something brand new.
“I think a lot of them were amazed at the crowd participation and the energy,” Colton Wynter, a co-director of the Marching Knights, along with Joe Boardman, said. “They really did a great job — the freshman are so talented,” added Wynter, who has led the program for 20 years.
‘Show style’
The band plays a variety of R&B songs, emulating the sound and energy of Southern bands at historically black colleges and universities like North Carolina A&T and Howard and Hampton universities. The Marching Knights are proud to bring that tradition to Long Island.
“That’s what makes us different from every other band,” Grier said.
Freshmen learn show-style marching at a district band camp in mid-August, in preparation for large-scale parades like the African American, St. Patrick Day Parade and Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“All the freshmen, and other people that have already been in the band, come together during band camp,” Keyla Gomez, 16, a senior at the high school and band member, said. “And then when school starts, we keep practicing — even on holidays — because we all want our band to grow.”
“I feel like our band stole the show,” Shawn Brown, second-year principal of the high school and one of the marshals of the parade, said. “The way they performed, I wish I was walking with them instead of all the other marshals, because they were phenomenal.”
Brown, who actually has Panamanian roots, said the band’s performance reflected more than just musical excellence — it reflected the values and pride of the Uniondale school district. Before the parade began, he listened as various cultural leaders spoke, which left a strong impression on him. He also took to the podium to share a few words.
“I spoke about the honor of knowing and being taught about the history of African American culture, and what I represent for the African American culture — specifically in education,” Brown said.
He described his education as an obligation to his ancestors and to those who have invested in him, and called district Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil one of his mentors.
As for his students, Brown said, “They look at me, and sometimes they learn through observation, not necessarily through lectures and speeches. I change the idea about what’s possible for them just by being in this position.”
Among those in the cheering crowd on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard were Brown’s family — his wife, Jennifer, and their three children, Shawn Jr., 19, Jonathan, 17, and Kaitlyn, 11.
“Looking at them in a crowd got me emotional, because I know that these are going to be core memories that they carry on into their future,” Brown said.
Grier said that seeing her principal help lead the parade wasn’t strange, because he is always a leader in his students’ eyes.
Both Grier and Gomez have marched in the parade since their freshman year, balancing band with packed schedules that include classes, sports, family responsibilities and extracurriculars.
“I play volleyball, softball, basketball — I’ve been boxing on Sundays,” Grier said. “I make sure I manage my time very well, doing work whenever I can. All your free time is dedicated to all the stuff that you signed up for.”
Gomez, who helps care for her younger siblings, echoed that balancing act.
“I hope students see what dedication, hard work, commitment can lead to and grow from it as an ensemble,” Wynter said. “These kids work hard to do what they do, and people outside Uniondale appreciate and look forward to what they give to the world.”
