The "Moving Forward" Black Pride Festival in the Grove
On Sunday, August 16, the "Moving Forward" Black Pride Festival took place in the Grove. At turns high-spirited and quietly emotional, it featured music, dancing, speeches and remembrances of those lost to violence. All photos by Micah Usher.
Willie Sparks, a dancer with some really fuzzy boots!
Nikki Dynasty singing "Rolling on the River" during the entertainment portion of the evening.
Members of the "Moving Forward" Black Pride festival release balloons one at a time as a tribute to all who have lost their lives through violence as their names are called out.
Rhonda Biven-Wren speaks on the Black Lives Matter movement: "We don't want police to come into our neighborhoods and be scared of us," she said. "You don't need to look like us to protect us, but you do need to understand us."
Dawn Bland, Keisha Simmons and Deborah Perry cooling off in the shade and watching the musical performances.