Indiana Avenue’s Black Christmas parade

December 15, 2024

On December 19 of 1970, the Indianapolis affiliate of the Southern Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket held a “Black Christmas Parade” on Indiana Avenue. The parade featured marching bands, floats, and local celebrities. The grand marshal of the parade was the Soul Saint, an Afrocentric version of Santa Claus. 

The “Black Christmas Parade” was part of a full day of events, that also included a keynote speech from Reverend Jesse Jackson. The day ended with a ”Black Christmas Party” at Foster’s Motor Lodge, featuring the greatest funk and soul bands in Indianapolis, including The Highlighters, The Moonlighters, The Turner Brothers, Indy 5, The Perfections, and others.

The purpose of the “Black Christmas Parade” was bigger than spreading holiday cheer. A spokesperson for Operation Breadbasket said the parade was created to raise awareness of the services and products available through local Black business owners, and to develop a sense of Black pride in the Indianapolis community. 

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to a tribute to the “Black Christmas Parade”, featuring music from Indianapolis bands that performed at the event.