Salem To Host Negro Election Day Parade, Willows Park Celebration

SALEM, MA — A new state holiday celebration will take place where an important Black tradition has thrived for more than a century on July 15 when Salem United, Inc. hosts a parade and day of events of Salem Willows Park to commemorate Negro Election Day.

State Sen. Joan Lovely and Salem United Inc. pushed for the official recognition of Negro Election Day for four years before former Gov. Charlie Baker signed it into state law last July. The day recognizes the creation of the first Black voting system in America, which originated in 1741 and has been celebrated in Salem since 1880.

"Coming together is a big part of this 283-year celebration," Salem United, Inc. President Doreen Wade said. "I'm so happy it is finally a holiday, and now is the time to use the holiday to do the work our ancestors established."

Salem will host a flag-raising Black American Heritage Flag of 1967 at Riley Plaza on July 14 at noon followed by a Black History Tour by Salem United, Inc. Board member Giovanni Alabiso at 3 p.m.

The next day a Negro Election Day Parade will begin at noon at Shetland Park and will air live on NBCU Boston as well as stream on Salem United's website here.

There will also be a daylong festival at Salem Willows Park on Fort Avenue with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m. and performers, sports, vendors, speakers and awards presented until 8 p.m.

The Salem Willows Park celebration will be at the site of the traditional Black Picnic where people would traditionally travel to Salem for each third Saturday in July to celebrate the history of the Black voting system, self-governance and Black culture.

“Our present-day work fights for the right to vote and the right of free choice, so we hope you will come out and join in celebrating all rights, whether you come as a vendor, participating in our parade, or just enjoying the events of the day's celebration," Wade said. "But if you believe in the truth, especially the truth to fight book banning, the truth to tell the real history and the truth for diversity, equity and inclusion, we hope you support our celebration."

More information on Negro Election Day and why it is important to keep the name Negro Election Day can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)