Nashville Black Pride celebrating weekend with big events
The organization is celebrating its 22nd year with the theme “Runway to Freedom.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nashville Black Pride is back this year with several events lined up for its big weekend.
The organization is celebrating its 22nd year with the theme “Runway to Freedom.” Its president, DWayne Jenkins, says it symbolizes the journey they’ve taken toward liberation.
“When you walk the runway, you always want to be expressive and to show your power and to claim your truth,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins says the group only had one day dedicated to the black and brown community during the Nashville Pride celebration. After seeing the flood of people turnout for that day, Jenkins knew he had to do something even bigger. For him, it was all about representation.
“We want to make sure that we really hone-in and focus on the black and brown communities, because it gives us a chance to celebrate the things that have happened over the course of centuries.”
Nashville Black Pride is teaming up with organizations like MashUp! Nashville and Blaq Link for events, and this year’s celebration will also include a unity market. It features several vendors as well as HIV testing and PREP, a prevention drug on demand, and it’s all thanks to Nashville Cares.
They’ll also host a legacy award ceremony. That’s a scholarship dinner raising money for students. The event recognizes community leaders who have worked with Nashville Black Pride for at least 10 years.
“We thought it was really important to honor all of the volunteers, the organizations, the individuals that gave us their blood, sweat and tears or sweat equity to help us through our course of the year.”
Jenkins credits Nashville Black Pride board members for their continued effort to put on events not just for their weekend, but during the entire year.
“It is the push and the drive that each of us have to continue to do that, and just being the front person, it‘s okay sometimes, but they keep me going with everything,” he said.
The nonprofit agency, GLAAD is powering the group’s live entertainment for the weekend. Corporate partners for the festivities include Gilead, PFlag Nashville and ViiV Healthcare.
Nashville Black Pride runs from October 24 through the 27.
For a full list of events, click here.
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