"With just weeks to go until its October 4 parade, its funding is gone, according to OBCA Treasurer Wilbert McAlister. He says the expenses to put the show on are piling up fast. "We got a stage coming out here and a canopy, and that's like $2,100. We got porta potties coming out here, that's like $700-$800. We have a lot of expenses, and our insurance is coming up," McAlister said."
"For the OBCA, the annual parade is about more than just the spectacle though. It's also a way to preserve history and culture, according to many of the group's members. That includes for Deborah who, in between singing, tells us she's been a member for more than 15 years. "It's in my blood. It's in my blood," Deborah said. The Oakland resident says she thinks her fascination with cowgirl culture comes from her grandfather- who grew up on a working ranch in Texas."
The Oakland Black Cowboy Association has more than 50-year history and annual parade in the East Bay community. The organization currently lacks funding for the October 4 parade as expenses such as a stage, canopy, porta potties, and insurance are mounting. The group launched a GoFundMe to close the financial shortfall and solicit community support. Members emphasize the parade's role in preserving history and culture and passing down stories of Black cowboys and cowgirls across generations. Participation in events is diverse and inclusive, drawing people of many racial backgrounds and even visitors from abroad.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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