By Globe Staff

The 32nd annual Black Cowboys Parade attracted hundreds to downtown Oakland and De- Fermery Park in West Oakland on Saturday.

Families with children lined the streets and cheered as men, women and children on horseback rode past, followed by high school marching bands, drill teams, dancing seniors and cars representing community organizations such as the Girl Scouts and churches, along with elected officials.
    Members of the old Soul Beat TVfamily, including Helen and Charles Davis, Young Turner and Angela “Cleo” Smith, were cheered as they marched.
    Skyline, Fremont and McClymonds high school students marched with ROTC drill teams and neighborhood improvement groups.

Some marchers came from as far as Stockton.
    West Oakland City Councilwoman Nancy Nadel waved to the crowds, along with Sandré Swanson, who is the Democratic candidate for the 16th Assembly District.
    The parade has been popular for years, and organizers note with pride that there has never been any violence associated with it.
    “This is a time for the community to come together, have fun and honor black cowboys and their legacy,” said John Peterson. “One in four cowboys in the Old West were black, but our young people don’t know that. They watch TV and all they see in the movies are white cowboys.”

    For many city kids, the parade is the only time they get to see live horses, said one parade organizer.
    An effort is now underway to provide horseback riding lessons at Bay Area stables, according to members of the Black Cowboys Association.
    After starting at DeFermery Park at 11 a.m., the parade snaked its way down 14th Street to Broadway. Areviewing stand with judges was set up near City Hall.
    The procession then headed back to the park for award presentations, music and food.
    “This is a great event for Oakland,” said Mary Reid. “No other city in America does this for the black cowboys. Oakland has been getting so much bad press because of the homicides ... it’s nice to see something positive.”