Undoubtedly, once we—as Black individuals—present up in an area, we present out. On Could 4, 2024—Kentucky Derby Day—Black excellence was on full show.
EBONY witnessed all of the grandeur and opulence related to the well-known horse race held yearly at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, which celebrated the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Kentucky Derby this 12 months.
Black Menswear, the worldwide cultural influence company altering the notion of how the world sees Black males, was additionally in attendance. “We had been in a position to actually get into this Kentucky neighborhood,” acknowledged Rock Mitchell, Black Menswear’s Chief Artistic Officer.
However Kentucky Derby Day is not the one day Black individuals make their presence identified on the Derby. The Kentucky Oaks, the distinguished race held yearly in Louisville the Friday earlier than the Derby, is one other day to see our type and presence in full pressure. Hailing from Louisville, the Woods household has been popping out to have fun within the household gown code, which this 12 months was the colour inexperienced, for greater than a decade.
“It was my father and aunt first, the 2 of them. She moved away, so I stated that I might take her place. After which it simply obtained greater,” hometown resident Natasha Davis shared with EBONY. “It is massive for us as a result of not many people come to this, which they need to. We reside right here and had been born and raised right here. Lots of people suppose we’re from out of city. Final 12 months, we wore purple.”
Shante P. is a fellow hometown resident who attends the Oaks yearly. “I used to be born and raised right here in Louisville, so I have been making it official that I come for the final six years,” she shared with EBONY in the course of the Oaks’ Lilies of the Fillies occasion, which options 3-year-old mares working the races for the highest prize. “That is all part of Louisville’s historical past and tradition, and we should expertise it.”
After which there’s Thurby, the Thursday earlier than the Kentucky Derby, which has turn into a giant draw for the town’s Black residents. Lousiville resident Shantal E. Cabell explains, “It is once we are in a position to come out or share and be part of Derby, as a result of Derby normally is not for us.” Thurby Visitors can expertise the Derby within the personal suites normally reserved for celebrities and millionaires.
Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg is worked up to see extra range represented on the Derby by means of Derby Variety Week, 5 days main as much as Kentucky Debry Day that bridges gaps, champions inclusion and epitomizes the spirit of unity, perseverance, and communal resilience. “It’s so necessary that this brings our whole neighborhood collectively,” he advised EBONY. “[The Kentucky Derby] is a race that we have to unite our metropolis and our nation. I am all in on the good range that Churchill Downs and our metropolis are engaged on collectively.”
And so, as this reporter realized, Black America has a spot on the Kentucky Derby, and we must always confidentially slip into our spectators and linen fits to rightfully take our seats within the President’s suites.
