In honor of Marcus M. Garvey, Kansas City’s Black Hat Society held its 23rd annual Family Day Celebration on Aug. 30.

Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) and inspired Garveyism, a pan-Africanism philosophy, which advocates for unifying those of African descent worldwide.

Beginning with a motorcade from the Mecca Event Space on Prospect Avenue to Leon M. Jordan park, drivers decorated their vehicles with red, black and green balloons and streamers. The celebration after the motorcade featured vendors, voter registration tables, food and music.

The Black Hat Society ended the night with awards to volunteers and members of the community who have made an impact, including Archie Welch, Jill Buford, Lamar Vickers, Barbara Etier and Maurice Copeland.