Bud Billiken Club
Encyclopedia
The Bud Billiken Club was a club for black youths in Chicago
founded by the Chicago Defender
founder Robert Sengstacke Abbott
and its editor, Lucius Harper, in 1923. The Club was formed as part of the paper’s children’s page, the Defender Junior, to encourage readership, appropriate conduct, and community involvement in Chicago’s youth.
came to be the mascot for the Bud Billiken Club when Abbott spotted a jolly deity on the door of a Chinese restaurant, and upon learning that it represented the protector of children decided to use it as the Club’s mascot. However, in 1923 an eleven-year-old boy named Willard Motley submitted a drawing to the Defender of a pudgy and cheerful boy, which Abbott subsequently named the "new Billikin." The name "Bud Billiken" is a pseudonym
that Abbott selected for the organization, using his own nickname "Bud"; the word "Billiken" was believed to be in reference to a character in Chinese mythology
who was the protector of children. Though the billiken was actually created by an American woman in 1908, the figure still represented the guardian angel and patron of children and Abbott placed Motley’s drawing on the paper’s children’s page, the Defender Junior. Known as “the first Billiken,” Motley continued to pen drawings for the Defender Junior for the next seven years.
The “Rules of the Bud Billiken Club” guided youth to take pride in their race and to strive towards middle class respectability . It was also meant as a way to give underprivileged children a creative outlet and a chance to shine in the limelight. Over the years Bud Billiken became the mascot not only for the children’s page, but for the whole newspaper. Abbott organized dozens of Bud Billiken Clubs nationwide for children who pledged to read the Defender.
. It is the largest parade and picnic of its kind in the United States, and draws over a million viewers each year.
The Club was dedicated to supporting Chicago’s black youth, and frequently paid tribute to outstanding individuals. In 1935 the Club honored Cleotis Brittenum of Holly Springs, Mississippi
for selling more Defender subscriptions “than any other Billiken.” At the annual Parade Cleotis rode in style on a white and gold float with the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps broadcasting his ride through the South Side.
Today, the Bud Billiken Club is also known as Bud Billiken Youth. Eighty-two years later, the organization has grown into a year-round program that supports youth with financial and academic help. They also continue to shine the light on outstanding young people that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Each year there is a Bud Billiken Contest to determine the Parade’s King, Queen and Royal Court. The winners are determined based on the amount of Chicago Defender subscriptions sold and a written and oral essay. The contest is open to children ages eight to eleven and titles include King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Lord, and Lady. Though all are awarded, the King and Queen receive the grand prize of a trip to Disney World. The winners are announced each year at the Bud Billiken Day Parade and participate in “a week of fun,” including riding a float in the parade and visiting various places around the city as members of the Royal Court.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
founded by the Chicago Defender
Chicago Defender
The Chicago Defender is a Chicago based newspaper founded in 1905 by an African American for primarily African American readers.In just three years from 1919–1922 the Defender also attracted the writing talents of Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Brooks....
founder Robert Sengstacke Abbott
Robert Sengstacke Abbott
Robert Sengstacke Abbott was an African American lawyer and newspaper publisher.-Biography:Born on November 24, 1870 in St. Island, Georgia to former slave parents. Abbott was still a baby when his father, Thomas Abbott, died...
and its editor, Lucius Harper, in 1923. The Club was formed as part of the paper’s children’s page, the Defender Junior, to encourage readership, appropriate conduct, and community involvement in Chicago’s youth.
Origins
Many believe that the billikenBilliken
The Billiken was a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of St. Louis, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. In 1908, she patented the Billiken, who was elf-like with pointed ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft of hair on his...
came to be the mascot for the Bud Billiken Club when Abbott spotted a jolly deity on the door of a Chinese restaurant, and upon learning that it represented the protector of children decided to use it as the Club’s mascot. However, in 1923 an eleven-year-old boy named Willard Motley submitted a drawing to the Defender of a pudgy and cheerful boy, which Abbott subsequently named the "new Billikin." The name "Bud Billiken" is a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
that Abbott selected for the organization, using his own nickname "Bud"; the word "Billiken" was believed to be in reference to a character in Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology
Chinese mythology is a collection of cultural history, folktales, and religions that have been passed down in oral or written tradition. These include creation myths and legends and myths concerning the founding of Chinese culture and the Chinese state...
who was the protector of children. Though the billiken was actually created by an American woman in 1908, the figure still represented the guardian angel and patron of children and Abbott placed Motley’s drawing on the paper’s children’s page, the Defender Junior. Known as “the first Billiken,” Motley continued to pen drawings for the Defender Junior for the next seven years.
The “Rules of the Bud Billiken Club” guided youth to take pride in their race and to strive towards middle class respectability . It was also meant as a way to give underprivileged children a creative outlet and a chance to shine in the limelight. Over the years Bud Billiken became the mascot not only for the children’s page, but for the whole newspaper. Abbott organized dozens of Bud Billiken Clubs nationwide for children who pledged to read the Defender.
History
Initially, Abbott had created a day for the members of the Bud Billiken Club and the youth who sold his newspapers to be an annual November event. However, by 1929 the day of fun had morphed into a summer-time celebration and parade, dubbed in 1929 as the Bud Billiken Day ParadeBud Billiken Day Parade
The Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic is an annual parade in Chicago, Illinois, and the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States. Since 1929, it has always been held on the second Saturday in August. The idea for the parade came from Robert S. Abbott, the founder of the Chicago...
. It is the largest parade and picnic of its kind in the United States, and draws over a million viewers each year.
The Club was dedicated to supporting Chicago’s black youth, and frequently paid tribute to outstanding individuals. In 1935 the Club honored Cleotis Brittenum of Holly Springs, Mississippi
Holly Springs, Mississippi
Holly Springs is a city in Marshall County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,957 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County. A short drive from Memphis, Tennessee, Holly Springs is the site of a number of well-preserved antebellum homes and other structures and...
for selling more Defender subscriptions “than any other Billiken.” At the annual Parade Cleotis rode in style on a white and gold float with the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps broadcasting his ride through the South Side.
Today, the Bud Billiken Club is also known as Bud Billiken Youth. Eighty-two years later, the organization has grown into a year-round program that supports youth with financial and academic help. They also continue to shine the light on outstanding young people that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Programs and Events
The Bud Billiken Club sponsors scholarships, and assists youth with job training, internships, and college recruitment. They regularly feature outstanding Chicago youth through their volunteer work and essay contests. The Club also organizes, in conjunction with Chicago Defender Charities, school supply giveaways, reduced rates on computers and Internet service, and even things such as prom dress donations. There is also focus on creating safe communities through conflict resolution and promoting education.Each year there is a Bud Billiken Contest to determine the Parade’s King, Queen and Royal Court. The winners are determined based on the amount of Chicago Defender subscriptions sold and a written and oral essay. The contest is open to children ages eight to eleven and titles include King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Lord, and Lady. Though all are awarded, the King and Queen receive the grand prize of a trip to Disney World. The winners are announced each year at the Bud Billiken Day Parade and participate in “a week of fun,” including riding a float in the parade and visiting various places around the city as members of the Royal Court.
See also
- Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic
- Roi T. Ottley, The Lonely Warrior: The Life and Times of Robert S. Abbott (Chicago, IL, 1955)