SHREVEPORT, La. – The weather wasn’t ideal for a parade, but that didn’t stop thousands from celebrating Black History Month with the 36th African American Parade Celebration. It kicked of Saturday at 11 a.m. in downtown Shreveport. This year’s theme was African Americans and the Arts. It coincided with the national theme for Black History Month. Shreveport’s is the largest African American parade in the nation in the month of February.