Mississippi Delta Marching Band From Historically Black College to Play at Trump’s Inauguration

Mississippi Valley State University's "Mean Green Marching Machine” will perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. Courtesy of MVSU

A marching band at a historically black Mississippi university has raised more than $120,000 to fund its trip to Washington to participate in President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

The “Mean Green Marching Machine” band from Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) was invited to play in the 60th Presidential Inauguration Parade, according to a statement issued by the college in December.

As of 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, the band had raised $166, 366 to meet its $170,000 goal.

The funds will go toward uniforms, instruments, and other resources.

The college said the total cost of the trip is $350,000.

The band has 250 players and has participated in several national events such as NBA games, the Rose Bowl Parade, Mardi Gras, and band competitions.

In 1965, the band played the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, where it made history as the first black marching band to participate. It returned to Pasadena in 1969 to play in President Richard Nixon’s inaugural parade.

“This is not just a moment of pride for our university but for the entire state of Mississippi,” MVSU President Jerry Briggs said. “It is an opportunity to showcase our legacy, celebrate our culture, and invest in the future leaders of our community.”

The band’s participation in the parade is timely with the college celebrating its 75th anniversary.

In addition, students will get to participate in a “peaceful transition of power,” he said, that will bring “global exposure.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves shared news of the invitation on X with a link to the college’s GoFundMe page, asking that people consider supporting the band and calling it a “historic opportunity.”

According to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), the theme of the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies will be “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise.” This theme is intended to convey the Founding Fathers’ “commitment to future generations of Americans to preserve the continuity and stability” of the democratic form of government.

“The first words of the Preamble to the Constitution present a promise to the American people to ‘secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,’” the committee said in a December statement.

The inaugural ceremonies, which have been a tradition since 1789, are held to honor that promise, the committee said.

“In less than one month, we will gather at the Capitol to once again carry forward the Constitution’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power,” said JCCIC Chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the inauguration “cannot arrive soon enough.”

“In less than 30 days, President-Elect Trump will make his triumphant return to Washington and usher in a new day in America,” he said in December.