IslandMix - Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Caribbean Entertainment

Caribbean Carnival Makes Brooklyn The West Indian Capital In The U.S.
By Tony Best
Sep 7, 2005, 10:45


The youth get in on the Labor day Carnival
Many religious ministers forsook their collars and were attired in slacks or short pants and open neck shirts, while judges of the New York State Supreme and civil courts put aside their cases on the dockets at least for a day.

And as if not to be left out thousands of transit workers, be their drivers, conductors or cleaners who were not on duty didn't worry about timetables and schedules.

Obviously, too, thousands of students who were heading back to the classroom at the end of the long summer break didn't have homework on their minds or what awaited them in school.

Whether they were eight, 18, 28 or even 88 years old, people of all shapes, colors and occupations, spanning generations were united in a single mood: having fun at the West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn on Eastern Parkway at its adjoining streets and neighborhoods on Labor Day.


As they played mas, moved their hips, waved their national flags, consumed the West Indian dishes or lined the streets as the colorful bands moved down the thoroughfare it was as if two million souls wanted to bid farewell to the summer of 2005.

The irony of it was that Labor Day was bright sunny and pleasant, tailor-made for the festivities.

Even some members of New York City's finest and their support personnel couldn't resist getting involved as the New York City Police Department's steel band made its appearance.

In all, more than two million people, some who traveled from the Caribbean, Britain and Canada, joined those who call the U.S. in general and the New York Metropolitan region in particular their home away from home helped to transform Labor Day into the world's largest party, full of vibrancy, floating on a sea of color.

But as they jumped to the calypso music, reggae or soca beat, the tragedy in New Orleans, Biloxi and other parts of the country weren't completely shut out from people's consciousness. Some were collecting donations for the American Red Cross, churches and community organizations that want to help ease the suffering of the tens of thousands left homeless in the "Big Easy" or in Biloxi.

"We are a multi-faceted people, we can sympathize with our brothers and sisters in New Orleans while we are celebrating our Caribbean culture," said a priest who wore an open neck shirt and slacks. "We believe that the federal and state governments failed the people of New Orleans and we are trying to raise funds to do our part. President George Bush should be embarrassed. But then he doesn't care about Black people any way."

The West Indian American Day Carnival Association, organizers of the weekend of fun has raised almost five thousand dollars in hurricane relief and may end up giving more as a contribution to the just cause.

As U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz and the City's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, pointed out West Indians are accustomed to dealing with the tragic aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. For every year, some country in the Caribbean is hit hard by the powerful winds and the floods that hurricanes and storms dump on the island nations. Several weeks ago, Grenada, which was flattened last year by a hurricane on Labor Day was hit once again.

Interestingly, the politicians seeking votes used the large crowds at the carnival to campaign for votes, even if their election is next year. All of the mayoral candidates such as Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Republican incumbent and his potential Democratic challengers, Fernando Ferrer, C. Virginia Fields, Gifford Miller and Anthony Weiner were present, reminding West Indians of their untapped potential as a powerful political force in the City.

Eliot Spitzer, the State Attorney-General who wants to be the next Governor of New York State was also on the Parkway. So too were Congressman Major Owens, California Congressional representative, Barbara Lee, City Council members Frank Barron, Yvette Clarke, Dr. Kendal Stewart, State Senator John Sampson, a credible candidate for Brooklyn District Attorney, New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry, and State Senators Kevin Parker and Carl Andrews.

"We appreciate the presence of the elected officials and office seekers, but we really came to the carnival for the costumes, the music, the food and the atmosphere," said a reveler at Bedford Avenue. "The politicians don't get into the way of our fun and that's a good thing."

What didn't get into people's way was the presence of T-shirt revelers, who a few weeks ago were facing a ban ordered by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association. People in T-shirts were not only orderly but they outnumbered the colorful masqueraders in their exquisite costumes.

Indeed, without the people in T-shirts the parade would have ended much earlier and there would be much less fun.


© Copyright 2005 by Caribbean World Radio