Brooklyn’s Legendary Carnival
By Shakellia Augustine

During Labor Day weekend, Brooklyn was hot, hot, hot! Fete after fete after fete! Did you know that according to Census 2000 approximately half of the Caribbean people in the US live in Brooklyn? And many more from all around the world came to Brooklyn to celebrate our culture that weekend.

That Saturday, the adorable children had their time to celebrate our culture, playing mas on the road leading to the Brooklyn Museum where they palanced across the stage. Midnight mas and dutty jab jab crews had their time to play during the wee hours of Monday morning.

Labor Day’s West Indian American Day celebration was fantastic! Millions of people of all ages, including spectators and masqueraders, enjoyed the sights and sounds of this united Caribbean cultural festival. The weather was great, and so were the costumes. The large band of the year was Ramajay, which portrayed “La Femme: Reveal the Mystery of Woman”. Every West Indian country was represented on Eastern Parkway. The unity and pride was definitely felt in the atmosphere.

Carnival Essence did very well with masks, dolls, and other souvenirs on Labor Day!