Costumed Revelers Celebrate Caribbean Culture at the West Indian Day Parade

By Gabriele Holtermann and Lloyd Mitchell, Brooklyn Paper

The sounds of soca, calypso, compas, and reggae boomed along Eastern Parkway as the 57th Annual West Indian American Day Parade made its way from Utica Avenue in Crown Heights to Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights on Labor Day.

Thousands of flag-waving revelers cheered on the bright floats, dancers — some in elaborate and vibrant costumes adorned with feathers and sequins — marching bands, and a slew of politicians as they commemorated their Caribbean roots.

The festive celebration of West Indian culture dates back to the 1930s when Jessie Wardell and her friends started Carnival in Harlem. In the 1960s, Trinidadian Rufus Goring brought Carnival to Brooklyn, home to the largest West Indian immigrant population in the United States. Today, it is hosted by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.

For many spectators, the parade represents home and a celebration of Caribbean heritage.

Friends Kesie, Kelly, and Heavyn told Brooklyn Paper they had already had a “ball” celebrating J’ouvert earlier in the day and were ready to keep partying to honor their culture, which is a big part of them.

“[The parade] is a celebration of life, celebrating where you came from,” Heavyn said. “And you know, putting on the show for everybody.”

Brooklyn politicians, including New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and State Senator Zellnor Myrie, proudly showcased their Caribbean roots.

Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, told Brooklyn Paper that the West Indian Day Parade meant “everything” to him as it salutes the culture, music, and food of all Caribbean islands.

Williams has fond memories of observing Carnival in his homeland when he was younger.

“You can’t beat the islands, you can’t beat home,” he said. “But this is really, really close to it, particularly because everybody from every different island is here. You’re going to see them come down to the parkway, repping their flags. It’s a beautiful moment.”

Myrie, who recently announced his candidacy for New York City mayor, has attended the parade since he was a toddler. The parade runs through his district, and Myrie told Brooklyn Paper that at a time when some are trying to erase history, it is more important than ever to protect West Indian culture.

“We got to stand up for our culture. And there is no better symbol than what you see here today,” he said. “It’s not just the costumes, it’s not just the music, it’s not just the gathering. It is the joy, the love, [and] the celebration that is an inherently common Caribbean thing. I am proud to be Caribbean and to represent the community.”

Queens-based Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar said she attends the parade every year and that there is nothing like the parade’s vibe, with people dancing along Eastern Parkway.

“As the first Indian woman elected to New York State Office, this parade is very important to me,” Rajkumar said. “My culture is deeply connected with West Indian culture. I made Diwali a school holiday in New York City, which a lot of people are talking about today and remembering. Our Caribbean communities are making history, and the whole world is watching Brooklyn today.”

French native Eric Baudemont, who now resides in Canada, told Brooklyn Paper that he and his wife learned about the West Indian Parade on Instagram while looking for things to do in New York City.

“[We expect] good food, music, and people. Everything a parade can bring,” Baudemont said.

Another local named Richard hailed the annual parade as one that brings “every Caribbean Island together.”

“We need more of that,” he said.

The parade, however, was marred by violence when a gunman shot five people along the parade route near Eastern Parkway and Franklin Avenue. At a press conference Monday, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell assured the public that the incident wasn’t an active shooter situation but an “intentional act by one person towards a group of people.”

A 25-year-old victim who was shot in the abdomen has died, authorities confirmed Tuesday morning. All other victims, including a 69-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy, are reportedly in stable condition.

The shooting cast a pall upon what is one of Brooklyn’s biggest cultural events. Tens of thousands of marchers and spectators participated in the colorful gathering, and the NYPD had beefed up security in an effort to prevent gun violence and other criminal incidents that had occurred during or before the parade in recent years.

Cops say they are looking for a man in his 20s, who was last seen wearing a brown shirt with paint stains and a black bandana, and are asking anyone who may have video of the incident to come forward.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or the perpetrator’s whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

— Additional reporting by Dean Moses

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally ran in Brooklyn Paper. Click here to see the original story.

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