The West Indian Day Parade is an annual celebration of Caribbean culture that takes place along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. It was first held in 1969 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most vibrant parades in the city, attracting millions of people every year. It’s a one-day carnival and New York’s version of Mardi Gras.
The parade is known for its colorful, fantastical costumes (the costumed participants are known as “Masqueraders”), pulsating high-volume music, and Caribbean specialty food.
Unfortunately, this year’s parade was marred by a shooting incident, in which five people were wounded. The police are investigating the incident (carnivals in the islands and in Latin countries are often occasions for settling grudges and vendettas). Despite this setback, the parade continued, and the community came together to support one another and celebrate their collective cultures. In recent years, there’s been a decline in interest and a loss in resources which was amplified by the pandemic, but the show goes on.
