Latin Americans of African descent, often referred to as Afro-Latinos, synchronized their African traditions with Latin culture, creating enduring African roots throughout Latin America. For example, Cuba's Santeria religious tradition traces its roots to Nigeria's Yoruba. Mofongo, Puerto Rico's savory fried plantain dish, is of West African origin. And the Dominican Republic's signature sound, merengue, developed from strong African rhythms. Today, New York City is the home of most of the United States' 4 million Afro-Latinos. In addition to being the center of Puerto Rican and Dominican culture in the country, New York City is also where Afro-Latinos from throughout the Diaspora reside.
Organizers of the upcoming 2009 Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza say the venue for this year's presentation, the Joseph C. Carter Park, has a special significance that adds to the community focus of the cultural event. Located at 1450 West Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, the park is named after longtime African-American parks and recreation professional, Joseph C. Carter. The Marcus Garvey Rootz Extravaganza is sponsored by the Rootz Magazine, Talawah Roots Tonic, COMCAST, Air Jamaica, Grace Foods USA, Bobby's Meals, Nature's Coolers, Tomlinson Dental Care, Cooyah, Goldson Spi-nal Center, In & Out Tire Shack, Poor Man's Studio, Westside Gazette, Whiz Communications, and Island Beat Marketing
Howard University's School of Business in Washington DC recently recognized St. Lucia-born Cecil St. Jules as one of its 40 most distinguished and accomplished graduates at the School's 40th anniversary celebration. "I am humbled to receive such a lofty recognition by my alma mater," said St. Jules, a managing director of BNY Mellon Broker Dealer Services.
Friday night also doubled as a welcome party and was dubbed 'Inferno' for all the festival patrons to party to a few of Jamaica's finest entertainers. The night's DJs straight from the rock were DJ Marvin, Christuff from Renaissance, and Fame FM's DJ Nicco, who afforded patrons the opportunity to party the night away to the latest dance hits while mingling with a few of South Florida's socialites and movers and shakers. 'Dubbed the biggest Caribbean food festival in the United States, the Jamaican Jerk Festival has the reputation for delivering an experience of the highest quality to patrons'
Jamaicans across the United States will commemorate the island's 45th anniversary of Independence with a variety of activities. The national theme of this year's celebration is, "Unity, Peace and Justice... The Pillars of a Strong Nation." This year also marks the 169th anniversary of Jamaica's emancipation from slavery and this major milestone is also part of this year's celebrations.
Through these public outreach efforts, Boggis was able to engage Milford leaders in the project, resulting in their designating a city park as the [Harriet E. Wilson] Adams Wilson Memorial Site. Ms. Boggis was able to further increase public awareness and gain support from the community for the commission of a life-size sculpture of Harriet Wilson and on November 6, 2006 in a celebration hosted by actress and civil right activist, [Ruby Dee], the project unveiled the Wilson memorial statue which is the only public sculpture honouring a person of colour in the State of New Hampshire.
While Local 355 will continue to accept support from organizations and the community at large for the new initiative in the upcoming months, one of its first actions will be to formally request that Broward County commissioners implement a "worker retention policy" to ensure that concession workers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport do not lose their jobs, even as their employers' contracts are being evaluated, [Jay Mehta] said. "The survey shows us that the best way to express our solidarity is to...continue to fight," said UNITE HERE Local 355 organizer Romane Petit Joseph, referring to the union's original purpose, which includes working toward quality jobs, workers' rights, immigration reform and living wages.
The trailblazer, born in Spanish Harlem, who said she always knew she was "Puerto Rican and Black," started her journey in the '70s to learn more about her roots. She revealed that back then she personally felt she "didn't fit anywhere" because of a lack of knowledge of self and that she "looked around" and noticed her African-descendent students were suffering the same dilemma. Years later, the critically acclaimed scholar, who holds a doctorate from Temple University, is a published author of "When the Spirits Dance Mambo" and "The Altar of My Soul," also a film documentarían for "When the Spirits Dance Mambo," world traveler and a Lucumi/Santeria priestess initiated in Cuba. She's also an associate adjunct professor of AfroLatino studies at Hunter College and a co-director there of the Afro-Latino Global Initiative.
[Peter Adrien], 37, born in Antigua and resident of Miami since age 14, was invested as a new judge last Friday for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Dade County. Surrounded by family and friends at the Dade County Courthouse on Flagler Street, the new Judge Adrien promised to bring a new vigorous effort to his role behind the robe. As an attorney, Adrien participated in the teen court program, which he felt was a good diversionary program for teens that had made bad mistakes in their lives got second chances. Adrien liked the program and stated as a judge he will try to find alternative programs that may help keep certain defendants, especially teens from getting criminal records that could haunt them for the rest of their lives.
"It is important because we are black first," said Joseph, a U.S. resident since 1970 and a registered Democrat, "then we are Caribbean or American." "As a black man walking down the street (in the U.S.), no one knows if he is Caribbean or not," [Irwint Claire] added. "Plus Caribbean people have played important roles in advancement of African Americans. "It is a very significant time for Caribbean Americans," he said. "Caribbean nationals should look at it as a good time to be in the U.S...One ([Barack Obama]) from the ranks is moving forth."
