Arts & Culture

West Indian Day parade celebrates culture and community in Brooklyn

today2024-09-03 1

West Indian Day parade celebrates culture and community in Brooklyn
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BROOKLYN — Eastern Parkway came alive with bright colors and invigorating music, as New Yorkers displayed their cultural pride during the annual West Indian Day parade on Labor Day. The annual celebration, organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA), brings together more than 1 million participants and spectators from across the Caribbean diaspora, the U.S. and other countries. 

Monday’s festivities were marred by a tragic shooting that briefly disrupted the joyous atmosphere. According to police, a gunman opened fire around 2:30 p.m. at 307 Eastern Parkway, near the Franklin Avenue subway station. Denzel A. Chan, 25, of Texas died as a result. Four others, including a 16-year-old boy and a 69-year-old woman, were wounded. 

Despite the violence, which police described as targeted and many point to as the ongoing challenge of ensuring safety at such large-scale events, the daylong parade continued. Most revelers and attendees were unaware of the shooting as they marched on, dancing and singing along the road with the music floats and costumed masqueraders. 

Haitian floats were among those that closed out the day’s festivities as night fell on the Parkway. A rara foot band then led hundreds from Grand Army Plaza toward Parkside Avenue along Flatbush Avenue, their clarions, drums and footsteps thumping under the dark skies. 


Members of the FDNY Caribbean Society proudly march in the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn, holding the Haitian flag high. The group emphasized their commitment to diversity and community service with a banner stating, “We make a difference.”
Parade-goers drape themselves in the Haitian flag as they enjoy the festive atmosphere of the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn. The Haitian community had a strong presence at the event, celebrating their cultural pride.
Parade-goers drape themselves in the Haitian flag as they enjoy the festive atmosphere of the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn. The Haitian community had a strong presence at the event, celebrating their cultural pride.

Parade-goers drape themselves in the Haitian flag as they enjoy the festive atmosphere of the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn. The Haitian community had a strong presence at the event, celebrating their cultural pride.
Haitian revelers dance with high energy during the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade in Brooklyn. The parade is a vibrant display of Caribbean pride and unity, with participants showing their cultural heritage through music and dance.
A wave of Haitian flags fills the streets of Brooklyn as part of the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade. The event celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the Caribbean, with Haiti’s bold colors standing out among the crowd.
Parade participants dance joyfully to the rhythm of Caribbean beats, embodying the spirit of the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade. The annual event is a beloved tradition in Brooklyn, bringing together communities to celebrate their shared heritage.
Attendees at the 2024 West Indian American Day Carnival Parade celebrate with exuberance, waving flags and enjoying the festive atmosphere. This iconic parade highlights the cultural richness and unity of the Caribbean diaspora in New York City.

The post West Indian Day parade celebrates culture and community in Brooklyn appeared first on The Haitian Times.


West Indian Day parade celebrates culture and community in Brooklyn was first posted on September 3, 2024 at 5:07 pm.

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