*Culture*From The Peopling of New York CityOne Neighborhood, Two Population Groups:
Culture on Eastern ParkwayEastern Parkway is predominately populated by two major ethnic groups whose cultures thrive on the streets of the Parkway: the African-American (mainly West Indian, or “Afro-Caribbean”) and Lubavitcher Hasidic Jew enclave. Largely isolated from one another, each enclave has preserved some major cultural tenets related to their respective ethnic groups.
The Afro-Caribbean Enclave
The MarketsA sample of the foods found at markets along this side of Eastern Parkway is a reflection of the West Indian flavor imported to the Parkway. Main staples of the West Indian diet can be seen here.
       The FoodFood is a very powerful expression and representation of West Indian culture. On Eastern Parkway, the smells wafting from the myriad restaurants on each block and the colorful menus and signs are a testament to this. There are dozens of roti shops, Creole-inspired restaurants and bakeries specializing in Caribbean delicacies, and Jamaican and Trinidadian diners. Glass windows are plastered with signs advertising jerk chicken, patties, rice and peas, curry goat, ackee and satfish, and fried plantains, to name a few popular regional dishes. 
The Shops and ServicesMany of the shops and services cater to a selective West Indian clientele. There are numerous Caribbean social clubs, dance halls, record stores, and Spiritual Baptist storefront churches. There is a Dominican-run Sonny’s Barber Shop, and African-American Bonafide Beauty Supply store, a Haitian-run make-up retailer called Marie PaNou, and a Korean-run Hana and Long Nail Salon. The MusicMusic is another central expression of Caribbean culture, which shapes the cultural landscape of the neighborhood with its various dance halls and record shops spilling its diverse musical beats into the streets. Musical genres that are encountered on the Parkway include: the incredibly popular reggae, zouk, salsa, calypso, a touch of the Bahamas with goombay, some Cuba zest with conga, Dominican Republic flair with merengue, compass from Haiti, Jamaican ska, and Trinidad and Tobago steel pans. "Sweet Calypso Woman" Steel Band [2]. The LanguageOn the Parkway, though English is the dominant language, there are smatterings of the mother tongue to be heard, yet another import and cultural stamp on the neighborhood. The numerous different creoles of each island are well represented here, for example, Haitian creole, with its mixtures of French, Spanish, English, and native West and Central African languages. There is also Caribbean English to be heard, a distinct West Indian English dialect. Below is an example of this mixture of this Caribbean and English mix, known as patois [4].:
The Worship  There are various denominations of the Christian faith throughout the Parkway, and churches provide valuable services to their West Indian population. On Nostrand Avenue, there is the Philadelphia Sabbath Cathedral. On Rogers Avenue there is the Shiloh 7th Day Adventist led by Pastor Richards, who runs a strictly West Indian service. Directly across the street from this is the First Baptist Church, whose congregation is also mainly West Indian. In these houses of worship the cultures of these islanders are kept alive, in such social gatherings as the Unique Hat and Tea Party Club, Kappa VII, and the monthly Cajun Fish Fry.    New York City’s Largest Cultural Celebration: The West Indian Day Carnival    The most popular event and most notable cultural “landmark” on Eastern Parkway takes place annually within this enclave. This refers to none other than the “West Indian Day Carnival” (also known as the “Labor Day Parade”). Over two million people are estimated to participate in the carnival, and almost $200 million can be expected to be made from each annual event. The West Indian Day Carnival was imported to New York City in the 1920s by a group of Trinidad and Caribbean immigrants who wanted to celebrate their carnival tradition. Running from the Thursday before Labor Day through the weekend, it is a parade that runs the length of Eastern Parkway from Rochester to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn. The parade includes the celebration of each Caribbean Island ethnic group, through colorful representation of its music, its cuisine, and its native art. The spirit of Carnival is an incredible expression of pride in the Caribbean heritage, and as WIADCA, the official website of the West Indian Day Parade writes: "It was the true spirit of carnival that enabled this migrant population to move from relative obscurity to one of political and economic power. And even as the times and seasons change, the spirit of carnival remains constant – a unique celebration that goes beyond the boundaries of race, color, creed or social status. " [5].
References
|
