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I have never, ever had the slightest desire to attend this parade. In fact I make an effort to avoid going anywhere near it. I think it's the potential issue of the guys being cat-call like annoying. However, what's funny is that I have played mass at carnival in Trinidad. It was so much fun and an amazing experience. I think it's the atmosphere that makes the difference. In NYC people can be aggressive and rude. Throw in women in beaded bikinis and alcohol, you have the potential for a hostile environment. Some people just won't know how to act. However, when you do this on a tropical island where the festivities are part of their cultural identity and the whole country is focused on the event, it's a different feeling. I don't know, now that I've actually played mass, maybe this will be the year I check out the NYC parade. Maybe my pov will be different.
You do raise some interesting points. My biggest problem with the carnival is the generation shift. In the 80s and early 90s it was dominated by Trinidadians who were carrying on a cultural tradition. Many being hard core carnival participants back in T&T, or avid supporters of the mas camps here in NYC.
Now it is dominated by NY raised or born kids of Caribbean descent, who are "playing West Indian for a day", but whose cultural reference point and attitude is very different. I suspect that the same can be said for the Puerto Rican Day parade.
I go all the way back to 1978, when my godfather, who's business was on Park Place and who lived on Prospect, would take me up the block to Franklin and Eastern Parkway to watch "Jump-Up!"
Back then, there was a whole lot of space on EP to run and 'jump up' on! Now, with 2 million/year, one cannot even move on the Parkway, with so many folk! I also used to watch the parade from Grand Army Plaza, when I lived in Park Slope. Having said that, if one is going to watch, GAP is the best area to watch it; all the floats are coming in, and one can easily exit via Flatbush Av, Prospect Park West or Union Street to get away from the crowd!
Some folk tried to have it banned after the '91 Crown Heights riots. That initiative failed. Too much for the city's economy!
You do raise some interesting points. My biggest problem with the carnival is the generation shift. In the 80s and early 90s it was dominated by Trinidadians who were carrying on a cultural tradition. Many being hard core carnival participants back in T&T, or avid supporters of the mas camps here in NYC.
Now it is dominated by NY raised or born kids of Caribbean descent, who are "playing West Indian for a day", but whose cultural reference point and attitude is very different. I suspect that the same can be said for the Puerto Rican Day parade.
Was the parade ever really dominated by Trinidadians "carrying on a cultural tradition?" Particularly at any point in the 80s and 90s where over one million people were taking part? There just don't seem to be that many Trinidadians in that category to have "dominated" anything.
Was the parade ever really dominated by Trinidadians "carrying on a cultural tradition?" Particularly at any point in the 80s and 90s where over one million people were taking part? There just don't seem to be that many Trinidadians in that category to have "dominated" anything.
Not only that but TNT carnival is also full of non-Trinis and the children and grandchildren of Trinis who come to the island to "play West Indian for a day." These people represent a huge boon to Trinidad's economy.
A lot of old heads complain about all carnivals anyway. Many think it's nothing but lude and inappropriate behavior (a lot of truth to that) and that carnival has ventured away from its its roots.
You do raise some interesting points. My biggest problem with the carnival is the generation shift. In the 80s and early 90s it was dominated by Trinidadians who were carrying on a cultural tradition. Many being hard core carnival participants back in T&T, or avid supporters of the mas camps here in NYC.
Now it is dominated by NY raised or born kids of Caribbean descent, who are "playing West Indian for a day", but whose cultural reference point and attitude is very different. I suspect that the same can be said for the Puerto Rican Day parade.
alot of the younger participants in the parade within the last 2-3 years are like 2nd 3rd and in some cases 4th generation west indian.....when i used to go 10 years ago it was a mix of american raised and FOB caribbean people......even those american raised (many cases american born) participants would speak some kind of caribbean accent so for a parade thats in the middle of a concrete north american jungle u got some kinda vibe from it.......you dont get those kind of vibes anymore..........
the best carnival i been to outside the caribbean was caribana in Toronto....the caribbean tradition is nowehre near as watered down, its safer, more fun and west indian migrants in toronto are not as ghettoized as NY west indians....
you have to watch the parade from the no shooting section .
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Particularly at any point in the 80s and 90s where over one million people were taking part? There just don't seem to be that many Trinidadians in that category to have "dominated" anything.
