Brooklyn to Host Inaugural Jamaica Rising Day Parade

More than 80,000 people of Jamaican heritage call Brooklyn home, according to U.S. Census data, providing a sizeable community base for a new cultural celebration taking place in the borough this weekend.

The inaugural Jamaica Rising Day Parade will get underway at 10 a.m. Saturday from Ocean Avenue and Church Avenue in Flatbush, bringing Jamaican music, food, dance and cultural expression to the streets of Brooklyn.

Organisers have positioned the event as a continuation of Jamaica’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations, with parade organiser Lawman Lynch describing it as the culmination of those observances. He said organisers are hoping Jamaicans will turn out in large numbers to celebrate the country’s culture.

The choice of Brooklyn reflects the longstanding influence Jamaica has had on life in the borough. Marketing & Talent Strategies Executive Director Mickael Marabou, who was born and raised in New York, said Jamaican food and music have become part of both Brooklyn and wider New York culture.

Marabou also believes the timing of the celebration is particularly significant given the difficulties currently facing Caribbean people and immigrants. She said the wider national climate makes this an appropriate moment for the community to come together and celebrate.

Flatbush is among the New York neighbourhoods where Jamaican influence is especially visible, with elements of the island’s culture forming part of everyday community life.

Lynch also pointed to Brooklyn’s role as a familiar starting point for Jamaicans arriving in New York. He noted that many Jamaicans entering the United States through JFK Airport subsequently make their way to Brooklyn.

Saturday’s gathering will bring residents and visitors together as part of the continuing celebrations surrounding two of Jamaica’s major national observances — Emancipation Day and Independence Day.

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