Brooklyn to host first-ever Jamaica Rising Day parade
According to U.S. Census data, more than 80,000 people of Jamaican heritage live in Brooklyn, making the borough home to one of the largest Jamaican communities in the city.
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Brooklyn's deep Jamaican roots will take center stage this Saturday as the inaugural Jamaica Rising Day Parade debuts in New York City.
Organizers say the event is both a celebration of Jamaican culture and a continuation of the island country's Emancipation and Independence Day festivities, bringing together residents and visitors for a day of music, food, dance and community pride.
"When many Jamaicans come to the United States, and they land in New York, most likely they are landing in Brooklyn after they leave JFK," said parade organizer Lawman Lynch.
For many New Yorkers, especially those in neighborhoods like Flatbush, Jamaican culture is woven into the fabric of daily life. From reggae music to Caribbean cuisine, organizers say Brooklyn was the obvious choice for the city's first Jamaica Rising Day Parade.
"Being born and raised in New York, being a Brooklynite, I feel like Jamaican culture is a part of New York culture. It's a part of Brooklyn culture, the food, the music," said Mickael Marabou, executive director of Marketing & Talent Strategies.
According to U.S. Census data, more than 80,000 people of Jamaican heritage live in Brooklyn, making the borough home to one of the largest Jamaican communities in the city.
Organizers hope the parade will serve as a vibrant showcase of Jamaica's rich traditions while creating a space for unity and celebration.
"This, as a matter of fact, is a culmination of our emancipation celebration and our independence celebration," Lynch said. "We are excited about bringing out as many Jamaicans as possible to celebrate our rich culture."
Marabou believes the event comes at an important moment.
"It's so hard for Caribbean people at the moment, just immigrants at the moment," she said. "I think it's a perfect time to celebrate with what's going on in the world and the tone of the nation."
The Jamaica Rising Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ocean Avenue and Church Avenue in Flatbush.
Organizers hope the inaugural event will become an annual tradition, celebrating the contributions and culture of Brooklyn's Jamaican community for years to come.
