The NYC "Caribbean Day Parade" - How Organizational Agendas Are Shown Via What They Pick From The Buffet

The New York City Caribbean Day Carnival is an annual event held during the Labor Day Weekend.  Though several of these parades are held around the nation by ex-pats or offspring of immigrants from the Caribbean NYC's is likely the largest and most renowned.

From The Article

The carnival is a festival of Caribbean/West Indian culture that attracts viewers from across the United States and the world. This year's theme, "One Caribbean Family," embodies the unifying power of this Caribbean festival, as its pageantry of music, art and dance creates a synergy that showcases the various nationalities and cultures that make up the community.Directly following the grand marshals and scores of VIPs, more than 60 decorative floats and 40 costume bands will wind their way down to the Brooklyn Museum past millions of excited spectators jammed onto Eastern Parkway.The lively revelers dance and fête to the constant flow of colorful masquerade bands, which depict various aspects of the Caribbean culture. Some represent spectacular creations that span every facet of the real as well as the imaginary world, while others don costumes that leave nothing to the imagination.Each band comprises huge flatbed trucks piled high with music systems accompanied by some of the top Caribbean artists and thousands of bedecked performers in extravagant costumes, gyrating to loud, tantalizing rhythms of soca, calypso and reggae music.WIADCA is one of the oldest Caribbean-American organizations in the United States. It was established in 1967 to promote, present and produce Caribbean music, art and culture.

The 2011 edition of the parade was no doubt a net positive experience as the festive environment of food, music, costumes from the respective islands that were presented were on display.  Per my own interactions with this parades I see them as a "St Patricks Day For Black Caribbean Immigrants".  Mardi Gras in New Orleans (and Mobile AL) are the only other organic festive environments where Black people are so centrally involved.

Unfortunately 2011 was also marred by violence and death.  A few rouge characters chose to bring shame to the event.  There were several shootings and at least two murders associated with the large gathering of people.

The more interesting point is how various politicians and activist groups keyed in upon various aspects surrounding the attacks and/or police response to it.

Issue	Artifact
Two Murders And Multiple Shootings At Caribbean Day Carnival	Violence Mars Caribbean Day Parade After Bloodshed Some Question Parade's Continued Existence Six Slain/48 Injuries In Gun Battles Throughout New York On Holiday Weekend NEW YORK -- Some city residents wondered Tuesday if it's time to pull the plug on the gaudy West Indian Day parade after three people, including a woman sitting outside her home, were shot to death just blocks from its route. "I was saying to myself a while ago they probably should shut it down," said Winston Thomas, a 66-year-old who moved from Jamaica to Brooklyn, site of the annual Caribbean-themed Labor Day parade, 40 years ago. "If you create this kind of atmosphere where you're killing people all the time, it don't make sense. ... I stay away from it."
Mayor Bloomberg - Illegal Guns At Heart Of Parade Related Shootings	The Grio - Mayor Bloomberg Blames Illegal Guns He said New York has some of the toughest gun laws in the country, “but because it’s so easy to buy guns in other states and just drive them in and sell them in the back of your car … we’ve got to do something about it. This just can’t go on.” The mayor said New York needs the federal government “to help, in terms of getting guns off the streets” — especially to close what he called “the gun show loophole,” which allows potential criminals to easily obtain firearms without showing identification.
MSNBC's Al Shaprton's National Action Network - Councilman, Aide Targeted By Police Because Of Their Race	Councilman, Aide: Police targeted us because of our race The National Action Network is calling for disciplinary action against the officers who detained a city councilman and a city aide after a confrontation at the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn. In a statement Tuesday, the Rev. Al Sharpton's group condemned the "forceful arrests'' of Councilman Jumaane Williams and Kirsten John Foy, an aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

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