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Mocking Slave Owners and Celebrating Freedom | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A queen with devil horns, dressed in a rainbow of satin and shimmering gold tulle, sat on a throne along Brooklyn’s Empire Boulevard. Soon, Karen Herbert, 50, would return to being a retired company supervisor. | A queen with devil horns, dressed in a rainbow of satin and shimmering gold tulle, sat on a throne along Brooklyn’s Empire Boulevard. Soon, Karen Herbert, 50, would return to being a retired company supervisor. |
But on J’ouvert, the daybreak celebration of Caribbean culture traditionally held in Brooklyn before the West Indian American Day Parade, “I am always a queen,” Ms. Herbert declared. | But on J’ouvert, the daybreak celebration of Caribbean culture traditionally held in Brooklyn before the West Indian American Day Parade, “I am always a queen,” Ms. Herbert declared. |
Ms. Herbert, along with other performers, dancers, flag-wavers and musicians, refused to allow the gray weather, or the presence of over 300 light towers and thousands of police officers, to dampen their exuberance. | Ms. Herbert, along with other performers, dancers, flag-wavers and musicians, refused to allow the gray weather, or the presence of over 300 light towers and thousands of police officers, to dampen their exuberance. |
The roots of J’ouvert lie in mocking slave owners and celebrating emancipation in the Caribbean. Monday’s event showed how the contemporary street-party version of the holiday retains a subversive, liberating edge. | The roots of J’ouvert lie in mocking slave owners and celebrating emancipation in the Caribbean. Monday’s event showed how the contemporary street-party version of the holiday retains a subversive, liberating edge. |
Some revelers, completely covered in motor oil, came to shine. Others came to wine. | Some revelers, completely covered in motor oil, came to shine. Others came to wine. |
For the uninitiated, wining is a butt-shaking, pelvis-rubbing Caribbean dance. | For the uninitiated, wining is a butt-shaking, pelvis-rubbing Caribbean dance. |
“It’s like one step away from sex,” said Molli Piitcha, 29. | “It’s like one step away from sex,” said Molli Piitcha, 29. |
The police presence ramped up after four people were shot and two killed in 2016, and Carey W. Gabay, 43, a lawyer in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, was killed in 2015. | The police presence ramped up after four people were shot and two killed in 2016, and Carey W. Gabay, 43, a lawyer in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration, was killed in 2015. |
Rupert Hewitt, 74, said some restrictive security measures were necessary, but he also complained about an exaggerated sense of threat. | Rupert Hewitt, 74, said some restrictive security measures were necessary, but he also complained about an exaggerated sense of threat. |
“We need the police here,” he said. But “one person alone could throw a bottle and cause pandemonium. Then they’ll say, ‘There’s violence in the Caribbean community.’” | “We need the police here,” he said. But “one person alone could throw a bottle and cause pandemonium. Then they’ll say, ‘There’s violence in the Caribbean community.’” |
Fear of violence seemed far from revelers’ minds on Monday morning. Floats with steel drum bands took center stage, with pranksters and costumed eccentrics acting as a side show. | Fear of violence seemed far from revelers’ minds on Monday morning. Floats with steel drum bands took center stage, with pranksters and costumed eccentrics acting as a side show. |
One man lifted a large jug as if to drench unsuspecting strangers in paint, before revealing the container was empty. Others sprayed passers-by with clouds of baby powder and party string, or dabbed them with paint. | One man lifted a large jug as if to drench unsuspecting strangers in paint, before revealing the container was empty. Others sprayed passers-by with clouds of baby powder and party string, or dabbed them with paint. |
One woman had $100 bills sewn into her bikini cups and a painted handprint on her backside. | One woman had $100 bills sewn into her bikini cups and a painted handprint on her backside. |
Roland Guy, 76, a Vietnam War veteran who said he used to sneak out of Fort Dix, the military base in New Jersey, to go to J’ouvert, was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. | Roland Guy, 76, a Vietnam War veteran who said he used to sneak out of Fort Dix, the military base in New Jersey, to go to J’ouvert, was dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. |
“It’s comedy,” he said. Mr. Guy was pushing around a stroller that contained a wolf dressed in a flannel shirt and skinny jeans. He had invented a story for his characters. “The wolf fell in love with Little Red Riding Hood,” he said. “They now live in Prospect Park.” | “It’s comedy,” he said. Mr. Guy was pushing around a stroller that contained a wolf dressed in a flannel shirt and skinny jeans. He had invented a story for his characters. “The wolf fell in love with Little Red Riding Hood,” he said. “They now live in Prospect Park.” |
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