CARIBBEAT -- NY Daily News - - Jared McCallister
A "Make America Grate Again" costume — food graters is what J'Ouvert is all about! From mocking 18th century slave masters to poking fun at today's 21st century politicians, J'Ouvert has a long, vibrant tradition, which will be explored in an Aug. 19 event supported by the J'Ouvert City International organization.
(Todd Maisel/New York Daily News)The organizers of Brooklyn’s J’Ouvert celebration — who recently announced a time change to increase safety at the annual procession — are following up that effort with special events to teach the history of the Caribbean tradition and help combat gang violence.
“We want to enlighten people. J’Ouvert’s a sacred kind of event,” said J’Ouvert City International President Yvette Rennie recently. She noted that the Caribbean celebration — of steel drum music, masquerade costumes and satirical outfits — has a long and revered history that dates back to slavery times in Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Art and History of J’Ouvert: Tradition as Resistance” symposium and performance on Aug. 19, at the Brooklyn Library’s Central branch at Grand Army Plaza, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., pan and masquerade artists will lead discussions about the carnival art form and the history of steelpan and ole mas in J’Ouvert.
The indoor symposium, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., will precede music, dance, mask making and outdoor performances by J’Ouvert groups — the Kutters Rhythm Section, Legend Stars, Oil Downers, La Troupe Zetwal — and the Something Positive cultural ensemble on the library’s plaza.
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