Going fourth with fireworks
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Caribbean Life, JULY 3-9, 2020 13
So let’s retrace the first
six months of 2020; unlike
every other through the
decades there was no commemorative
Tribute to the
Ancestors at Coney Island,
no Memorial Day DanceAfrica
weekend bazaar at Brooklyn’s
Academy of Music nor
was there a caravan of buses
outside the Adam Clayton
Powell building in Harlem on
May 19 waiting to transport
African-Americans to Ferncliff
Cemetery in Hartsdale,
Westchester on the anniversary
of the birthdate of El
Hajj Malik Shabazz.
In any other year, the ritual
invited a conscious assembly
led by Professor James
Small to honor the life of the
Pan-Africanist many recall
as Malcolm X.
Nostalgia recalls the journey
to the gravesite being
fraught with positive interactions
from the moment the
driver departed 125th St. For
starters everyone onboard
were instructed to introduce
themselves stating a reason
for making the trip.
As each passenger
explained their individual
purpose, others listened
keenly acknowledging the
intergenerational, Africacentered
gathering of admirers
of the Black nationalist
who was gunned down at
age 39, inside the Audubon
Ballroom in Harlem on Feb.
21, 1965.
And while there was no pilgrimage
or pouring of libations
this year at the gravesite,
one month later, there
were massive Juneteenth celebrations.
Mention must be made
that President Donald Trump
took credit for enlightening
Americans about the significance
of the 99-year historic
date.
Regardless, the June 19
date seemed to culminate
this year with expressive protest
demonstrations, akin to
those promoted reforms Malcolm
X often demanded.
Blame it all on Corona, the
household familiar virus that
forced cancellation of crowd
pleasing attractions through
Spring and the early weeks
of summer but add to that
loud booming noises in every
neighborhood that begins
and dusk and rarely ends
until dawn.
Conspiracy theorists
blamed the C-virus for the
nightly intrusion.
Some attributed the loud
sounds to explosions from
fireworks discharged by
communities in response to
quarantine fatigue.
The blazing perplexity
began in some neighborhoods
prior to the date planned for
the annual Puerto Rican Day
parade.
Also cancelled to secure
social distancing orders it
seemed as if the absence of
the Latino color spectacular
propelled intermittent noisy
spectacles that erupted in
the air.
The phenomenon was
explained to be a release
from three months of pandemic
confinement.
Others attribute the now
nightly exhibition to a protest
against police brutality.
While others say the
intensified pre-Independence
Day displays could be
police-sanctioned retribution
against anti-choke-hold
laws imposed by the city and
state.
Although beginning ear-
A fi reworks display.
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
Continued on Page 20
www.ridgewoodbank.com/home/borrowing/affordable-mortgages#dream
Barbara Mongiello*+-/3;33;8
(347) 527-3696 | bmongiel@ridgewoodbank.com
Michael O’Leary*+-/39:;99
(347) 563-1046 | moleary@ridgewoodbank.com
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