By Jared Mccallister From New York Daily News

Pre-Labor Day carnival parade speech to target the significant political and economic gains possible through the creation of Caribbean categories in the U.S. Census

The clout of Caribbean Americans – evident in the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade’s annual display of people power – could grow significantly if accurately reflected in the U.S Census

Just before the huge West Indian American Day Carnival Parade, the nation’s most visible symbol of Caribbean-American power, News Americas Now.com publisher

Felicia Persaud will air some significant progress toward an accSeeking to gauge Caribbean-American clouturate census tally of Caribbean-Americans and a precise measure of their respectable economic and political clout.

News Americas Now.com publisher Felicia Persaud, who is hopeful a Caribbean category will be added to U.S. Census forms, is due to share her thoughts at the VIP breakfast before the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade on Sept. 1.

During the VIP-laden pre-parade breakfast on Sept. 1, Persaud founder of Hard Beat Communications, the Invest Caribbean Now! international business summit and the Carib ID census project said she’ll discuss some optimistic action toward getting Caribbean categories on U.S. Census forms.

This month, a U.S. Census advisory group is recommending that the Census Bureau examine the inclusion of “Afro-Latino, Afro-Indian, Indo-Caribbean, and Caribbean/West Indian” options on census forms, News Americas Now.com reported. The creation of the new categories now lies with the U.S. Census Bureau.

“If the recommendation made by the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations to the U.S. Census Bureau is accepted, Caribbean men, women and children will no longer look at the census form to find themselves invisible, and forced to choose from a list of racial and ethnic choices that do not accurately identify them,” according to News Americas Now.com.

Since 2008, Persaud and her Carib ID supporters have been enthusiastically promoting the addition of Caribbean identification categories to U.S. Census forms in order to get an accurate count of Caribbean-Americans.

Pointing to the diverse, multiethnic makeup of Caribbean peoples, Carib ID supporters have argued that Caribbean-Americans are lost within black American and other several other census categories and underrepresented. The absence of Caribbean-specific categories makes it difficult to detect the numbers of Caribbean-Americans and quantify their economic might, and subsequent political power.

‘SPIRIT & HARMONY’ IN QUEENS

With a perfect title and concept for these turbulent times, the first annual “Spirit and Harmony Festival” will be held on Sept. 13 in Queens, featuring family-oriented activities, a fashion show and performances by reggae great Freddie McGregor; his son, Chino; renowned jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers and Nigerian performer Wunmi.

The event the result of a productive partnership between the Black Spectrum Theater in Queens and the organizers of Brooklyn’s famous International African Arts Festival will be held in Roy Wilkins Park, Baisley Blvd. and 177th St., from noon to 6 p.m.

There will also be vendors’ marketplace, a fashion show, a Civil War exhibit, activities for youngsters and a natural hair show presented by Karen’s Body Beautiful.

Families are encouraged to bring their chairs and blankets. Festival admission is $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the show. Tickets for children aged 12 and under are $5.

There are also $75 VIP tickets available, which include special seating, a buffet and access to an artists’ reception.

For information and tickets, visit www.blackspectrumtheater.com or call (718) 723-1800.

REGGAE MUSIC & AFRICA

Reggae’s link with Africa is obvious resonating with every chant, every rhythm and every drum beat. But the Britain-based dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson’s “African Consciousness in Reggae Music” program is going to break down the connection to its core.

The program, presented by New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs, runs from Sept. 19 through Oct. 10. All sessions are free, but RSVP is required. Call (212) 998-IAAA (4222) to RSVP.

As artist-in-residence at NYU-IAAA, the world-renowned, Jamaican-born Johnson has created a comprehensive examination of Jamaica’s reggae with the help of some distinguished participants.

Johnson’s opening “African Consciousness in Reggae Music” lecture will be held Sept. 19 at the university’s Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, in the Rosenthal Pavilion on the 10th floor.

The remaining events will be held on Sept. 23, 26 and Oct. 10.

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ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

JULIA XANTHOS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

 

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