For the Washington Post/the Root DC: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/love-for-the-dc-caribbean-carnival/2012/04/23/gIQAfXbZcT_blog.html
Below find the full letter I sent:
Dear Mayor Gray and Members of the City
Council,
On any given day, you can find me discussing
policy, raising dollars and building relationships to ensure that justice and
resources are available for all. In addition to being a social justice
advocate, I am also a DC Carnival reveller. I proudly dance and sing down
Georgia Avenue covered in mud, paint or jewels, depending on the year. For many
onlookers, Carnival is merely a fun parade. For me, it has been the origin of
creativity in my life. As a child, Carnival was my outlet. It replaced the need
to succumb to peer pressure, drugs, and violence. As an adult, it continues to
be my personal emancipation from the pressures of life. The potential cancellation
of this event is unfortunate to say the least. As a longstanding participant in
Carnivals worldwide, I am writing to encourage further collaborative thinking
with your leadership towards finding a way to sustain this cultural gem.
DC prides itself as a haven for cultural
authenticity and preservation. DC Carnival
is an authentic representation of what began in Trinidad and Tobago in the
1800s as a form of celebration for emancipation. By dancing and singing in
unison in the streets, emancipated slaves celebrated their new freedom and
promise of equality- a struggle that people worldwide still fight for some 200
years later. This story is a vital component in the fabric of the history of
the world. It also is the story of the residents of African descent that make
up over 50% of the Washington, DC population. Like the many treasures that
reside in DC, the DC Carnival is worthy of being preserved.
DC Carnival is also seen by many as an
international attraction on par with the Cherry Blossom Festival and Fourth of
July Fireworks on the National Mall. Increased tourism from the event boosts
local commerce in the Georgia Avenue area, a community often forgotten during
other city-wide celebrations. Anyone who has ever attended this celebration
knows that Carnival is one of the most exuberant festivities one can
experience. The event brings an energy
that draws hundreds of thousands of people to the DC area. Thanks to the many
supporters of DC Carnival, it continues to be of financial benefit to the city.
Although it is easy for me to see the
positive, it is also important to discuss and suggest a resolution for the
city’s concerns. With regard to the crowds, managing large groups is a
difficult task for any city. However, if large crowds and their propensity for
violence were justification for event cancellation, we would have discontinued
the Olympics after the Centennial Olympic Park Bombing at the 1996 Summer
Olympics, and never had the March on Washington in fear of racially charged
violence.
Similarly, financial difficulties are a
reality, but they are not insurmountable. In place of cancellation, and
understanding that the DC Carnival is all volunteer-based, an alternative would
be to include the DC Carnival in the city’s budget as a cultural component of
city development as well as arts and culture. Additionally, there should be a
plan in place by the Carnival organizers and DC government that plans out how
the DC Carnival can be improved and better supported by the DC police force,
sanitation workers and all those who have a part in making the festival a
success. I also recommend that DC leaders seek support from engaged supporters
of the DC Carnival, both new and old, to gain a new perspective on the ways to
continue to make this event mutually beneficial. As we saw with “Screen on The
Green” in 2010, committed DC residents can make a difference. DC Carnival is
deserving of further consideration and innovative resolutions.
I do hope that we can turn this struggle into
a success for all and position the DC Caribbean Carnival as a consistent piece
of the fabric that makes Washington, DC the great city that it is today.
Respectfully,
DA Lovell
No comments:
Post a Comment