Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Emancipation Day · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Today several islands in the Caribbean observe Emancipation Day. Gela's Words notes that for Jamaicans, it's a time “we get back in touch with our culture and Ole Time Jamaica”. From Trinidad, both Caribbean Free Radio and Attillah Springer mention last night's concert at the Emancipation Village, headlined by South African star Miriam Makeba, and Attillah remarks on the evolution of the observances from “back in the days when the Emancipation procession was just a freak show, when people pointed and laughed. When it wasn't fashionable to be African and you certainly couldn't find cheap made in Taiwan knock-offs of African prints in the fabric stores in downtown Port of Spain,” to what it is today.