LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the West Indian American Day Carnival
Association upon the occasion of hosting its 2010 celebration of "Carni-
val: A West Indian Experience - PEOPLE... CULTURE... MUSIC..."

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organiza-
tions which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural
diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York
State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the West
Indian American Day Carnival Association upon the occasion of hosting
its 2010 celebration of "Carnival: A West Indian Experience - PEOPLE...
CULTURE... MUSIC..." on Tuesday, June 15, 2010; and
WHEREAS, This special event will be held at the Empire State Plaza and
the Well in Albany, New York; the day's activities will consist of:
recognizing the contributions of the West Indian American Day Carnival
Association (WIADCA) to the Empire State; showcasing elected officials
of West Indian descent; and broadening the awareness of elected offi-
cials, staff, and all New Yorkers to the rich culture, art, music and
traditions of West Indian Americans; and
WHEREAS, The History of Carnival is as colorful as the present day
festival; its roots lie in the festivities of the original civilization
in Ancient Kemet (Egypt); the many tribes that gathered around the Nile
Delta practiced similar ceremonies to praise their deities; these tribes
were nomads and settled near and far: many Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa tribes
settled the western region of Africa -- some of them ended up in the
Caribbean in the 1700s and 1800s because of slavery; and
WHEREAS, During this early period, the French, Spanish and British
aristocracy held grand and lavish costume balls, feasts and small street
parades; slaves were not permitted to participate; after the abolishment
of slavery, thousands of freed slaves celebrated by mimicking the dress
and behavior of the European people; the character of Carnival changed
-- becoming more colorful and spectacular with magnificent and elabo-
rately designed costumes; and
WHEREAS, The people of the Caribbean have exported their carnival
traditions to Canada, England, and several United States cities; howev-
er, the New York version of this celebration far exceeds any similar
celebration in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Jessie Waddle and some of her West Indian friends started
the Carnival in Harlem in the 1920s by staging costume parties in large
enclosed places -- like the Savoy, Renaissance and Audubon Ballrooms,
due to the cold wintry weather of February; this is the usual time for
the pre-Lenten celebrations held in most countries around the world;
however, because of the very nature of Carnival and the need to parade
in costume to music -- indoor confinement did not work; and
WHEREAS, The earliest known Carnival street activity was held during
the 1940s when Ms. Jessie Waddle secured the first street permit for a
parade type event on the streets of Harlem; during the 1960s, another
Trinidadian -- Rufus Goring, brought Carnival to Brooklyn; in 1967, Mr.
Goring passed the reins over to Carlos Lezama, who later became presi-
dent of WIADCA and who nurtured the organization and carnival cele-
brations until 2001, when, due to his ill-health retired and his daugh-
ter, Yolanda Lezama-Clark was elected president; and
WHEREAS, The "Labor Day Carnival Parade" has grown over the years from
thousands of participants and tourists to over 3.5 million people in
attendance since the mid-1990s; the influx of tourists from all over the
world has benefited New York on an economic level, most recognizably

with large corporations, small businesses and the tourist/service indus-
try; and
WHEREAS, "Carnival: A West Indian Experience - PEOPLE... CULTURE...
MUSIC..." day in Albany will also consist of several food vendors who
will offer samplings of Caribbean cuisine, vivid displays of carnival
customs, and the live entertainment of steel pan music; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend cultural events which symbolize the historical, social and
cultural development of this great State and embody the spirit of the
principles upon which this Nation was founded; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the West Indian American Day Carnival Association upon the occa-
sion of hosting 2010 celebration of "Carnival: A West Indian Experience
- PEOPLE... CULTURE... MUSIC..."; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the West Indian American Day Carnival Association.