Narcisse reflects on the powerful legacy of Juneteenth

As someone born in Haiti, the first Black republic to rise and break the chains of slavery, Brooklyn Council Member Mercedes Narcisse says Juneteenth “resonates deeply” with her.

“It serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for liberation has always been shared across oceans, from the sugarcane fields of the Caribbean to the cotton plantations of the American South,” Narcisse, who represents the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life exclusively on Monday.

“Our Caribbean history is inseparable from this legacy,” she added. “Whether in Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, or Trinidad, we know what it means to resist, to rise, and to reclaim our dignity. Our shared histories connect us.

“From the fields of Haiti to the plantations of the American South, Black people have always resisted oppression and claimed our humanity, often in solidarity with one another,” Narcisse continued. “That spirit lives on today.”

She said she loves attending Juneteenth celebrations in Brooklyn, stating that “they feel like home.

“The drums, the food, the pride, the children, they all remind me of who we are and what binds us together,” said the council member seeking re-election in this month’s Democratic Primary. “We honor the ancestors and celebrate the culture but also recommit to the work still ahead.

“Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a call to action,” she added. “As Caribbean people, as Black people, we continue to stand together, for justice, for equality, for opportunity, and for a future where our stories are heard and our communities are empowered.”

Narcisse’s City Council colleague, Farah N. Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian immigrants, will host her annual Juneteenth Celebration on Juneteenth Holiday, Jun. 19, at Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn.

Louis, who represents the 45th Council District in Brooklyn, said the celebration starts at 11:30 a.m. sharp and will be in partnership with Partners Uplifting Our Daughters and Sons and I Will Graduate.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, New York City’s longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festival in Prospect Park, will also host “Juneteenth in the Park: Explore Texas sounds & stories.”

“We’ve got your Juneteenth plans covered with our annual celebration of Black freedom and creativity – this year, rooted in the holiday’s historic Texas origins,” BRIC said. “Enjoy an evening of performances in beautiful Prospect Park.”

BRIC said the celebration will feature Ghost-Note, Voices of a People’s History, and DJ Flash Gordon Parks.

BRIC said Ghost-Note, a “Dallas-based powerhouse, delivers a fusion of funk, jazz, and Hip-Hop, packed with dazzling solos and air-tight arrangements that will have you dancing and shaking your head in awe.”

For Voices of a People’s History, BRIC urged the public to “experience powerful readings from an anthology edited by historians Howard Zinn and Anthony Arnove, honoring the stories and traditions woven into the diverse tapestry of American history.”

BRIC said DJ Flash Gordon Parks will kick things off with “a set rooted in Houston’s rich musical legacy of Hip-Hop, funk, and soul.”