Celebration as Political Demonstration

Black Brooklynites have always mixed celebration and political demonstration.

When enslaved, they turned annual Dutch colonial Christian celebrations of Pentecost into Pinkster festivals of merriment and community. When New York state abolished slavery, Black New Yorkers paraded in the streets. Pinkster festivals continued and Black people used them to celebrate and demonstrate for equal rights. In Kings County, the community of Weeksville stood as a celebration of Black independence and self-reliance. 

Black women in Weeksville, like the one in the photograph below, celebrated their individuality through style and dress. Victorian-era racism and sexism denied Black women status as “ladies.” The Weeksville Lady expressed her refinement and confidence through her outfit—a bowed-bedecked hat, ruffled sleeves and sash, velvet accents, ornate buckle, and spectacles—and her assured pose. Other images show how Brooklynites protested racism through celebration. They played games to pass the time while occupying the Board of Education offices to protest racially segregated schools. They sang and smiled in jubilation while protesting racism in construction unions.

In 2020, Brooklynites declared that Black Lives Matter during concerts held on the front steps of Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. When marching for Black Lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, Brooklynites wore face masks that communicated cultural pride. As always, they infused political demonstrations with music, dance, song, joy, beauty, and the celebration of Black lives. 

To learn more about celebration and political demonstration, visit our More Resources page.