When I decided to leave Atlanta, after spending a year immersing myself in the Caribbean life of Atlanta, and move out West, I was more than happy to get out of there. As much fun as I had in Atlanta, I felt that living there one more year would not have been good for me. After living in New York City for 8 years, Atlanta was like a breath of fresh air. Though I mainly came down there to do research for my dissertation project, I saw Atlanta as a place to start over and experience new things. When I left New York, it felt like the right time to go because more and more I was feeling as if the city was sucking the life out of me. The winters were too cold. The cost of living was too high. The city was getting dirtier and dirtier (i.e., the return of bed bugs to NYC...ewww!!!). And, on top of it all, several of my closest friends had left, or were getting ready to leave, the city.
As for Atlanta, though I enjoyed several perks of living there (i.e., lower cost of living, better housing, warmer climate, tons of black people), I eventually came to see the city as a place where my heart was continuously ripped out of my chest, like a scene from a gory horror flick. When the opportunity to spend a year writing at UC-Santa Barbara arose, it sounded like exactly what i needed---a change. It felt like God wanted me to go someplace to forget my hurts (and the him) and get back to me. So, I packed up my stuff, sold my furniture, jumped in my car, and left Atlanta in my rearview mirror. Or so I thought.
I arrived in Santa Barbara, California last August and I unexpectedly had the urge to turn around and head back to Atlanta. Something was just off about California. At first, I thought it was the change in time zones. But, after a week, I got used to being 3 hours behind most of my friends and family. Then I thought it was the change in population, namely going from Atlanta, a city with a large black population, to Santa Barbara, a city that has, what seems like, 20 black people living there. But, being one of a handful of black folk didn't bother me (much). I had plenty of experience of that in grade school, high school, college, and graduate school. For months I couldn't figure out what was bothering me about my new life in California. Then a few weeks ago, it hit me. What I was experiencing was culture shock.
Oxford dictionary defines "culture shock" as the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes. Until late August, I had always lived in a city with a significant Caribbean population (at least more than 50,000 living in the metro area). My move to California forced to me to realize how important my culture was to me. I miss the food, the people, the music, the accents, and the sense of community and family that I have always felt from growing up in a Caribbean community in Boston. I just haven't had that feeling in California. As loud as I play my soca, reggae, and calypso music (and dance to it) in my apartment, it does not compare to whining it up in a reggae club among my fellow Caribbean folk. To be able to do that here, I would have to drive 2 hours to LA. With the price of gas out here, it wouldn't be worth the drive unless it was dolla-rama/bashment party. And, I haven't heard about anything like that happening in LA, or in California. Because of my culture shock, California still doesn't feel like home.
Honestly, I miss Atlanta and the Caribbean community I found there. From time to time, I think about moving back there. And, now that I have been away from it, and experienced a new culture and a new way of life, I believe that I might find myself back in (Caribbean) Atlanta someday soon.
One Love
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Atlanta Peachtree Caribbean Carnival (2010), pt 2
Some more photos, and a few videos, from Atlanta's Caribbean Carnival 2010:
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| Unexpectedly ran into a family friend |
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| Mr. Caribbean |
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| Wonder what the natives thought? |
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| Shark & Bake with Macaroni and Plantains...yummy |
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| $10 for the wristband to enter the Caribbean Village |
Saturday, February 12, 2011
More Snapshots Of Caribbean Fun in the ATL
Though I carried, and still carry, my camera with me everywhere, I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted, and needed, to document my Caribbean Atlanta experience. Here are some photos from a few of the Caribbean parties I attended in Atlanta.  |
| Opening night of Embrace Saturdays @ Thrive Nightclub |
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| Reggae Night on Fridays @ Vice Lounge |
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| Celebrated my birthday @ Thrive (went to this party 4 Saturdays in a row July 2009) |
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| Interesting mix of people |
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| More birthday celebration @ Club Intrigue (in Stone Mountain) |
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| Embrace Saturdays @ Thrive (February 2010) |
Snapshots of Fun Atlanta Peachtree Caribbean Carnival (2010)
If a picture says a thousand words, I hope these pictures say it all. Instead of telling you about my second Atlanta Carnival experience, I thought I would just show you. A few things that you should know is that my dad (who acts like he is Mr. Caribbean) came down from Boston to experience Atlanta Carnival, and visit me (of course). During Carnival 2009, I didn't get a chance to see the parade because I was out partying until dawn the night before (all in the name of research).
I tried very hard not to compare Atlanta Carnival to the infamous New York Carnival (the oldest and largest Caribbean carnival in the US), but I couldn't help but notice the obvious differences between the two carnivals. As a researcher, I had a great experience, observing and taking pictures of the festivities and the people. But, as a carnival-lover, I ...well... had less than a great experience. My dad, on the other hand, really enjoyed himself, and pointed out to me that Atlanta Carnival had the same elements as other US carnivals, including New York's (i.e., bands, big trucks, masqueraders, steel pan bands, vendors, etc), but on a smaller scale. I don't know if that is true, since I have only been to two other US carnivals---Boston and New York, which are both older, bigger, and more well-known than Atlanta Carnival. I don't want to deter anyone from experiencing this carnival for yourself. Check out the pictures below and judge for yourself.
One Love
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| we started at the last band on the road |
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| and they are ready to mash up the road |
Monday, February 7, 2011
Fêting in the ATL: Partying Caribbean Style in the Dirty South
One of the best (and most fun) parts of my research project has been checking out the Caribbean party scene in Atlanta (all in the name of social science, of course). I know you are wondering what the hell does partying have to do with research. What can you learn from bumping and grinding up in a club? Well, I challenge you to stand still for a few moments the next time you are up in “da club” and take note of all of the big and small details around you, from the line outside the club to the music the DJ spins to the people you bump into on the dance floor. You might be surprised by how much you notice about that the club, your fellow club-goers, and your own experience.
As I have said before, I didn’t know much about Atlanta’s Caribbean community before I moved to the city. I had visited Atlanta several times prior to my move, and I had a great time eating chicken and waffles at Gladys Knight’s, shopping at the Lenox, and hanging out at Atlantic Station. However, I had not once, during those visits, seen or eaten at any Caribbean restaurants, partied at any Caribbean clubs, heard any Caribbean music on the radio, or glimpsed any indication that a Caribbean community was rapidly developing in the southern city.
My first glimpse occurred at Club 426, where I attended my first Caribbean Atlanta party (the subject of my second blog post). There I got living and breathing (and whining) proof that Caribbean people were settling and thriving in Atlanta. The flags of various Caribbean countries were on the walls. Reggae, dancehall, soca, and calypso were blasting from the speakers. Plates of delicious Caribbean curried chicken, rice and peas, fried plantains, and other Caribbean foods were being sold from out of the club’s kitchen. Club 426 gave me one of many examples of Caribbean spaces in the Atlanta area. My experiences partying at various clubs in the area have significantly influenced my overall understanding of Caribbean life in Atlanta.
For the most part, I have found out about Caribbean parties in the area from my friends Nevis and Paris. They tell me about a party that they want to check out and I happily come along with them. Like me, they are both relatively new to Atlanta and prefer Caribbean spots to Atlanta’s hip hop spots. I love hip hop clubs, but as a “yankee” in the south, I have a very low tolerance for southern rap. I swear, on the pounds of gold on Gucci Mane’s neck, and in his mouth, if you listen to too much southern rap, it will lower your IQ. But, I digress… On occasion, I find out about parties from promotional flyers, that are passed out outside clubs or that are left on tables in Caribbean restaurants and stores, or from the Caribbean party websites www.atlantareggae.com and www.peachcarnival.com. The websites have clear and up-to-date information about the Caribbean parties in the Atlanta area, which has been very helpful to me as a newbie to the area, and as a researcher.
From what I have gathered a large number of the Caribbean clubs in the Atlanta area are located outside the city limits. As home to one of the largest concentrations of Caribbean people in the metro area, Stone Mountain appears to have the largest number of the metro area’s Caribbean clubs. This explains why I had never seen any Caribbean clubs in Atlanta until I moved there, since during my previous visits I had stayed mostly within the city limits. Living in, and doing research in, Atlanta has greatly expanded my purview of the city to include many of its surrounding suburbs, where various Caribbean spaces have been developing and thriving.
Over the past year, I have discovered a very active Caribbean nightlife in Atlanta, both within the city limits and in its outer suburbs. Almost every night of the week, there is a Caribbean party In addition to the Caribbean clubs in Stone Mountain, several of the city’s clubs host weekly Caribbean parties, or have reggae rooms that are designated to play reggae and other Caribbean music during their regular weekly parties. These parties appear to be growing in popularity. Since last May, about 4 Caribbean parties or reggae rooms started in various clubs and lounges across the city. I attended the opening nights of the Caribbean parties at Thrive (Saturdays), Mist Lounge (Thursdays), and Ixtlan Lounge (Thursdays). Though both of the parties at Mist and Ixtlan had great music, they didn’t attract large crowds on their openings. I went with my first impressions and didn’t attend those parties again.
All I ask for is good music, a lively crowd, good, reasonably priced drinks, and a cheap, preferably free, cover charge. Two weekly parties in the city that have, for the most part, hit all of those marks are Respec Fridays at Vice Lounge and Embrace Saturdays at Thrive. Both parties and have had great times there. I have heard great tunes in Atlanta; for the most part, the DJs have played a good mix of new and old reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso, and hip hop at these parties.
Though the majority of the great parties are during Carnival weekend. The fact that there are Caribbean nights or parties at non-Caribbean owned clubs in Atlanta shows that the community is making their presence known. In city where T.I., Ludacris, Young Jeezzy, and Gucci Mane rule the airways, and the dancefloors, it is gradually showing signs of letting Caribbean artists such as Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Destra Garcia, WCK, the Red Hot Flames, and Machel Montano share the airwaves and become part of black culture in the A. These partygoers are living and breathing signs of a vibrant and growing Caribbean community in the Atlanta area. They are leaving their mark. And in 10 or 20 years, many Afro-Caribbean people and culture will be become a part of images of blackness in Atlanta as it has in New York, Miami, Boston, Hartford, Toronto, London, and other cities with large Caribbean communities.
One Love
As I have said before, I didn’t know much about Atlanta’s Caribbean community before I moved to the city. I had visited Atlanta several times prior to my move, and I had a great time eating chicken and waffles at Gladys Knight’s, shopping at the Lenox, and hanging out at Atlantic Station. However, I had not once, during those visits, seen or eaten at any Caribbean restaurants, partied at any Caribbean clubs, heard any Caribbean music on the radio, or glimpsed any indication that a Caribbean community was rapidly developing in the southern city.
My first glimpse occurred at Club 426, where I attended my first Caribbean Atlanta party (the subject of my second blog post). There I got living and breathing (and whining) proof that Caribbean people were settling and thriving in Atlanta. The flags of various Caribbean countries were on the walls. Reggae, dancehall, soca, and calypso were blasting from the speakers. Plates of delicious Caribbean curried chicken, rice and peas, fried plantains, and other Caribbean foods were being sold from out of the club’s kitchen. Club 426 gave me one of many examples of Caribbean spaces in the Atlanta area. My experiences partying at various clubs in the area have significantly influenced my overall understanding of Caribbean life in Atlanta.
For the most part, I have found out about Caribbean parties in the area from my friends Nevis and Paris. They tell me about a party that they want to check out and I happily come along with them. Like me, they are both relatively new to Atlanta and prefer Caribbean spots to Atlanta’s hip hop spots. I love hip hop clubs, but as a “yankee” in the south, I have a very low tolerance for southern rap. I swear, on the pounds of gold on Gucci Mane’s neck, and in his mouth, if you listen to too much southern rap, it will lower your IQ. But, I digress… On occasion, I find out about parties from promotional flyers, that are passed out outside clubs or that are left on tables in Caribbean restaurants and stores, or from the Caribbean party websites www.atlantareggae.com and www.peachcarnival.com. The websites have clear and up-to-date information about the Caribbean parties in the Atlanta area, which has been very helpful to me as a newbie to the area, and as a researcher.
From what I have gathered a large number of the Caribbean clubs in the Atlanta area are located outside the city limits. As home to one of the largest concentrations of Caribbean people in the metro area, Stone Mountain appears to have the largest number of the metro area’s Caribbean clubs. This explains why I had never seen any Caribbean clubs in Atlanta until I moved there, since during my previous visits I had stayed mostly within the city limits. Living in, and doing research in, Atlanta has greatly expanded my purview of the city to include many of its surrounding suburbs, where various Caribbean spaces have been developing and thriving.
Over the past year, I have discovered a very active Caribbean nightlife in Atlanta, both within the city limits and in its outer suburbs. Almost every night of the week, there is a Caribbean party In addition to the Caribbean clubs in Stone Mountain, several of the city’s clubs host weekly Caribbean parties, or have reggae rooms that are designated to play reggae and other Caribbean music during their regular weekly parties. These parties appear to be growing in popularity. Since last May, about 4 Caribbean parties or reggae rooms started in various clubs and lounges across the city. I attended the opening nights of the Caribbean parties at Thrive (Saturdays), Mist Lounge (Thursdays), and Ixtlan Lounge (Thursdays). Though both of the parties at Mist and Ixtlan had great music, they didn’t attract large crowds on their openings. I went with my first impressions and didn’t attend those parties again.
All I ask for is good music, a lively crowd, good, reasonably priced drinks, and a cheap, preferably free, cover charge. Two weekly parties in the city that have, for the most part, hit all of those marks are Respec Fridays at Vice Lounge and Embrace Saturdays at Thrive. Both parties and have had great times there. I have heard great tunes in Atlanta; for the most part, the DJs have played a good mix of new and old reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso, and hip hop at these parties.
Though the majority of the great parties are during Carnival weekend. The fact that there are Caribbean nights or parties at non-Caribbean owned clubs in Atlanta shows that the community is making their presence known. In city where T.I., Ludacris, Young Jeezzy, and Gucci Mane rule the airways, and the dancefloors, it is gradually showing signs of letting Caribbean artists such as Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, Destra Garcia, WCK, the Red Hot Flames, and Machel Montano share the airwaves and become part of black culture in the A. These partygoers are living and breathing signs of a vibrant and growing Caribbean community in the Atlanta area. They are leaving their mark. And in 10 or 20 years, many Afro-Caribbean people and culture will be become a part of images of blackness in Atlanta as it has in New York, Miami, Boston, Hartford, Toronto, London, and other cities with large Caribbean communities.
One Love
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