Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Episode 42: The Power of the Count – Celebrating Garifuna Heritage Month
Description
" Did you know that right here in New York, we celebrate the first and only official Garifuna Heritage Month in the world?."
In this milestone episode of The Garifuna Experience, host José Francisco Ávila marks the 17th anniversary of Garifuna Heritage Month in New York. While we celebrate the vibrant music, food, and Afro-Indigenous traditions that define us, this year’s message is a clarion call for a different kind of visibility: Political Power.
With over 250,000 Garifuna residents in New York City—and 100,000 in the Bronx alone—why is our community almost entirely absent from the halls of government? José breaks down the urgent need for the 2030 Census and why accurate data is the most effective tool we have to secure the resources, redistricting, and representation we deserve.
In this episode, we explore:
- The Sacred Timeline: Reflecting on March 11th (Deportation from St. Vincent) and April 12th (Arrival in Roatán, Honduras).
- The Representation Gap: A sobering look at why only one Garifuna individual holds local office in NYS despite our massive population.
- Census 2030 Mobilization: How the Garifuna Complete Count Committee is building a national template for political organizing.
- Honoring Our Heroes: Remembering the legacy of Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer and the lives lost in the Happy Land Social Club fire.
It is time to move from a cultural platform to a political infrastructure. Whether you are a Baby Boomer passing the torch or a Gen Z "torchbearer" ready to lead, this episode is your roadmap to the next decade of Garifuna progress.
Resources:
- Subscribe on your favorite podcast app
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- HeartRadio
- YouTube
- Amazon Music
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- The Garifuna Experience in NYC | Bronx walking tour
- The Garifuna Experience in NYC
- Garifuna Heritage Walking Tour (Bronx
- Join the Garifuna Complete Count Committee
Books by José Francisco Ávila