Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Episode 48: Generations of Change: The 100-Year March to Garifuna Representation
Description
In this landmark episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila traces the arc of a century—from the first wave of migration in 1932 to the strategic vision for 2032.
For nearly 100 years, the Garifuna community has been a vibrant cultural pillar of New York City, yet often remained "hidden in plain sight." In Episode 48, we explore the critical transition from community activism to electoral power. We revisit the painful origins of the 1930s migration, the hard-won lessons of the first Garifuna-American political campaigns, and the historic milestone of Rosemary Ordonez-Jenkins.
Join us as we break down the 2030 Garifuna Representation Goal and discuss why moving from a "Hidden demographic" to a "unified political power bloc" is the key to securing equitable resources and ensuring our Afro-Indigenous voices shape the future of New York.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- The Historical Spark: How political turmoil in 1932 launched the Garifuna journey to the U.S.
- Lessons from the Ring: An honest look at the "doomed" 2010 campaign and the vital role of campaign committees.
- The Blueprint for Success: How the Garifuna Roundtable is identifying "gateways" to insider politics.
- The Road to 2032: Our strategic vision for the Garifuna centennial in New York City.
Tune in to discover how we are building civic capacity and long-term sustainability for the next generation of Garifuna leaders.
Resources:
- Subscribe on your favorite podcast app
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- iHeartRadio
- YouTube
- Amazon Music
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- The Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour
- The Garifuna Experience in NYC
- Garifuna Heritage Walking Tour (Bronx
Books by José Francisco Ávila