Obama and de Ca’nival!
By Zahra Gordon

While chippin’ down Eastern Parkway at this year’s Jouvert Parade in New York, one thing was clear – West Indians support Senator Barack Obama. Their support was evident not only in the costumes which paid homage to him, but also the people lining the streets with Obama campaign buttons and t-shirts with messages such as: “Obama Or Else” in the Pan-African colors of red, black and green.

Of course there was no surprise in seeing political costumes at Jouvert; Jouvert is, among other things, political satire. But as funny as some of these portrayals were, none of them mocked the senator. Quite the contrary, the costumes displayed West Indian and diasporan unity and strong support for the man who could become America’s first black president. And all this from a community where there may be a large number unable to show their support at the voting booth considering only US citizens, and not permanent residents, are allowed to vote.

The first “Obama mas” to come down the parkway was a masquerader dressed as Moses. He carried with him two tablets, one with a picture of Obama on it. His tablets read, “Message from Moses to Obama: Send my people to the Promised Land.” Now, his equation of Obama and Biblical figures might be a little faulty, but it does highlight some of the high esteem with which the senator is held.

Next there was the t-shirt band that came down the road with CASYM Steelband. This band put together t-shirts with Senator Obama’s picture centered and surrounded by all the flags of the West Indian nations. Then there was the Grenada Jab-Jab band. Now the Grenada Jab-Jab band had neither costumes nor t-shirts but as they approached Empire Blvd they sang an impromptu tune of praise, something to the effect of “Let McCain haul he mother *, Obama for President!” If that is not a combination of mas and politics then who knows what is? These are just a few examples of a long list, a long parade of “Obama mas.”

The Grenada Jab-Jab band was not the first to sing praise to Senator Obama however. Calypso great, The Mighty Sparrow, released his ode to the senator, “Barack the Magnificent,” in February of this year. So far there are two videos for this song posted on the video-sharing site, YouTube, which have received more than 180,000 views collectively. The song can also be found on the popular Caribbean music site, TorontoLime.com. Sparrow also plans to release an album later this year of the same title where he w ill discuss topics such as the 2008 Presidential Election and the Iraq War, according to the Washington, DC based radio program ‘Caribbeana’. Reggae artist Coco Tea also released a song in homage to the senator in March, with a to-the-point title, “Barack Obama.” This song has also become popular through YouTube videos, which have received more than 200,000 views since being posted in March.

While artists based both in the Caribbean and the US sing praises to Senator Obama, they have also been writing about him in their local newspapers – including editorials and letters to the editor – and on their blogs. In a letter sent to the Jamaica Gleaner on June18, Nyron Blake wrote, “Barack Obama gives black children a belief in themselves that this generation has never seen.” This sentiment is ubiquitous among West Indians.

But even as West Indians in the islands recognize and are proud of Senator Obama’s achievements, many are unsure whether or not his election would benefit them. They keep in mind that though Senator Obama is black, if he is elected, he will not simply be a black president but an American president as well. In his August 9 blog on Garifuna.org, Belizean Godfrey Smith commends the senator’s history-making achievements but is skeptical of the positive impact his election will have on the Caribbean, “While Belize and Caribbean people are Obama-istas, as they should be, there simply is not enough yet to indicate whether an Obama presidency will make any material difference in the foreign policy of the United States towards the Caribbean.” His feelings represent that of many West Indians who remember former president Bill Clinton’s popularity, and his visits to the Caribbean islands while in office but his still flawed policy choices – the banana crisis for example – that caused economic upsets in West Indian trade.

Nonetheless, Senator Obama has West Indian support, whether they think he will bring blacks to the “Promised Land” or continue unfavorable American foreign policy with the Caribbean. Senator Obama is for them a symbol of hope and change and Jouvert this year was truly an Obama Ca’nival.

(Zahra Gordon is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine and writes about Caribbean culture and entertainment. For comments, please feel free to contact her at zahra@islandvibesmag.com.)