Caribbean Fever: Breaking Down the West Indian American Day Carnival

Discover the rich history, the colorful costumes and more.

Island Tunes - Music plays a significant role in the carnival. Calypso, soca, rap, reggae and several genres stemming from Caribbean culture connect the U.S.-based event to the islands from which it blossomed. During the popular Panorama competition, steel bands battle one another in the biggest and most skilled steel drum rivalry outside of Trinidad.(Photo: Alexandra Winkler/Landov)
Some Food and Fashion on the Side - Set-up along the sidelines, vendors sell a wide-offering of Caribbean foods, such as rice and peas, jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, aloo pie, sugar cane and more. Clothing, artwork and other items from or inspired by the Caribbean and Africa can also be found from sidewalk sellers.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Around the World - The West Indian Day Labor Day parade in New York City is one of many carnivals that take place year-round around the world. In addition to being held in Chicago, Cambridge and Baltimore, these annual events also take place in France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and other countries with large Caribbean communities, not to mention the nations from which carnival originated.(Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
The Cops and Carnival - The NYPD has also received its fair share of criticism regarding officers’ controversial involvement in the events over the years. After the 2011 parade, a video emerged showing several officers dirty dancing with festival dancers the same day that nine people were shot at or near the parade route. And nearly 20 police workers were punished for posting racist comments about the parade on a Facebook page in 2012. (Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)Violence Eclipses Past Parades - Fatal shootings, stabbings and other violence have marred the parade’s public image in recent years. In 2012, two were stabbed to death, while two others were shot. City officials and neighborhood communities have offered differing reasons for the notorious crime happenings, like personal disputes and alcohol. The police department has also accused the media of exaggerating the violence(Photo: ANDREW BURTON/LANDOV)

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Some Food and Fashion on the Side - Set-up along the sidelines, vendors sell a wide-offering of Caribbean foods, such as rice and peas, jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, aloo pie, sugar cane and more. Clothing, artwork and other items from or inspired by the Caribbean and Africa can also be found from sidewalk sellers.(Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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