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What's New
Caseworkers praise Cultures of New York:
"I enjoyed the sessions. I was fascinated by the new technology and feel it is an excellent asset for future trainings."
"I think the training has been helpful in exposing me to different cultures, and I will be more sensitive to issues when they arise in dealing with clients."
"Looking forward to another session, with American, Barbadian, Canadian and any other cultures any one suggests, as soon as possible."
"The Cultures of New York teleconference was a fountain of new information for me."
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Project Luncheon | |
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What's New Archive
April 25-May 30 2002:
Haitian culture represents an artful blend of Afro-Indian-French-Spanish and other influences...
The Centre d'Arte was founded in 1944. Located in Port-au-Prince, the Center focused world attention on self-taught artists who portrayed a kaleidoscope of Haitian life and spirit. Such work was described as "vivid, open, honest" and drew attention away from post-war modernism championed by the Haitian elite.
Writings refer to the work of untrained artists, uninfluenced by Western tradition, as primitive or naive. An alternate approach is to regard such painting and sculpture as "intuitive" - acknowledging a wealth of tradition reaching back to pre-Columbian times. Archeological evidence confirms that the Taino indians produced wonderfully crafted dolls, drawings and sculptures - all part of a vibrant artistic tradition in everyday life. Nor can historians overlook the inspirational wellspring of voudon which blends ancestral roots, rhythms and myths in opposition to colonial mainstream influences.
The northern town of Cap-Haitien produced Philome Obin (b.1892-?), whose work reflected the spirit of the global negritude movement 1920s and 30s. This self-taught "indigenist" painted scences of everyday life and historic portrayals of the Haitian revolution. Obin joined with Rigaud Benoit (b.1911), Castera Bazile (1923-66) and Wilson Bigaud (b.1931) on the mural project at the Cathedral of Sainte Trinite/Holy Trinity. This mural is a cornerstone piece of the Intuitive School, where the artists placed traditional religious motifs such as the Ascension of Christ in a very Haitian context. Characters were painted with black faces while drums and sacrificial animals were also represented.
The Poto Mitan (pole in the center of a hounfor, a voudon temple) School of 1968 reflected renewed interest in Voudon and Pre-Hispanic themes. It featured Tiga (Jean-Claude Garoute, b.1935), Maud Robert and Patrick Vilaire (b.1942). In the early 1970s Tiga and Robert sought to create a community of artists whose inspiration stemmed from pure unadulterated haitian sources. They bought mountain property and distributed art materials to peasants who had never painted. The results were spectacular, producing major artists including Louisiane St Fleurant, Prospere Pierre Louis (1947-96), Antilhomme, Levoy Exil (b19) and later on, Stephenson Magloire, son of Louisiane. Andre Malraux, the esteemed French writer, visited the Saint Soleil project and was amazed at the results, describing it as the most striking experiment of magical painting he had ever encountered.
Several other artists bear mentioning. Georges Liautaud, an illiterate blacksmith who made funeral crosses in the town of Croix des Bouquets. He was "discovered" by the Centre d'Art and his sculptures now reside in the Museums of Modern Art in both Paris and New York. Another sculptor of note was Albert Mangones who produced the famous "Marron Inconnu" statue in Port-au-Prince. Then there are the artists of the Hatian diaspora, including Henri Dubreuil, Ernst Louis Jean, Roosevelt Francois, Ernst Louizor, and Valmidor.
April 18-April 24 2002:
Haitians enjoy a joke and welcome a verbal challenge.
Riddles are perhaps the most popular form of humor and amusement. The person "throwing" the riddle says: TIM TIM. Those who want to hear it reply: BWA SECHE The riddle is posed and if the audience gives up on the (frequently fanciful or figurative) answer they say BWA SECHE ("eat dry wood" - the penalty missing the puzzle). So, here goes:
TIM TIM...
1. Three very large men are standing under a single little umbrella. But not one of them gets wet. Why?
2. They serve it food, it stands on four feet, but it can't eat.
3. How many coconuts can you put in an empty sack?
Concepts of humor are quite different from culture to culture. This joke represents the sense of humor alive and well in Haiti:
A man moved from Port-au-Prince to Okay (Les Cayes). He wasn't too sure about living there. But he met a fellow in a bar and asked about life in Okay. Oh, my, it's a great place, said the man. When I came here I couldn't utter a single word. I had no hair, no job, no food. They gave me a bed and helped me out. Now, as you can see, I am strong and well, and I have a good job. The Port-au-Prince man was quite impressed. That's fantastic. When did you come here? Oh, replied the man from Okay, I was born here.
April 13-April 17 2002:
This Southeast Asian nation, physically separate, was split in twain politically by a bitter war in 1971.
Before 1971, Pakistan was a nation of two parts (east and west) with India in the middle. Bangladesh was born from the ashes of East Bengal while the west became Pakistan. There are 130 million Pakistanis, making it the seventh most populated country in the world. Pakistan is also the worldıs second most populated Muslim country after Indonesia, though India plays a close third with its Muslim minority. Three quarters of Pakistanıs people are Sunni Muslim, and one in five is Shiite Muslim. Half the countryıs people speak Urdu, the other half Punjabi. Pakistanıs northwest frontier borders the fabled Kyber pass, gateway to Afghanistan. Northeast Pakistan is the locale for Kashmir, source of both the river Indus and a nearly 55-year long dispute with (predominantly Hindu) India.
April 3-April 12 2002:
North, South, East, West Indians say hurray for Bollywood...
Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the center of India's flourishing motion-picture industry. "Bollywood" churns out hundreds of movies annually for eager audiences from large cities down to the smallest, most remote villages. Most feature song-and-dance sequences similar to those in 1930's American movies. Popular films include loves stories, crime thrillers, and social dramas produced in many languages, including: Hindi (the official language), Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, and Kinnada. Hindi films attract audiences in the Middle East, North and East Africa, the Caribbean as well as in Indian communities overseas.
March 27-April 2 2002:
Food, music and dancing are part of the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, but it is NOT Mexican Independence Day.
Cinco de Mayo marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 and has become a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, Mexico demonstrated to the world that they were willing to defend themselves from foreign intervention.
This year, in addition to special dishes and special entertainment offered in New York's many fine Mexican restaurants, El Museo del Barrio will hold their Family Day Cinco de Mayo -- an all-day event for families and community residents. Based on their exhibition "Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Twentieth Century Mexican Art" the day's activities will include free guided tours, free hands-on workshops, free face painting for children, and free food and refreshments. One thousand people are expected to attend. (1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street) Tepeyac Association will hold their annual Cinco de Mayo marathon run on May 4th at Flushing Meadows Park in Corona, Queens at 4:30 pm. Two thousand runners are expected to participate, and over ten thousand people come to watch the race.
March 21-March 26 2002:
Puerto Ricans find this date "emancipating"....
March 22 marks the Spanish parliment's 1873 adoption of Ley Moret, the legislation that abolished slavery in Puerto Rico. Blacks had lived on the island for over 350 years before emancipation. They were originally brought there during the infamous "triangular trade" (slaves-sugar-rum) developed by colonial powers in the mid-sixteenth century. By 1835 the importation of African slaves had ceased and 1860 brought a struggle for emancipation that went hand in hand with the one for political independence. The free population, black and white, became aware of an identity no longer Spanish, but distinctly Puerto Rican. Political liberals, including Julio Vizcarrondo, founded the Abolitionist Society in 1864. Roman Emeterio Betances, most famous as the father of Puerto Rican independence, also aided in this struggle.
March 18-March 20 2002:
Do Jamaicans really jerk the chicken?
Jerk Chicken:
Jerk is the Jamaican method of barbecue.
Jerk Sauce
INGREDIENTS :
1/2 cup pimento( allspice berries)
1/2+ cup packed brown sugar
6-8 garlic cloves
4-6 Scotch bonnet peppers
1 tablespoon ground thyme or 2 tablespoons thyme leaves
1-2 bunches scallions (green onions)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoon soy sauce to moisten
METHOD:
1. Put content in a food processor or blender and liquefy.
2. Pour sauce in a Jar and keep refrigerated.
3. The sauce will keep indefinitely if kept refrigerated.
4. To increase spiciness, blend pepper and pimento and add hot peppers to the sauce.
1 (3-1/2 pound) broiler-fryer (chicken)
1-1/2 cups Jerk Sauce
Vegetable cooking spray
Remove and discard giblets from chicken. Rinse chicken under cold water, and pat dry. Remove skin, and trim excess fat; split chicken in half lengthwise. Place chicken in a large shallow dish, and spread 1-1/4 cups jerk sauce over both sides of chicken. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 1 to 4 hours.
Coat grill rack with cooking spray; place rack on grill over medium-hot coals. Place chicken on rack, and cook 45 minutes or until done, turning occasionally and basting with remaining 1/4 cup jerk sauce.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 3 ounces chicken).
Note: Substitute boneless skinless chicken breast for the whole fryer, if desired. Add oak, pecan, or hickory wood to a charcoal fire to make your jerk more authentic.
Chicken may also be roasted in an oven, if desired, but the grilling method is best, and more Jamaican.
March 6-March 17 2002:
What famous Jamaican created the "Back to Africa" movement in the United States?
Marcus Garvey came to New York City in 1916. There he established his organization, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and began a weekly newspaper, the Negro World. A passionate speaker, Garvey urged American blacks to be proud of their race and advocated their return to Africa, their ancestral homeland. He suffered a series of business reversals and a mail fraud conviction. His prison sentence was commuted several years later after which he was deported to Jamaica. He returned to London in 1934 but never regained the influence and status he once had. With his credo of pride and heritage Garvey inspired future generations of African-Americans including such leaders as Malcolm X.
February 20-March 5 2002:
Russian Orthodox Christians have their own version of "Mardi Gras"...
The week before the penitential season of Lent is known as Maslyanitsa (which means "butter" in English), a time of feasting and partying. It is also known as Pancake Week. Russians cook and eat pancakes served with honey, caviar, fresh cream and butter.In 2002 Pancake Week begins on March 10 and Easter, or Paskha, will be celebrated on May 5. Western Christian Easter in 2002 is March 31 due to a difference in Christian calendars.
February 13-February 19 2002:
Koreatown in Manhattan is only a few short blocks, but you have to look up to see in.
West 32nd Street, between 5th Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan is known as Koreatown, and is nicknamed "Kimchi Alley" for the traditional spicy, pungent cabbage pickled in red chili pepper (kimchi) Koreans eat at almost every meal. Unlike many business districts, the restaurants and businesses here are not just at street level but fill the entire buildings vertically.
February 6-February 12 2002:
When do dragons and lions appear on the streets of New York...?
...Chinese New Year, observed this year February 12 - 14, although the celebration lasts fifteen days, is marked by colorful lion and drum dances, special banquets, and the famous 40-foot dragon dance. The dragon puppet takes as many as 20 people to handle. Both the lion and dragon are potent symbols in Chinese culture and are said to chase away evil spirits.