In this pivotal episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, host José Francisco Ávila unearths a remarkable, nearly 200-year-old piece of New York City history. We dive into 'The Drama of King Shotaway,' a groundbreaking play from 1823, widely celebrated as the very first African American play written by a Black playwright.
But what makes this play a cultural landmark is its subject: the heroic defense of St. Vincent by the Garifuna people, led by the revered Paramount Chief, Joseph Chatoyer.
Join us as we explore the profound connections between Chatoyer's valiant resistance and the pioneering vision of playwright William Henry Brown, founder of the African Grove Theatre—America's first Black theater troupe, located right here in New York City.
This episode is a powerful testament to Garifuna people's enduring spirit and serves as irrefutable evidence that Garifuna heritage has been an integral part of NYC's cultural fabric from its earliest days. It’s a story of resistance, art, and the indelible contributions that continue to Drive Prosperity, Power, and Progress for our community and the world.
Resources:
The Garifuna Experience in NYC
The Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour
Books by José Francisco Ávila
Garífuna Ancestry: The DNA Quest to Decipher the Garifuna Distant Past
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