Learning Steel Pan and Stilts: My Caribbean Cultural Quest

As a kid growing up, my mom always took me to the New York City Labour Day Parade. And I remember she would buy me three new flags days before the parade every year. She would buy me one Trinidadian Flag to represent her home country, one Jamaican flag to represent my dad’s home country, and one American Flag to represent my home country. And every year, we’d walk to Eastern Parkway for me to jump up with the passing bands. And as the trucks would go by, my mom would tell me to get ready when our trucks were coming. And my little fingers would untie the flags that were carefully tied to my belt loops so I could be ready to wave my flag with my people as they came down the street.

You see, I didn’t know it at the time, but my mom was teaching me to be proud of where we came from. I’d feel the music from the truck speakers pulsing through my small chest, and I’d see the joy on the masquerader’s faces, and it all felt so right! I was proud to be from the Caribbean, although I was born in America because I knew nothing else.

My mom raised me in her culture. I ate foods from Trinidad and Jamaica for the holidays. I grew up listening to reggae music and Bob Marley as my mom cleaned on the weekends. I knew nothing else but Caribbean culture.

But it wasn’t until I went to Trinidad and Jamaica that I realized there was still so much for me to learn about the culture. My mom did the very best she could with teaching and sharing her culture with me, so I’m not saying she fell short anywhere. It’s just some things can’t be taught at home. So, I decided that in January 2025, I will deep dive into my Trinidadian roots and learn more about the culture. Starting with completing two activities on my bucket list: 1. Learn how to play the steel pan, and 2. I want to learn how to walk on stilts. Yes, I want to become a Moko Jumbie!

My three flags from many Labour Days ago tied together!
Trinidad Carnival 2023.

I am excited to share this journey with you here and on my YouTube channel because there’s a lot for me to learn and do, and I’m ready to tell you all about it as it comes. Essentially, we’ll learn together! I hope you’re as excited as I am because I’m sure this will be one heck of a ride!