The Dominican National Parade, one of the most important human and cultural mobilizations in the world, started its first engines this Monday. Its organizers revealed that in its 47th edition, which will take place next Sunday, August 11, the 170th anniversary of merengue will be celebrated, the Caribbean rhythm that in some way defines the joy and community spirit of the Dominicans.
Under the slogan “Merengue: Our Rhythm,” the largest Hispanic community in the Big Apple will hold this celebration to make it clear that this genre is not just music, but a sound that defines the identity and resilience of its culture.
Likewise, Cristina Contreras, president of the Board of Directors of this parade, stressed that more than a party that celebrates Dominican identity and its contribution to this country, it is a great movement to finance university studies for hundreds of young islanders.
“Today we thank our sponsors, the Dominican elected leaders and our great team that works all year round, not only to put on this parade, but also to guarantee education for people in our communities,” he said.
This event began as a parade organized by Dominican migrants, first held in 1982 in Washington Heights, until its growth turned it into one of the parades held annually on Avenida de Las Américas (Sixth Avenue) from 37th Street to 55th Street.
This annual event has managed to bring together 1,200,000 people on this central Manhattan street.
Little Dominican Republic
Representative Adriano Espaillat, at the launch event for the 2024 edition of this parade, reported that he submitted a resolution to Congress for the United States to permanently recognize the heritage of the Caribbean island in the country every February.
He also said that steps are being taken to have the National Register of Historic Places officially designate and mark Washington Heights as the ‘Little Dominican Republic.’
Another ambition of the legislator is that at some point the Dominican parade will move to Fifth Avenue, like the big events that define New York.
“It is already identified as such on Google, but we want it to be determined as a name in the national geography with the support of the Center for Dominican Studies,” said Espaillat.
Among other announcements, the congressman who represents parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, referred to the signing of an “open skies” agreement to increase the number of airlines that provide service between New York and the Dominican Republic, in order to reduce ticket prices, which in some seasons can exceed $1,000.
For the dignity of Hispanics
For his part, Ydanis Rodriguez, commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, also of Dominican origin, said that they are preparing to celebrate in the Big Apple the “most joyful community in the world,” but also to deliver a message for the struggle for dignity of all Hispanics.
“This city has changed. Thirty percent of the population is Hispanic and of the 1.1 million children who attend our public schools, 42 percent are Latino. The next leaders of this country will come from there. That is why we must always emphasize that immigrants are mostly hard-working and honest people. And this celebration should also serve to honor that great truth,” Rodríguez said.
The Journal as a sponsor
Since its first edition, El Diario has accompanied and reviewed in detail this massive New York tradition that celebrates Dominican identity. This year it will be one of the sponsoring media alongside Pix11, ABC, Telemundo, Mega 97.9, Tv Quisqueya, Canal América, Telemicro, Teleunión and Remolacha.