The New York City Historic District Council (HDC) has selected the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. as a “2023 Six To Celebrate Awardee”, according to José Francisco Ávila, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bronx-based group.
“The Historic District Council will support the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc., an organization representing a culturally differentiated Afro-indigenous community who began migrating to New York City in the 1930s in their efforts to be more effective in their strategy to identify the historic resources in their community and promote the community’s significance,” said Ávila on Monday.
He said the overall objective is to identify the historic resources in the Garifuna community and promote the community’s significance through programming.
Ávila said the Garifuna Coalition wants to showcase Garifuna history and culture, particularly along the corridors of East Tremont Avenue, Southern Boulevard, where the Happy Land Memorial is located, as well Boston Road and 174th Street, where Garifuna live, work and play.
“As expressed by the New York Times, three days after the Happy Land Social Club Fire, ‘Unlike more established groups in the city like Dominicans (nationals of the Dominican Republic) and Puerto Ricans, hundreds of thousands of Colombians or even the relatively few Argentines, the Hondurans have established no landmarks of their presence’,” Ávila said.
“The initial goal is to develop and define a historic walking tour itinerary around the Happy Land Memorial,” he said. “More than just a monument, the Happy Land Memorial is a Garifuna Heritage Site landmark that serves as the gateway to the largest Garifuna village in the world, The Bronx. It is evidence of a long history and lasting Garifuna presence.”
Ávila said a Garifuna Heritage Site is a landmark or area having Garifuna cultural or historical significance.
“It is geographically and historically identifiable, and has intangible cultural or tangible heritage significance, which serves as evidence of Garifuna intellectual history on the planet,” he said.
Ávila said the Happy Land Social Club fire tragedy “brought attention to New York City’s Garifuna community.”
“It also served as the cornerstone for the proclamation of March 11 – April 12 as Garifuna-American Heritage Month,” he said. “Garifuna American Heritage Month has uplifted the New York Garifuna Community from obscurity to the pinnacle of Recognition, and it laid down a solid foundation on which generations to follow will be able to build upon for their own prosperity and advancement.
“Showcasing historical Garifuna Heritage Sites, through a Historic Walking Tour, aims to promote greater knowledge of and interest for the heritage, culture and contribution of Garifuna people to the development of society,” Ávila added. “The place-making initiative will serve to enhance the public’s experience of and appreciation for Garifuna People, as well as ensure that their history is not forgotten.”
