While reading, Radical Moves, I came across a beautiful quote by "Jamaican-born, New York-based journalist W. A. Domingo." He described the Carribbean migrants to Harlem in 1925 as:
"Dusky tribe of destiny seekers...eyes filled with visions or their heritage-palm fringed sea shores, murmuring streams, luxuriant hills and vales who bring with them vestiges of their folk life-their lean, sunburnt faces, their quiet, halting speech...their light, loose-fitting clothes of ancient cut telling the story of a dogged, romantic pilgrimage to the El Dorado of their dreams."
I feel that this quote perfectly and beautifully captures the essence of the people at the time. Harlem had a great influx of migrants, many of Haitian decent, and they carried a heavy past with them on their journey. Harlem was no fairytale, living conditions weren't as grat as they could be, and inequality was still ever so present. Despite this, the people were able to stay true to their roots as well as create a new sense of culture. I feel that the Harlem Renaissance and the birth of jazz amplifies this meshing of chulture and "destiny seekers."
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