Sunday, July 5, 2009
VIVA LA FOURTH!
In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, many cultures come together to celebrate the camaraderie of America
BY VYTENIS DIDZIULIS AND DAVID SMILEY
vdidziulis@miamiherald.com
It started at first light, with 5ks and peace walks and didn’t stop till long after dark, with the grand finale of a fire works show. Throughout south Florida, people commemorated the United State’s Independence-albeit each in their own way. Along with the Star-spangled Uncle Sams and the tributes to veterans, that were Trinidadian steel drummers, Scottish bag-pipers, Nigerian cookouts- and even a stripping marathon runner. After all, this is south Florida.
HIALEAH
At Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, about 100 people were taking in serious amounts of ribs, chicken, hot dogs ,and beef patties.
The Edo Association, a Nigerian community group, sponsored the 14th annual July fourth cookout. By 3 p.m., about half of the 500 pounds ribs had vanished and the hot dogs were scarce.
“I must confess, we eat a lot”, said Peter Isibor, chief organizer of the event. Under an open-aired cabin, young and old were preparing to honor six resent high school graduates who were set to receive modest stipends for college.
“It is the American Dream,” Andrew Osolase, president of the Edo Association said of the teenager’s accomplishments. “People here would be stupid not to be patriotic today. This country has given so much to so many people, including myself.”
As they waited, Nigerian pop music shook the wooden structure and Cameroonian Soukous generated some smiles, but it was the King of Pop’s hit Bad that got people on the dance floor.