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The Caribbean American Takeover
Mark Beckford, a 2024 HumanitiesDC grantee, wants to build a bridge of community between DC and the Caribbean. Through PineXGinja, (Pine and Ginger) a creative collective, Beckford curates international events that speak about the connection between the Caribbean and African diasporas.
But this past June, through an event held at the Woodrow Wilson House, Beckford and his team wanted to “highlight the Caribbean Americans that are based in DC and their work to the cultural and civic tapestry of the district.”
We De Ya IV: The Caribbean American Takeover honored six Caribbean Americans in fields ranging from the areas of science to journalism to the arts. Beckford and his collaborators used visual arts and oral history tools to capture each honoree’s story in their own words. There were also performances and food during the event, which was also part of Caribbean American Month in June.
After the event Beckford felt inspired about the future and engaging with more people.
“We have a charge now to continue to make these connections,” Beckford says “because diversity, in my opinion, is not only who we are, but our backgrounds, our journeys and the way we think. I think that's important for us to keep having these connections going.”
To learn more about Mark and PineXGinja click here.
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