Neighborhood News
City of Evanston Large Jamaican Community Celebrated Jamaica\'s 52nd Independence in Festive Family and Friends Day
By SeeBrown · 8/6/2014
the City of Evanston, IL
August 6, 2014 - Chicago, IL
Jamaicans around the world celebrate their independence day on August 6. This year, Jamaica celebrates 52 years of separation from Great Britain.
On Sunday, August 4, in Evanston, a Chicago North Shore suburb, Jamaicans and Jamaican-Americans gathered for the annual Evanston Cricket Club Friends and Family Jamaican Independence Celebration. The celebration included food, vendors, soccer match, and live reggae music and limbo dancing.
Watch Unieros.com video highlights from Jamaican Independence including Chicago Fire player Lovel Palmer, J-Niice from the B96 radio show, a soccer match, and limbo dancing.
Peter Braithwaite, Evanston's 2nd Ward Alderman, shared how the festival was not only celebrating Jamaican culture but the thriving black community in Evanston.
The City of Evanston has a large Jamaican community, shown by the hundreds of attendees to the annual celebration, held in James Park located at Oakton Street and Dodge Ave.
Throughout the crowd almost every friend and family member dressed in black, green, and gold colors of the Jamaican flag.
Attendees enjoyed food, entertainment, and soccer match by the West Indies Jets Jamaican football club.
A church choir from Agape Life Outreach Center in Evanston opened the celebration with the national anthems of Jamaica, “Jamaica Land We Love,” and the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The choir then sang a medley of church praise and worship songs.
The Sunshine Band performed lively reggae music and closed their set by leading the audience in limbo dancing.
Mildred Louis, president of the Evanston Cricket Club & Social Club (ECC), has organized the event for more than 12 years. The ECC has been among leading groups celebrating Jamaican culture in the city.
“People who didn’t get the chance to be in Jamaica during the festivity there. They get a chance to be here,” she said.
Local Jamaican celebrities in attendance were J-Niice, Morning Host on B96 FM Chicago, and Chicago Fire Soccer midfield player Lovel Palmer.
Both men spoke to attendees about their work and encouraged Jamaicans to support them by tuning into the @JShowChicago radio and attending Chicago Fire soccer games.
Jamaican restaurants from Evanston and Chicago’s North Side sold Jamaican cuisine, including jerk chicken, beef patties, coconut drops, and Jamaican sodas.
About Jamaica
Jamaican has a population of 2.7 million and is located in the Caribbean Sea. The island nation was founded in 1494 by Christopher Columbus. In 1655, the British captured Jamaica after battling with the Spaniards until August 6, 1962, when Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom.
Jamaica’s country motto is “Out of Many, One People" motto refers to Jamaica's multi-racial heritage (African, Chinese, East Indian, European).