Kreyol La Eastern Parkway “Labor Day Parade 2019” (Haitian Music Trucks & Crowds At Brooklyn's West Indian Parade)

Ayiti Biyografi, Sept. 2, 2019

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III  of a three part pancocojams series about the word "Zoe" as an infomal referent for Haitians. 

Part III of this pancocojams post presents information about Brooklyn's annual West Indiand Day Parade. This post also showcases a YouTube video of the 2019 Brooklyn, New York's West Indian Labor Day parade that features a Haitian music truck and a huge crowd of paraders. Selected comments from several discussion threads of YouTube videos that focus on Haitian paraders during the Brooklyn West Indian Labor Day parade are also included in this post. Some of these comments include the word "Zoe" as a referent for Haitians.

The Addendum to Part III presents information about Haitian Rara processions, as Rara has greatly influenced the way that Haitians participate in the anual Brooklyn, New York West Indian Day Parade. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/what-zoe-really-means-as-informal.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents excerpts from several online sources about the word "Zoe" as an informal referent for Haitians.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-haitian-anthem-imma-zoe-by-black.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases the official YouTube video of Black Dada's 2008 record "Imma Zoe". That pancocojams post also presents some biographical information about Black Dada and includes selected comments from that YouTube video's discussion thread. Many of those comments include the informal Haitian referent "Zoe".

The content of this post is presented for cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with Brooklyn's West Indian Day Parade. Thanks also to the La Kyreol band that is featured in this embedded video and thanks to the publisher of that video on YouTube. Thanks also to all who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BROOKLYN'S WEST INDIAN DAY PARADE

Excerpt #1 
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day_Carnival 
"The Labor Day Parade (or West Indian Carnival) is an annual celebration held on American Labor Day (the first Monday in September) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City.

The main event is the West Indian Day Parade, which attracts between one and three million participants.[2] The spectators and participators watch and follow the parade on its route along Eastern Parkway. Some of the Caribbean islands represented in the parade include Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and Grenada, along with some Afro-Panamanians. mainland Caribbean countries such as Guyana, Suriname, and Belize also participate as well."....

****
Excerpt #2
From https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-09-29/wild-magical-caribbean-carnival-jouvert-coming-brooklyn The wild magic of Caribbean Carnival is alive in Brooklyn 
Afropop Worldwide, September 29, 2016 ·By Morgan Greenstreet and Saxon Baird
"Every Labor Day, more than two million people pack into Central Brooklyn for the West Indian American Day Parade with flags flying, food grilling and music blasting from massive speakers on 18-wheel trucks. "Mas bands" — groups of costumed revelers — follow the trucks down the Parkway on foot, with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dancers dressed in colorful bikinis, feathers, glitter and body paint."...
-snip-
The articles and discussion threads that I've read on this subject all agree that Haiti always has the largest crowds in these parades. Unlike other nations, the Haitians don't mas (wear pant or other masquerade costumes). They sing, dance, and wave Haiti's blue and red flag, showing their pride for their ancestry.

****
COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREADS OF SEVERAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS THAT FOCUS ON HAITIAN MUSIC TRUCKS IN BROOKLYN'S WEST INDIAN PARADE

These discussion thread excerpts are given in chronological order with the oldest video given first. Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

Discussion thread #1 
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbagd6nr-eI&ab_channel=TradingPhotoS%2CVideosofLiveEventS%2CANDMorE

Labor Day 2014, HAITIAN TRUCK

Trading PhotoS Sep 3, 2014

HAITIANS AT THE WEST INDIAN LABOR DAY 2014 in Brooklyn New York USA.  West Indian American Day Carnival.

Notice: Age-restricted video (requested by uploader)
-snip-
My guess is that this video's publisher added an age restricted notice is because that video includes a few short scenes of women wearing very skimpy bikini tops and bottoms. Those women weren't part of the Haitian contingent of the Brooklyn West Indian Day Parade because Haitian participants never mas (wear costumes). 

1. Fabio C Villaquiran Jr, 2014
"THIS is what I miss MOST about Labor day! The AWESOME parades & the parties after!"

**
2. Kage NoKyojin, 2014
"Lol nobody turns up like the Haitians on Eastern Parkway

Dayum that's a live crowd...

Looked fun as hell"

**
3. riri alexander, 2014
"What type of haitian music is this? Im trying to look for it on youtube, only getting zouk"

**
Reply
4. Wendy Beausejour, 2014
"search for "T-Vice kanaval" or "Djakout kanaval""
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Vice#:~:text=T%2DVice%20band%20is%20based,US%2C%20Caribbean%20and%20even%20Europe
"T-Vice is a Haitian compas band currently based in Miami, Florida.[1][2][3][4] The group has performed throughout the world, most notably in cities of Miami, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Paris and throughout the Caribbean through various concerts, carnivals, and festivals.[5]"

Djakout kanaval is (or was?) another Haitian music band. Videos of  this group can be found on YouTube.

**
Reply
5. Kendrick ross, 2015
" @riri alexander   its called it a "kanaval' played during carnival season"

**
6. young jr, 2014
"Zoe"
-snip-
"Zoe" is an informal referent for Haitians. That referent was coined by Haitian Americans from the Haitian Creole word "zo" which means "bones".

 **
7. Farah Joseph, 2015
"I love my ppls Haiti!!!!!!! 🔵🔴🔵🔴 When the Zoe's come through on the Pkwy everything shut dwn

**
Reply
8. Farah Joseph, 2015
"Same here proud Haitian over here my ppls be lit🔵🔴🔵🔴"

**
9. Jamellia Jack, 2015
"I was their . I love the Haitian float . even tho I was with the Trini band . I love their vybz"

**
10. Intense Fitness, 2015
"I was have the time of my life in that crowd....................T-Vice always know how to bring the party to Estern Pkw."

**
11. Christian Martinez, 2017
"when you see free CAM shirts you know its gonna be lit 😂"
-snip-
CAM was the sponsor or one of the sponsors of the music truck in that video. Here's information about CAM:
From https://www.marketplace.org/2018/04/17/haitians-with-tps-help-fuel-haitis-economy/
"CAM, short for “Caribbean Air Mail,” is a popular wire service with agencies in Haitian beauty salons, bakeries, shopping plazas — and office buildings. " 

**
12. HUEY BOODDOCKS, 2019
"kote tout zoe yo"
-snip-
Google translate from Haitian Creole to English
"where all my zoe"

**
13. Herlin Jordan, 2019
"We shut everything  down when we pull up"

**
Reply
14. V. T., 2020
"You guys don't masquerade at all.  It would be better if you did"

****
Discussion thread #2
[This is the discussion thread for the video that is embedding in this post. 

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hqUe14LT3M&ab_channel=AyitiBiyografi

1. GET2DANEWS, 2019
"Haiti always go hard on the parkway"

**

2. Denise Mitchell, 2019
"Big up

Eastern Parkway.

I feel good

So good so good

This is how we carnival in NYC"

**
3. Yves Augustin, 2019
"Respect still due to T VICE !!but KREYOL LA  did their thing !!"
-snip-
Here's what appears to be outdated information about the musical group Keyol La
from https://www.aaemusic.com/artist/kreyol-la/ [No date is given for when this pge was written. I haven't found any other online informational page about Kreyol La" and I've found no informational page online about Djakout.]  
"Kreyol LaKreyol La is the third most popular band behind T-Vice and Djakout in Haiti's Kanaval. Each year the Band is in a competition with the rival Krezi Mizik, also known as Nou Krezi. In 2007, Kreyol La win their first victory over Krezi and had a better meringue Kanaval than Krezi that year.

In 2009 they won again over Krezi. In 2012, Kreyol La was declared the third champion band in Kanaval, and won twice from the group band Krezi. It was stated that Kreyol La and T-Vice will finally be rivals in Kanaval but T-Vice will always be rivals with Djakout #1."...

**
Reply
Phe Dem, 2020
"T Vice has a long story of dominating the parkway but Kréyol La was special ...
-snip-
T Vice and Kréyol La are two bands that represent Haiti on music trucks in Brooklyn's West Indian Day Labor Day Parades. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Vice for information about T Vice and click https://www.last.fm/music/Kreyol+La/+wiki for information about Kréyol La.

Another very highly regarded Haitian music truck that usually participates in Brooklyn's annual West Indian Day parade features "Sweet Micky"Michel Joseph Martelly. Click for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Martelly#:~:text=Michel%20Joseph%20Martelly%20(French%20pronunciation,May%202011%20until%20February%202016.&text=Martelly%20was%20one%20of%20Haiti's,the%20stage%20name%20Sweet%20Micky. and read some comments in Discussion #2.
immediately below.

**
Yves Augustin, 2019
"Wow , Just amazing in such a bad weather to pull the biggest crow[d] ever in a rainy labor day thats a plus !!"

****
Discussion Thread #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXJXpJnRJZw&ab_channel=EmmanuelV
Emmanuel V Sep 2, 2019
Labor Day Parade 2019 Eastern Parkway Kreyol La

1. Miss Panama, 2019
"I am from Panama, and my boyfriend is Haitian. YEEESSSS!!!!!...Haiti killed it again because they play live instrumental Kompa music while their artist sings live as well. This powerful combo makes the music reverberate to your inner core. Now if the Panama floats can get themselves together and show stronger representation and not always look underrepresented every year..Sheesh!!!!"
-snip-
This comment is written in bold in this video’s discussion thread

**
2. DCz Carmelo, 2019
"Kreyol La used to play like 5 different songs👇🏾

- Team Madada - mpa gon goud (mean: ain't get no money)

- Lodji Baby - Diaspora

- Team Madada - manzè Matel (mean: she bounced it " creole version of Chambala - El Boom")

- Colmix - kote plezi a ye (mean: where the party at).

- Colmix - Duvalier..

- And some Kreyol improvisation

Thanks me later 👊🏾"

**
3. Haitian Nationalist, 2019
"Haitian crowd so big we need our own parade on 5th Avenue y’all"

 **
4. Lorie Paul, 2019
"It was Very Beautiful and a whole lot of Fun 💙❤😀! It's Haitian Carnival mixed with RaRa 👀💙❤😊☺️🥰😀..."

**
5. how to remember for teste Lagoava, 2019

"The base of our music which is "" RARA ""  the base 0f Our COMPAS  both originated in haiti, makes it very easy  to  play whatever  song  from whatever  language.

Mostly improvised translated  musical were played  in that event but arranged with the haitian compas to make enjoyable and easy to people to have fun.

This haitians are goodi at this when they want too.

The RARA WAS CREATED BY THE POUL, ML SLAVES IN THE 15TH century  AND THE COMPAS IN THE 19TH

** 
6. Joseph Dubois 1, 2019
"Nice Video, Emmanuel V!  Great Job!  The Band (Kreyol La) sounds "Excellent".  Two Thumbs Up!  Thank you for posting the video"

**
7. Navan Cognac, 2019
"What genre of music is the band playing?"

**
Reply
8.Joseph Dubois 1, 2019
"This is a Very Popular Band from Haiti.  Therefore, the Band (Kreyol La) is playing “their own” Haitian-Style Carnival Music."

**
9. SHANKOJA, 2019
"What’s the song at @4:32? greetings from  🇯🇲 btw but if you know the song please tell me I love it so much"

**
Reply
10. HaitianMassive, 2019
"The genre is call : Raboday : a mix of( voodoo drums ,rara,kompa,afrobeat and some church songs base)   Anyway The band is Kreyol-la A haitian Kompa band and

They were playing a mashup of those songs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giYa_smgGKY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKCULhbTP1k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKdTo928CAo

**
Reply
11. Joe 100%Haitian, 2019
"This is Raboday in Haiti, improvisation  most of the time!

**
Reply
12. carlens plaisir, 2019
"The song name is "M pa gen yon goud" by colmix & Me deng"

**
13. JH, 2019
"Damn Rain!!!! I travelled all the way to NYC, missed this as they recommended we stay in doors and seek cover due to a pending storm; but, I will be back next year, rain or shine!!!!"

**
Reply
14. Haitian Nationalist, 2020
"How are your plans looking LOL"

**
Reply
15. JH, 2020
"@Haitian Nationalist . LOL indeed. No one could have predicted this. Yes, COVID has brought us all to our knees! Not even sure if next year it will be safe."

**
16. Shirley Dutes Saint-Louis, 2019
"Haitians always put the parkaway parade on the map I love my nation we the best 🙌🏾🇭🇹🙌🏾🇭🇹"

****
ADDENDUM- INFORMATION ABOUT HAITIAN RARA 
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rara [retrieved May 2, 2021]
"Rara is a form of festival music that originated in Haiti that is used for street processions, typically during Easter Week. The music centers on a set of cylindrical bamboo trumpets called vaccine, but also features drums, maracas, güiras or güiros (a percussion instrument), and metal bells, as well as alsos which are made from recycled metal, often coffee cans. The vaccine perform repeating patterns in hocket and often strike their instruments rhythmically with a stick while blowing into them. In the modern day, standard trumpets and saxophones may also be used. The genre though predominantly Afro-based has some Taino Amerindian elements to it such as the use of güiros and maracas.

The songs are always performed in Haitian Creole and typically celebrate the African ancestry of the Afro-Haitian masses. Vodou is often implemented through the procession.[1] 

[...]

During rara Haitians dance and march in the street while the band plays. Each band has their own rhythm that defines them even while marching in the dark. It is a celebration of the now but also a remembrance of the ancestors who made it so. Each person has their own unique way of dancing to the beat. 

Rara in Haiti is often used for political purposes, with candidates commissioning songs praising them and their campaigns. Rara lyrics also often address difficult issues, such as political oppression or poverty. Consequently, rara groups and other musicians have been banned from performing and even forced into exile—most notably, folk singer Manno Charlemagne who later returned to Haiti and was elected mayor of Port-au-Prince in the 1990s."...
-snip-
This excerpt is reformatted in this pancocojams post to enhance its readability. A 2018 excerpt of that Wikipedia page is included in this pancocojams post: 
 http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/08/information-about-haitian-rara.html

****
This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

The Haitian Anthem "Imma Zoe" (I'm A Zoe") by Black Dada (2008 video and comments)

GUALDI, Sep 25, 2009
-snip-
WARNING:
Black Dada's song "Imma Zoe" includes some profanity. However, the audio for those words are muted in this video. The lyrics section in this post uses amended spelling for that profanity. Amended spelling is also used for the four letter form of the word that is commonly given as "the word".post.

This video includes some harrowing scenes such as Haitians jumping into the ocean trying to reach American soil and a White policeman chasing young Black boys who are trying to enter the United States from Haitian boats. This song also promotes violence and there are scenes of men burning tatoos ("tats") on their chest. These scenes may be disturbing to children and others.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series about the word "Zoe" as an infomal referent for Haitians. 

Part II of this pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of Black Dada's 2008 record "Imma Zoe". This pancocojams post presents some biographical information about Black Dada and presents selected comments from that YouTube video's discussion thread. Many of these comments include the informal Haitian referent "Zoe"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/what-zoe-really-means-as-informal.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents excerpts from several online sources about the word "Zoe" as an informal referent for Haitians.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/kreyol-la-eastern-parkway-labor-day_2.html Part III of this pancocojams post presents information about Brooklyn's annual West Indiand Day Parade. This post also showcases a YouTube video of the 2019 Brooklyn, New York's West Indian Labor Day parade that features a Haitian music truck and a huge crowd of paraders. Selected comments from several discussion threads of YouTube videos that focus on Haitian paraders during the Brooklyn West Indian Labor Day parade are also included in this post. Many of those comments include the word "Zoe" as a referent for Haitians.

The Addendum to Part III presents information about Haitian Rara processions, as Rara has greatly influenced the way that Haitians participate in the anual Brooklyn, New York West Indian Day Parade. 

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Black Dada for his cultural contribution of the song "Imma Zoe". Thanks to all those who were associated with this song and this video. osng iciaare assicall those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this post on YouTube..

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BLACK DADA
From https://hiphopdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Dada_(rapper)
"Davidson Pierre (born 1980), better known by his stage name, Black Dada, is an Haitian-American Urban R&B Singer. He is currently signed to strictly business records Universal Republic. His stage name is derived from his nick name his mom gave him DaDa, which is the doubling of the first two letters in his name and the black comes from him being well... black. Black dada started as an artist under an indie label "House of Sounds" in Broward County, Florida where he resides."..
-snip-
This biographical statement appears to have been written in 2014. A number of commenters in the discussion thread for this embedded video wrote in 2019 and 2020 asking where was Black Dada now and what new music has he performed. However, no information was posted in that discussion thread about Black Dada. I couldn't find any updated information about that singer anywhere else online.

****
LYRICS: IMMA ZOE (performed by Black Dada)

Yeah...
This ya boy black a.k.a da da {da da, da da }
Got another another one, for my island {oh woa check it}
Tatted on my chest now...

[Chorus:]

Said it's Tatted on my chest
Yes I'm a zoe
I never had a problem getting hoes{dough}

Making this musics all I know
So hold on tight cause I'm a blow
In donk's chevy (we ride)
At the club (we live)
On 6"s & 7"S (we ride)
At any show (we live)...

Said tatted on my chest, yes I'm a zoe
When haters talk mess I lose control.
Using my fists, that's all I know.
On my own two feet go blow for blow.

What you gotta problem, know you now I'm live.
Never had a problem to go inside.
F--king* with me is a suicide.
Step into the jungle, well you won't survive

Red and blue wet on the chevy paint.
Turn in your face, dog my sh-t* will stink
Hypotize rims make you go insane

Just like a bobblehead, bobbling brain.
Riding swerving from lane to lane.
I'm a let the whole world know my name.
On my sh-t* cause I'm a pro.

Tatted on my chest cause I'm a zoe...

[Chorus]

Said it's Tatted on my chest
Yes I'm a zoe
I never had a problem getting hoes{dough}
Making this musics all I know
So hold on tight cause I'm a blow
In donk's chevy (we ride)
At the club (we live)
On 6"s & 7"S (we ride)
At any show (we live)...

If u See me in the streets, know I'm Zoe.
If u See me in the club, I act a fool
With a gang of killers, that's just my crew.
Don't mean to be rude that's how I do. (Yeah)

Cup held high with a mug so mean.
Tilt to the side cause I'm sipping that lean.
My swagg so loose, gotta be the goose.
Flashing lights ike a photo shoot.

Now I'm a do me, you do you.
My wrist so cold, don't catch a flu.
On my flag got red and blue.
Yes I said it red and blue.
If you talking don't waste my time.
Worry bout yours don't worry bout mine.
Dropping hits it's in my soul.
It's Tatted on my chest cause I'm a zoe.
{check it Woa}

[Chorus]

Said it's Tatted on my chest
Yes I'm a zoe
I never had a problem getting hoes{dough}
Making this musics all I know
So hold on tight cause I'm a blow
In donk's chevy (we ride)
At the club (we live)
On 6"s & 7"S (we ride)
At any show (we live)...

Said it's tatted on my chest respect my mind.
I spit creole anytime.
In the booth they know I rhyme.
So with the hood you know I shine.
Sak pase to all my zoes.
What it do to the people I know.
To all my stippers on the pole.
And all my ni--as* blowing dro.{dro}
Let me put u on some game.
Hoes ain't never called no lame.
We seen the worst and felt the pain.
Cloudy weather filled with rain.
United we stand, divided we fall.
They can't break me not at all.
So Stack my chips never go broke.
It's Tatted on my chest cause I'm a zoe!

[Chorus]

Said it's Tatted on my chest
Yes I'm a zoe
I never had a problem getting hoes{dough}
Making this musics all I know
So hold on tight cause I'm a blow
In donk's chevy (we ride)
At the club (we live)
On 6"s & 7"S (we ride)
At any show (we live)...

Source: These lyrics were given in the publisher's summary for this YouTube video.
-snip-
*These words are fully spelled out in these lyrics.

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Numbers added for referencing purposes only. 

2016

BIG BEAR ENTERTAINING

4 years ago

SAK PASE TO MY HAITIAN DOWN IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.  WE RIDE ALL THE WAY.
-snip-
"Sak Pase" = Haitian Creole greeting meaning "What's happenin'"

****
2017

1. Chevynate 229
"ZoeLife🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🔊🔊🔊💯"

**
2. Mysterious Queen
"Whole Florida anthem"

**
Reply
3. Julius 2xx, 2020
"hurricanefan191 This was definitely the Florida Anthem"

**
Reply
4. hurricanefan191, 2020
" @Julius 2xx  nah people north of Orlando didn't know what it was"

**
Reply
5. Anthony Connor, 2021
"Miami*" 

 **
Reply
6. ikindagotfanss, 2021
" @Anthony Connor  south Florida *"

**
Reply
7. Anthony Connor, 2021
"ikindagotfanss nah I know what I said."

**
2018

8. EMPRESS, C Phillips
"On my bad days...this is my picker upper....Zoe all day!"

**
9. GBE SCMG TV
"Remember watching this on MTV Jams daily🙌🏾"

**
10. Gino 2nice
"Shoutout to all my zoes worldwide we in deep outchea"

**
11. Lola Lawler
"ZOE GIRL ZOE WAY OR NO WAY🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹"
**
12. complex lifestyle
"I remember when this was heavily on the radio back in 08. 99 jiggy jams!"

**
13. Kavencci
"Classic 🔥"

**
14. Junior Bellevue 265
"Proud true Haitian 🇭🇹💯"

****
2019
15. Wolf YRK
"Zoe life or no life🔵🔴"
**
16. ashtray813
"This song made being Haitian in school cool.

No more, “y’all eat cat?!” questions for me 🙄"
**
[Another comment is given after ashtray813's commment is an abbreviation for profanity. That commenter may have changed her name from the screen name "mekka knight" that is referenced in two of the replies below.]   

Reply
17. lauryn love, 2020
"mekka knight no what she is saying is what people would say to Haitians growing up. Especially growing up in any part of Florida, people would be soooo mean to Haitians they would say ignorant stuff like "y’all eat cats" "

**
Reply
18, Its Tuca, 2020
"@lauryn love  or go do voodoo"

**
Reply
19, sanai Desroches
'mekka knight it’s true it still happens sometimes it used to happen to my mom ain’t nobody try me last time they said I ate cat I made them eat dirt"

**
Reply
20. sanai Desroches, 2020
"@Elizabeth Suffren  right it still happens sometimes at my school🙄"

**
Reply
21. Mark Williams, 2021
"Let's not act like y'all didn't roast us African americans also😂😂growing up in south florida that's all that went down from the moment you got on the bus to the moment you got home😂😂 all the homies split up haitians vs blacks roast sessions 😂😂"

**
22. Dorothy Jacques
"I love this song 2020 Zoe forever🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹"

**
23.  Austin
"If you from Palm Beach you wasn't bumping Zoe nothing in the late 90's and early 2000's. It wasn't till TOP 6 came around that they got love in the streets. FACTS 💯"

**
24. Alex Del aguila
"I was jamming to this at 18 years old n I'm mexican....much love to my Haitian ppl..."

**
25. Oscar Garza
"2019 ZOE 🇲🇽 🇨🇴 🇵🇷 🇨🇺"
WITH 🇭🇹 🤝"
-snip-
Mx= Mexico; Co=Colombia, PR= Puerto Rico, CU=Cuba with [support] HT= Haiti

**
26. Marco Static
"HAPPY HAITIAN FLAG DAY TO ALL MY ZOES 🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Flag_Day
"Haitian Flag Day is a Haitian holiday to celebrate the creation of the Flag of Haiti and revolution in Haiti that got its people freedom from France and set the precedent for slave uprisings in the US. The day is celebrated each year on the 18th of May, which is the anniversary of the date of the flag's adoption in 1803. The day is observed in numerous cities of the US that have a large Haitian population.[1][2]”…

**
27. Journal Wright
"This is so motivational. I love the beat and the melodic and inspirational flow."

****
2020

28. Terrence Jackson
"That's how you represent yo people ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿"

**
29. Jean-Paul Chatelier
""Black Dada make us proud with this song, Imma Zoe and will always be."

**
30. Oghens Atumah
"Used to play this on the way to school, when I first heard it on BET."

**
31. Min French
"From new york but Bae from Miami and he played this a few times and introduced me to this song we both of Haitian decent"

**
32. LOVELY KWEEN
"I’m not even a zoe but livin n Florida everybody bumpin this😫😫"

****
2021

33. Christina Alexis
"This song still popular in south fl 🙌🏽🙌🏽🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹"

**
34. Kesha Charlosrtin
"🇭🇹❤️ Blessed to be a Zoe"

**
35. ArizonaGirl1
"The original ZOE!!! Just remembered this song from my lil boo's playlist 10 years ago. He was 19 living in Miami coming back and forth to Az to visit. It's still 🔥🔥🔥"
-snip-
"The original ZOE" probably refers to the fact that there's also a 2009 remix of this song by Black Dada featuring Rick Ross and Birdman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NPM60msrPA&ab_channel=JASONBRICKS

**
36. Relevant P.
"Still going hard in 2021 Respect Black Dada Zoe Life!"

**
37. Franklin Drade
"This song Legendary 💤💤💤🦅🩸"

**
38. MiWa Williams
"This song so lit💪🏾"

**
39. Rocky Ball
"Haitian hands up we stay zoe!!! For ever and ever"

**
40. Jackie Bonilla
"Love  my  zoes!!!!

****
This concludes Part II of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What "Zoe" REALLY Means As An Informal Referent For Haitians & Where Did That Referent Come From?

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series about the word "Zoe" as an infomal referent for Haitians. 

This post presents excerpts from several online sources about the word "Zoe" as an informal referent for Haitians.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-haitian-anthem-imma-zoe-by-black.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases the official YouTube video of Black Dada's 2008 record "Imma Zoe". That pancocojams post also presents some biographical information about Black Dada and includes selected comments from that YouTube video's discussion thread. Many of those comments include the informal Haitian referent "Zoe".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/05/kreyol-la-eastern-parkway-labor-day_2.html Part III of this pancocojams post presents information about Brooklyn's annual West Indiand Day Parade. This post also showcases a YouTube video of the 2019 Brooklyn, New York's West Indian Labor Day parade that features a Haitian music truck and a huge crowd of paraders. Selected comments from several discussion threads of YouTube videos that focus on Haitian paraders during the Brooklyn West Indian Labor Day parade are also included in this post. Many of those comments include the word "Zoe" as a referent for Haitians.

The Addendum to Part III presents information about Haitian Rara processions, as Rara has greatly influenced the way that Haitians participate in the anual Brooklyn, New York West Indian Day Parade. 

The content of this post is presented for linguistic and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I'm not of Haitian descent, and therefore I'm not a Zoe. Also, I've never been to Miami, Florida or any other part of Florida where the "Zoe" referent for Haitians was coined. Also, I'm not aware if I've ever met anyone who is from Haiti or who is of Haitian descent, although it's very likely that some African Americans I know or have met have some Haitian ancestry. 

I didn't know that "Zoe" is a referent for Haitians until I happened upon that word used that way yesterday (May 1, 2021) while reading some YouTube discussion threads about Haitian konpa music. 

My search for information about that use of the word "Zoe" eventually led me to a YouTube video of Black Dada's  2008 song "Imma Zoe". That video is showcased in Part II of this pancocojams series. As a result of that video, I now know that, when it is used as a referent for Haitians, the word "Zoe" is pronounced to rhyme with the English word "toe".

I'm still not clear if "Zoe" refers only to Haitian Americans or Haitians regardless of where they live/d. I also am not clear as to whether "Zoe" is a referent that is actually used now or was ever used in Haiti. (It seems clear that that referent originated in Miami, Florida as a result of its use by the Zoe Pound gang). That said, while "Zoe" as a referent for Haitians can be credited to the Zoe Pound gang, the use of that term as a self-referent and as a group referent doesn't have to have anything to do with the Zoe Pound gang. The descriptions of the Zoe Pound gang are given without any comments from me. I'm sure that there are people who disagree with these descriptions. (Note that the article excerpts that are featured in this pancocojams post give different dates for when the Zoe Pound gang was founded.)

These excerpts are given in no particular order. 

Numbers are given for referencing purposes only.

Additions and corrections are welcome about the referent "Zoe" and about "Zoe Pound", including when and why that gang was started.

****
ONLINE EXCERPTS ABOUT THE WORD "ZOE" AS AN INFORMAL REFERENT FOR HAITIANS

Excerpt #1
From https://www.reddit.com/r/NYStateOfMind/comments/jyniqm/why_do_haitian_people_call_themselves_zoe/

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: reddit.com comments sometimes include profanity and sexually explicit referents. Those comments aren't given in this excerpt, but are on the pages of this discussion. The numbers given for these comments in this pancocojams post don't correspond to the numbers the comments have in that discussion.] 

1. Posted byu/Docto_ace, 2020
"Why do Haitian people call themselves zoe?

QUESTION ❓

I hear that word a lot when Haitian people be talking to each other. what does it mean?"

**
2. YoMojoMoe, 2020
"Zoe means bone in Creole. Bones are tough and hard to break, similar to Haitian people. Tough and hard to break"

**
3. ProfessionalCouchPot, 2020
"It’s a pride thing that started with Zoe Pound in Florida. The Zoes came up from Haitians to protect Haitians. Eventually the name stuck when the Zs started making noise."

Zoe is an anglicized version of zo which means bone in Kreyol.

But if they speaking straight Kreyol they could literally be referring to bones.

L’Union Fait La Force 😤🇭🇹"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English

"Unity Makes Strength 😤🇭🇹"

****
Excerpt #2:
From https://unitedgangs.com/zoe-pound-miami/ Zoe Pound Miami[No date given or author credited;  retrieved on May 1, 2021]
"The Zoe Pound, originally from the Little Haiti area of Miami, Florida, is a Haitian gang born in 1992. Many of its affiliates considered it to be a social initiative aimed at protecting young Haitians from other ethnic groups. In reality, its members almost immediately began dealing with the sourcing and distribution of narcotics, quickly turning the gang into a drug cartel.

As the years went by, the Zoe Pound also began accepting an increased number of members. At some point, roughly 25,000 people had sworn allegiance to the gang in Miami alone.  Throughout the nation, more than 50,000 individuals wore the gang’s colors and collaborated with the gang in some way.

According to former members, national pride has always played a major role in defining the association’s modus operandi and way of life. Some would tell of colorful spectacles taking place outside of schools and other important buildings throughout the Greater Miami area.  Decorated with Haitian flags and lavish accessories, vehicles would parade in front of exits, give out candies and subtly conduct recruiting campaigns”…

****
Excerpt #3
From https://hiphopdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Zoe_Pound#:~:text=Cool%20Cake%20(rapper)-,History,easy%20money%20committing%20criminal%20acts. [No date given or author credited;  retrieved on May 1, 2021]
"Zoe Pound was founded in the 1980s in the Little Haiti section of Miami, Florida by a small group of Haitian immigrant youths who were tired of being attacked by mainly African Americans and a small amount of Hispanics. It started as a way for the Haitian youths to protect themselves from African Americans but turned into something much larger. Zoe Pound is currently one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the East Coast. However the inception of the gang served as a pivotal factor in promoting Haitian pride among South Florida's youth. In fact prior to the introduction of Zoe Pound into the American fiber, many Haitian-American youth denied their heritage in fear of persecution. Zoe Pound would put on grande spectacles at various High Schools in the Greater Miami area just as school was letting out. These spectacles consisted of leagues of old school Chevys also known as "Dunks" (covered with candy paint, with oversized rims and bearing massive Haitian flags). These events were somewhat legendary and in many ways displayed the kind of pride that Haitians everywhere should have in themselves and their heritage. Before long Haitian youths all over South Florida started wearing Haitian bandanas with pride. Due to the extreme secrecy of the organization, not much is known about the groups chapters outside of the United States (Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, France, United Kingdom, West Africa, Brazil, Belize, and Canada) but great strides by law enforcement has been keeping the gangs main chapter in Miami, Florida in control post 2002, although MPD hints the group is still very active in and around South Florida including Miami.

There is a rumor that has circulated around media circles for years, before any rap artist can shoot a video in Miami, they must get permission from the Zoe Pound. Several musicians have shouted out Zoe Pound in songs and music video including Lil Wayne, 50 cent, Tony Yayo, Gorilla Zoe, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Cam'ron, Pitbull, DJ Whoo Kid, Pastor Troy, Diddy, T.I., Jim Jones, Eminem, Jha Jha, Wyclef, Nu Jersey Devil, Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, French Montana, 1017 Brick Squad, Young Money, Rum Squad,Haitian Fresh, Shawty Lo, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Durk, Future, and others."

****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Zoe%20Pound
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ December 22, 2009
" Zoe Pound

A very ruthless gang that originates with Haitians immigrants. It became an official recognized gang of killers around 1994-1995. They mostly reside in south Florida along with other foreign countries. They carry the symbol of the Haitian flag with them along with their Haitian pride. It is said that some Zoe Pound gang members use Voodoo to take people out. The word Zoe by itself means somebody that is of Haitian decent. A Zoe Pound gangster interviewed on the History Channel’s Gangland stated that there was Haitians with a pound of drugs and that's how the name Zoe Pound came about. Originally Zoe Pound was not a Haitian movement, but a "lick" (way to make easy money). Many Zoe Pound Members do not view themselves as gang members, but view themselves as a group standing up for their Haitian people. Many of them also believe that it is foolish to go around throwing up gang signs, and gang tattoos are not mandatory – most likely to keep their operations as secret as possible. The only colors they represent are the colors of their Haitian flag.

Past Zoe Pound activities have included: armed robbery, piracy, drug trafficking, and murder."

****
Excerpt #5
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=zoe%20boy
by KirbyM915 September 08, 2006
"zoe boy

A zoe boy is a real Haitian boy. If you are a Zoe boy, you dont take nothing from nobody, you work to earn your respect, you stay on your feet at all times, and you are more than proud to be Haitian. Everywhere you go, you show people your pride. Your first impression should always be that I am Haitian and I love it. You should never let anybody take your pride away from you. You should stand tall and represent your country anytime, anyplace, and anyhow. You should always think that your flag is the number one flag in the world. Let people know that we were the First Black Independent, and that every other black race comes after you!

Dat kid Kirby's a REAL Zoe Boy!"

****
Excerpt #6
From https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/dining/barbecue-haitian-food.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap "In Little Haiti, Barbecue Is Part of History"

Bon Gout BBQ, in Miami, continues a culinary tradition and taps into the experience of Haitians in America.

By Dinkinish O’Connor, July 16, 2019

"MIAMI — Haitian restaurants bloomed here in the 1990s and 2000s as their reputations grew for serving ambrosial rice and bean platters at cheap prices.

 […]

Jean (B.J.) Lucel, an owner of Bon Gout BBQ in Little Haiti, was 5 when he emigrated from Port-au-Prince in 1986. “There were Haitian ‘jump days,’ when certain schools would jump Haitians. People were running and fighting,” said Mr. Lucel, 37.

Zoe Pound, a Haitian gang — Zoe derives from zo, the Haitian Creole word for bone — is said to have emerged in the ‘90s as a reaction to those attacks. (Some Haitian-Americans refer to one another as Zoe, even if they’re not affiliated with the gang.)

Eventually, some of the people ridiculing Haitians became customers at the local restaurants. “You may not like Haitians,” said Mr. Lucel, “but you can’t deny our food.”

[…]

Pride runs deep in this culture set between two red, white and blue flags, even as Haitian-Americans feel their dignity is repeatedly challenged. President Trump, for one, last year used a vulgar epithet to describe Haiti and some African nations.

Is there healing in the sacred barbecue pit? As Mr. Lucel talked hopefully about Miami’s cultural unity, and how far Miami has come from those Haitian jump days, I pondered the Zoe references throughout the menu."...

****
This concludes Part I of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.