Caribbean & BIPOC Torontonians - Caribana Celebration vs Liberation

Hello - I'm writing a story for Rebelle Zine about Caribana and I'm interested in talking to folks who have attended the festival, participate(d) in it, or come from diasporic/Caribbean/BIPOC background(s). From July 30-August 3rd, Toronto will be welcoming thousands of people to its streets to celebrate the 59th annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival. As a Torontonian myself, I'm interested in exploring the boundaries of celebration in a city where Black and Brown communities (historically and today) continue to fight for their visibility beyond just festival celebrations. If you have stories, thoughts, or perspectives to share about how Caribana and other performance-based or cultural festivals reveal the tensions between celebration and liberation for marginalized communities in Toronto and beyond, please reach out to me at [email redacted]