Coming with close family n ones who helped me step into my own working in nightlife for 10+ years as Ragga celebrates a decade of turn up this year. We’re raising funds for a family in Gaza. We will 4ever dance under the stars while doing the work, period.
I’ve grown so much in 10 years on this journey with you all. A decade ago there were no queer Caribbean spaces in NYC that married its mission to highlighting the arts and activism while simultaneously connecting the dots of how Caribbean people influence all different genera’s of music from Rock N Roll to Hip Hop. I mean did y’all know Aaliyah and Biggie Smalls were 1st generation Jamaican?! YES girl! Migration, innovation and unfortunately assimilation have become apart of the Caribbean/ African diaspora story and sound. I know this now. /// We as a family have an unshakable Pride that has grown in 10 years. Shiiyeet I was a different hoe 10 years ago lol. To be running around the club in pum pum shorts yelling “BATTYMON BATTYGAL TO THE FRONT!” Is a pride emboldened by all of y’all. A courage that allowed me to take chances. Never getting stuck in rigid nostalgia or that the Caribbean sound is only hinged to the 90s (which people often do). Discarding ideas that a Caribbean queer party had to sound one way. From Drum N Bass music to Salsa and how Caribbean people have migrated all over this world to influence different forms of electronic music and culture. This is the Ragga soundscape /// To being mixy and having imagination. /// A journey of self discovery where we stake claim in all the beautiful sounds that are black rooted. Where we experiment with what it would feel like and sound like to live in our own created Nirvana‘s. Especially considering all the violence we are up against when we aren’t sweating on these dance floors. - Christina (Ragga NYC Founder)
From Drum N Bass music to Salsa and how Caribbean people have migrated all over this world to influence different forms of electronic music and culture. This is the Ragga soundscape /// To being mixy and having imagination.
Ragga NYC 4 Gaza:
A portion of ticket sales will go toward evacuation funds for Ismail and his family in Gaza. You can also make direct donations in the below QR codes. Ismail is a friend of my sis @appetizr . We need to raise $30,000 to assist his family and specifically his mother in crossing the boarder from Gaza to Cairo. His mother has fallen deeply ill as a result of the genocide. Her condition is worsening everyday and she is not able to travel alone. Please contribute anything you can and share with your networks. Thank you @appetizrfor your labor and connection to this important work. // All we have is each other.❤️ // As we prepare to celebrate pride here in NYC I’ve been thinking about American elitism and how it’s penetrated queer folk here while our own rights erase everyday. Especially our trans siblings rights. I’ve been thinking a lot about the need for more compassion across the queer community that has no boarders. I’ve been thinking a lot about how the rhetoric around Palestine queer rights reminds me of what people have said about Jamaica until I was able to make community with @connekja in Jamaica. There is no pride with genocide, and there is no pride in settler-colonialism. Our pride can only come through true liberation for all of us. Free Palestine 🇵🇸❤️
