But for a stop on the route from Africa, we are kin - distant cousins separated by land and small bodies of water  throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, yet bound by a shared heritage, traditions, characteristics, and values passed down from the shores whence our ancestors hailed. We must never forget this truth. Junkanoo is a celebration organized by the descendants of enslaved Africans as early as the 1700s. It can be described as a festival featuring costumes, parades, and dancing, most commonly associated with the people of Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Belize. It was also celebrated in the south until around 1880, following the abolition of slavery. This engaging artistic showcase is an opportunity to bring awareness to our similarities and to re-establish the bonds of our ever-growing families.