Is Brooklyn In the House? 

You can hear that shout out over a mic all over the globe and the amazing part is the energy behind the “Hell Yeah!” response. It always reminds you of how incredible the Borough of Brooklyn is to people all over the world.  I welcome you to Brooklyn and we invite you to experience all that this dynamic Borough has to offer through a new revolution in marketing…

The Soul of Brooklyn!

In order to make your visit to Brooklyn a soulful experience, we created the www.soulofbrooklyn.com website to give you the  history of the neighborhoods, cultural institutions to explore, local businesses to visit, a calendar of events and the home grown celebrities that make it all exciting to watch! You have to check out the website because it’s official! 

The Cultural Guide that you’re holding in your hand is an introduction to the amazing cultural institutions in the Borough of Brooklyn focused on the African Diaspora experience. Whether you’re interested in dance, theatre, festivals, art or music this guide will assist you in navigating your experience in Brooklyn “All Day Everyday”. We have highlighted annual events that each of the organizations host each year in order to make this guide timeless but we encourage you to visit the websites of each of the organizations for year round programming. We look forward to your visit and we know that after you explore the Soul of Brooklyn, no matter where you’re from in the world when they shout out is “Brooklyn in the House” you’re going to wave your hands from side to side and yell “Hell Yeah”!

Welcome!

Laurie Cumbo
Founder
Soul of Brooklyn

Shante Cozier
Co-Founder
Soul of Brooklyn

Welcome to the Soul of Brooklyn!                                                                       

It’s no secret that Brooklyn is the art and cultural capital of New York City—with its hip and acclaimed cultural and historic attractions, creative artisans, designers and craftspeople, beautiful parks and beaches, and our world-renowned eclectic ethnic and haute cuisine. 

Brooklyn is also home to the largest population of African Americans in any county in the United States that is not itself a city.  MoCADA, the West Indian American Day Parade, the Weeksville Heritage Center, the Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, the spectacular neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East Flatbush—all represent the great culture and creative spirit of the vibrant African Diaspora.  

A trip to Brooklyn would not be complete without delving into the fabulous history and contemporary arts and culture of the African, African American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latino communities.  Venture into the best Brooklyn has to offer and be dazzled!

Sincerely,

Marty Markowitz

Dear Visitors and Brooklynites:
 
Welcome to Brooklyn, New York!  We are thrilled that you have made the excellent decision to experience the African Diaspora in Brooklyn, New York, the most culturally diverse metropolis in the world. Whether you are visiting the Borough of Brooklyn, for the very first time or you have lived here your whole life, you will find that the Soul of Brooklyn website and guidebook will provide you with everything you need to have a unique African Diaspora cultural experience.
 
Brooklyn, is home to an exciting combination of cultural institutions, which have been inspired by the rich African and Caribbean heritage that has deep roots throughout the Borough. From international dance companies such as Ron Brown EVIDENCE and Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn to cultural and historical institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts and the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville, you will discover an international art scene that is changing the face of the global cultural landscape. A visit to Brooklyn, would not be complete without experiencing our festivals and carnivals such as the West Indian-American Day Parade, which by overall attendance is the largest carnival in the world out numbering the carnival parades across seas in Trinidad, Brazil and London.  
 
The rich combination of Africans, African Americans, Caribbean-Americans, and Latinos that have made Brooklyn, their cultural home have produced an exciting array of unique businesses that you can’t experience anywhere else in the world. From our varied restaurants to our contemporary cutting edge fashion boutiques and retail stores, Brooklyn has it all. Don’t forget our night life with hot spots in Fort Greene, Park Slope and Bed-Stuy.
 
Yes, Brooklyn is the Borough where Kings and Queens are either born or raised. Whether you heard about Brooklyn through one of Jay Z’s rap songs, or Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed films or through an issue of Earl Graves Black Enterprise Magazine, we invite you to experience what everyone is talking about. There is no doubt about it – Brooklyn is where it’s at! We look forward to hearing about your experiences in this great Borough and we are here to make sure that your experience is everything that you imagined and more! 
 
Sincerely,

Carl Hum
President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce