Initial Broadcast Date: November 14, 1972
30 minutes -- Color
Black Journal captures the sights and sounds of the world-famous Trinidad Carnival, known to many as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
A year-long preparation culminates into two days of feverish excitement, marked by carnival dances, calypso music, steel bands, and visual spectacles. The usual dates of celebration are the Monday and Tuesday before the 40-day Christian Lent season, but this year’s carnival took place on May 1 and 2.
Richly elaborate and often very expensive costumes add to the grandeur of the event. Many masqueraders belong to bands, groups from 50 to 2,000 members, and their costume reflect the theme of the band, which can be anything imaginable. Bands usually have kings and queens, the larger bands often having several sections with kings and queens reigning over each.
The carnival is marked with numerous competitions – Calypso King, King and Queen of Bands, the best band, the most original band, among others.
All Trinidadians participate in the carnival, which has become an important economic factor of life as well as the major cultural event.
It is believed that Carnival originated from the slaves’ celebration of sugar cane “crop-over” during which slaves dressed themselves as caricatures of their masters. And today African influences predominate, though Spanish, French, and even American influences are evident.
Trinidad’s Ministry of Education and Culture has described Carnival as “an occasion for letting off steam, for feasting and merriment which is felt to have at least some cathartic effect on participants.”
“Black Journal” is a production of the national programming division of WNET/13.
Executive producer: Tony Brown
NOTE from memo dated November 15, 1972
The title of last night’s Black Journal was “The Greatest Show on Earth.” We have just been advised that this is a registered title of The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. They have called this to the attention of the producer and we must advise you not to air the program again.
Arrangements have been made to feed the following repeat Black Journal:
Black Journal #301, “The Tuskegee Study: A Human Experiment” will be fed for record tonight and again on Thursday on November 16, 1972.
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