Belize Day in the Park: The Taste of Home in Chicago

The very first thing that hits me when I look at this image is the smoke. It's thick, fragrant, and slightly unruly, billowing up from the grill and momentarily blurring the world behind it. It’s the kind of smoke that instantly carries the scent of marinated chicken satay, of fresh panades frying in hot oil, and the deep, collective memory of a people gathering.

For those of us who grew up in Chicago, this isn't just a generic park scene; it’s the visceral, annual affirmation of Belize Day in the Park.

There was no greater feeling of cultural gravity than pulling up to whatever park hosted the event that year. We arrived to find our unburdened space, a place away from the usual routine, dedicated entirely to our culture. We came to taste that little bit of home we often missed: the complexity of rice and beans, the sharp kick of an onion relish on panades, and the rhythm of Punta rock that vibrated in your chest.

It was more than just food and music, though. It was the annual reunion. This was the one day you knew you’d catch up with old friends, meet new Chicago connections, and often, spot folks who had made the trip straight from Belize just to hang out and celebrate with the diaspora. The proud Belizean flags everyone held weren't just decorative; they were markers of a claimed territory, an annual moment where our identity was not questioned, but celebrated in full, vibrant color.

The euphoria on the faces holding those flags, the focus and pride of the man working the grill, the shared community in the background, this is the documentation of a spiritual resilience built on simple community. It’s the sheer delight of connection and the affirmation of our existence through shared culture, food, and dance.

It is this very energy, this belief in the enduring capability of the self to seek and manifest moments of uninhibited celebration, that defines my "Happy Happy Joy Joy" series. In contrast to the restricted, stark palettes I often use to critique injustice, this body of work uses Emotional Luminosity to visualize the internal state of being. It’s a riot of unfettered, vibrant color and gestural freedom meant to capture the feeling of those park days.

And look closely at the man at the center of the frame, the artist of the grill. His apron isn't a plain white canvas; it’s a brilliant field of blue and yellow, alive with the dancing, abstract figures that symbolize that essential freedom of spirit. It is a visual language for hope and the celebration of life, worn right where the heat and the hard work of feeding a community take place.

This apron, pulled directly from the Happy Happy Joy Joy Blue/Yellow Collection, is a beautiful reminder that the act of creating sustenance, of offering flavor and community, is a profound expression of self. It’s a monument to what happens when we cultivate our own light, even amidst the thick smoke of the grill.

If you are someone who understands the value of carrying that emotional luminosity with you, whether you’re standing over a grill at a park festival or simply finding peace and joy in your own kitchen, the philosophy is perfectly wearable.

You can Discover the Happy Happy Joy Joy Blue/Yellow Apron and make your next cooking adventure an affirmation of spirit and culture.