The Puerto Rican Cultural Festival and Parade was held at Roger Williams Park in Providence today. Last year's festival drew over 8000 people, and it looked like the grounds of the Temple To Music would swell to at least that number this year. Today's photo shows a group of musicians of all ages arriving on the back of a flat-bed truck adorned with the red, white, and blue Puerto Rican flag. Culturally, Puerto Rico accounts for the eight largest heritage group in the state, with 3.3% of Rhode Islanders having been born in Puerto Rico. Estimates for the city of Providence are far larger, however, with some sites listing the Puerto Rican population in the capital city at 23.3%. The combined demographic groups of people born in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala comprise the largest Hispanic population in the state.
It is quite fitting to see the largest heritage celebrations in Rhode Island taking place at Roger Williams Park. The park sits on land that was donated by the descendents of Roger Williams and was formerly farmland owned by the granddaughter of the state's founder. In fact, her house still sits near the entrance to the park. Under Williams, the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was founded on, not only a principle of religious freedom, but also a principle of tolerance and acceptance of all people and cultures. Williams was noted for his relationship with the Narragansett and Wampanoag Indian tribes - a relationship that drew the ire and condemnation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Williams would indeed be proud to see his family's land used to celebrate the diverse cultures that comprise modern day Rhode Island.
Post processing today was all in Topaz Adjust. I applied a brilliant warm filter as the base. From there I adjusted the adaptive exposure and contrast sliders, followed by a slight strength and detail boost adjustment.
