Pawtucket celebrates the Cape Verdean way... literally
President, prime minister of Cape Verde visit Rhode Island for ceremony renaming part of street as ‘Cabo Verde Way’
PAWTUCKET — The Cape Verdean way can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Some say it's about pride in the nation. Others say it's a celebration of a rich history. Still, others may say it's about music, food, and culture.
While everyone may have their opinion on what the Cape Verdean way truly is, there's one place in Pawtucket that, on Saturday morning, became forever synonymous with that as a portion of Main Street was dedicated “Cabo Verde Way” at a ceremony featuring the country's president and prime minister.
Both President Jorge Carlos Fonseca and Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva spoke in their native Creole, but translator Gunga Tavares, who heads community culture and communications for the Cape Verdean consulate in Quincy, Mass., translated to English for those in the audience who didn't speak Creole.
Through the translator, Silva said that being in Pawtucket “honors the relationship that exists between Cape Verde and the United States.” He said that Cape Verdeans have contributed greatly in the
past and those contributions continue to this day.
“People here are ambassadors to Cape Verde around the world,” Silva added.
Fonseca, through Tavares, said that when he was growing up in Cape Verde, he'd always hear the name “Pawtucket,” as his aunt lived in the city. To this day, he still associates the city with the United States.
“I grew up with the name, so every time somebody mentions the United States, I think Pawtucket,” Fonseca said.
He said he was particularly excited to be in the city on Saturday morning for the street name dedication, saying the name “Cabo Verde Way” was symbolic of the hard work and contributions that the community has provided for the city.
“Symbolism is strong and the strength of symbolism is enormous,” Fonseca said.
He mentioned other cities in New England that have large Cape Verdean populations – Boston and Brockton among them – but he said there are many historical links to Pawtucket.
“This is a good day for us. Let's have more,” he said. “Viva Cape Verde!”
The first Cape Verdeans settled in the United States just across the state line in New Bedford, Mass., but over time they branched out to the Providence and Boston areas. Now, 42 years after the nation gained independence, Pawtucket is home to the second-largest Cape Verdean population in the country, with 13.3 percent of its residents being of Cape Verdean descent. That trails behind only Brockton, Mass., with 15.1 percent.
East Providence resident Philomene Medina was one of the several dozen area denizens of Cape Verdean descent who attended Saturday morning's ceremony. She said that having a section of a main thoroughfare in Pawtucket dedicated in honor of the her and so many others' heritage was what made the day can't miss.
“I think it's a big day, especially with what's taking place,” Medina said prior to the street dedication. “It's history and I want to be a part of it. I'm very proud.”
“It's recognition,” she later said when asked what the street dedication meant for the local Cape Verdean community. “We take pride in the community and in this country.”
Mayor Donald R. Grebien said it was a “very, very special day” in his home city, given its “very rich history” with the Cape Verdean community, noting the size of the Cape Verdean population in Pawtucket.
He recalled growing up in Pawtucket and watching as the city became “a little Cape Verde.”
“We are a very strong community, there’s a very strong Cape Verdean community, but we are one,” the mayor said. “This is an important opportunity and time in Pawtucket history. There's so many Cape Verdean residents, businesses.”
“If you think about the stretch down Main Street … there's strong roots and traditions here,” he added. “It's a community at work with passion that works together.”