Dawn Fraser

Okay, so many of you know that my family comes from Trinidad and Tobago. And my family came through New York and then moved to California in the United States. And so when I moved to New York, I totally expected that I would be able to be free, to meet other first-generation Trinidadians, and just have a good time. But my first year in New York, my mom calls me up.

Okay, so many of you know that my family comes from Trinidad and Tobago. And my family came through New York and then moved to California in the United States. And so when I moved to New York, I totally expected that I would be able to be free, to meet other first-generation Trinidadians, and just have a good time. But my first year in New York, my mom calls me up.

Okay, so many of you know that my family comes from Trinidad and Tobago. And my family came through New York and then moved to California in the United States. And so when I moved to New York, I totally expected that I would be able to be free, to meet other first-generation Trinidadians, and just have a good time. But my first year in New York, my mom calls me up.

And she's like, Donnie, you're coming home for Christmas? And I was like, yeah, I'm coming home for Christmas. What's up? She's like, well, I need you to do me a favor. And I was like... Okay, well, what do you want me to do? So she's like, first, first, you're gonna go run down to Nostrand Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue is like where all the Trinidadians live.

And she's like, Donnie, you're coming home for Christmas? And I was like, yeah, I'm coming home for Christmas. What's up? She's like, well, I need you to do me a favor. And I was like... Okay, well, what do you want me to do? So she's like, first, first, you're gonna go run down to Nostrand Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue is like where all the Trinidadians live.

And she's like, Donnie, you're coming home for Christmas? And I was like, yeah, I'm coming home for Christmas. What's up? She's like, well, I need you to do me a favor. And I was like... Okay, well, what do you want me to do? So she's like, first, first, you're gonna go run down to Nostrand Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue is like where all the Trinidadians live.

She's like, go run down to Nostrand Avenue, you're gonna pick up 12 Jamaican patties, okay? Six chicken, six beef, then you're gonna pick up 12 roti, 12 roti skin, okay? Bring these 12 roti skin, bring these 12 Jamaican patties, and bring some salt fish back with you from New York to California. And I was like, wait, what? Like, why would I do that? Why? That makes no sense.

She's like, go run down to Nostrand Avenue, you're gonna pick up 12 Jamaican patties, okay? Six chicken, six beef, then you're gonna pick up 12 roti, 12 roti skin, okay? Bring these 12 roti skin, bring these 12 Jamaican patties, and bring some salt fish back with you from New York to California. And I was like, wait, what? Like, why would I do that? Why? That makes no sense.

She's like, go run down to Nostrand Avenue, you're gonna pick up 12 Jamaican patties, okay? Six chicken, six beef, then you're gonna pick up 12 roti, 12 roti skin, okay? Bring these 12 roti skin, bring these 12 Jamaican patties, and bring some salt fish back with you from New York to California. And I was like, wait, what? Like, why would I do that? Why? That makes no sense.

And she said, well, don't you want a Caribbean Christmas in California? I was like, yeah, we can all want a Caribbean Christmas in California. She's like, well, then bring the food now, man. I was like... I was like, okay, but I was mad because I had this suitcase. And my suitcase, you know, I'm going from New York to California, so it's going to be warm. I just have my flip-flops, my tank tops.

And she said, well, don't you want a Caribbean Christmas in California? I was like, yeah, we can all want a Caribbean Christmas in California. She's like, well, then bring the food now, man. I was like... I was like, okay, but I was mad because I had this suitcase. And my suitcase, you know, I'm going from New York to California, so it's going to be warm. I just have my flip-flops, my tank tops.

And she said, well, don't you want a Caribbean Christmas in California? I was like, yeah, we can all want a Caribbean Christmas in California. She's like, well, then bring the food now, man. I was like... I was like, okay, but I was mad because I had this suitcase. And my suitcase, you know, I'm going from New York to California, so it's going to be warm. I just have my flip-flops, my tank tops.

But now I have to take all this stuff out of my bag to pack all this other stuff for my mom. So I'm just aggravated. So I pack all the food, the saltfish, the roti, all the kind of stuff, and I bring the stuff to California so that we can have a Caribbean Christmas. And I get there and I was like, mom, you know, there are black people in California, right?

But now I have to take all this stuff out of my bag to pack all this other stuff for my mom. So I'm just aggravated. So I pack all the food, the saltfish, the roti, all the kind of stuff, and I bring the stuff to California so that we can have a Caribbean Christmas. And I get there and I was like, mom, you know, there are black people in California, right?

But now I have to take all this stuff out of my bag to pack all this other stuff for my mom. So I'm just aggravated. So I pack all the food, the saltfish, the roti, all the kind of stuff, and I bring the stuff to California so that we can have a Caribbean Christmas. And I get there and I was like, mom, you know, there are black people in California, right?

You know, I can go to Oakland and go get some saltfish and some roti. She's like, no, no, but it's not the same. We want the good authentic stuff from New York. And I was like, Really? Okay, whatever, whatever. And then, you know, we have a good feast and we live it up. The next year, my mom calls me up again and she's like, Dawn, you coming home for Christmas?

You know, I can go to Oakland and go get some saltfish and some roti. She's like, no, no, but it's not the same. We want the good authentic stuff from New York. And I was like, Really? Okay, whatever, whatever. And then, you know, we have a good feast and we live it up. The next year, my mom calls me up again and she's like, Dawn, you coming home for Christmas?

You know, I can go to Oakland and go get some saltfish and some roti. She's like, no, no, but it's not the same. We want the good authentic stuff from New York. And I was like, Really? Okay, whatever, whatever. And then, you know, we have a good feast and we live it up. The next year, my mom calls me up again and she's like, Dawn, you coming home for Christmas?

And I was like, yeah, I'm coming home for Christmas. Why, what's up? She's like, well, I needed to do me a favor. I'm like, okay, what do you need me to do this time? She's like, well, this year we're going to go to Trinidad for Christmas, okay? And I was like, oh, sweet. So I'm thinking to myself, this is awesome. I don't need to bring any type of like roti. I don't need to bring any saltfish.

And I was like, yeah, I'm coming home for Christmas. Why, what's up? She's like, well, I needed to do me a favor. I'm like, okay, what do you need me to do this time? She's like, well, this year we're going to go to Trinidad for Christmas, okay? And I was like, oh, sweet. So I'm thinking to myself, this is awesome. I don't need to bring any type of like roti. I don't need to bring any saltfish.