Queens residents are invited to experience a powerful new exhibit in Richmond Hill that honors the stories and struggles of Indo-Caribbean immigrants who helped shape New York City’s cultural fabric.
The Indo-Caribbean Alliance (ICA) launched “Through Their Eyes: Preserving Indo-Caribbean Histories” in December 2024, a multidisciplinary art installation that documents the lives of first-generation Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers through photography, video, and audio recordings. The project is funded by Flushing Town Hall with additional support from Con Edison.
Currently on display at Singh’s Roti Shop, located at 131-14 Liberty Ave., the exhibit coincides with Indian Arrival Day, which commemorates the arrival of Indian indentured laborers to the Americas in May 1838. The exhibit will remain at the restaurant through July 31 before rotating to various locations across the city for the remainder of the year.
The installation centers on the voices of older adults from the Indo-Caribbean diaspora who were among the first to immigrate to New York, particularly in the 1960s. Their stories illustrate the formation of Richmond Hill’s thriving Indo-Caribbean enclave, widely known as “Little Guyana,” and offer reflections on their lives after British indentureship formally ended in 1917.
“The exhibit is a way to preserve our stories and pass them on,” said Vedesh Persaud, who developed the project with support from photographer Diana Kahrim. “I have two kids, and my wife and I think about how much access we have to our grandparents and how their stories influenced our lives. We want our children to be able to share these narratives too, since they are a profound part of our culture, and now they can.”
The portraits are accompanied by scannable QR codes linking to additional visuals, recorded interviews, and personal artifacts, offering an interactive experience that deepens each subject’s narrative.
Immigrants from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and other Indo-Caribbean communities have long contributed to the economic and cultural vitality of Queens. The exhibit traces their migration journey, from the aftermath of colonial rule to the establishment of tight-knit, self-sustaining communities in New York.
“This exhibit serves as a powerful reminder of the impact immigrant communities have had on the country,” said Richard David, a board member of the Indo-Caribbean Alliance. “In this moment in our country, documenting and sharing powerful immigrant narratives are particularly inspiring as immigrant communities like ours come under tremendous pressure as a result of government policy.”
Founded in 2008, the Indo-Caribbean Alliance is a nonprofit organization based in Richmond Hill that provides access to social services and community programming. The group also operates a cultural center offering classes in art, music, and dance, and—through a partnership with Queens Public Library—curates the Indo-Caribbean Special Collection at the Lefferts Branch.
For more information about the exhibit and ICA’s ongoing programming, visit indocaribbean.org.
