Every August in Limon, Costa Rica, people gather to celebrate Blackness. The people emit light and pride and heat. Dancing, eating, marching, horse-riding, queen-crowning, and more joyous movements — all in celebration of Black Ticos (Costa Ricans). I took these photos with my Minolta SRT-101 (my first film camera) in 2019, while visiting the place that raised my dad. It was a hot, wet thick air kind of day and everyone was glistening and marvelous.

Since the Pandemic hit, the celebration has been cancelled until further notice. As the world finds a way forward I have these photos to give me good feeling until the next Dia Del Negro, whenever it is.