BEING GARIFUNA-Happy Land Social Club Fire Tragedy--In Rememberance

Happy Land Social Club Fire. In rememberance. A video montage of scanned microfilmed headlines of The Happy Land Social Club Fire in New York City. That tragedy was the introduction of the Immigrant Garifuna ethnic group to New York City citizens.

Most of the victims of the tragedy were Honduran. Many of the victims were Garifuna.

The vocals and music you hear is from the Introduction of the First album from pioneering Punta Rock Group GARIFUNA KIDS, "Punta Con Garifuna Kids"

http://www.beinggarifuna.com

http://www.beinggarifuna.com/blog/2010/03/24/happy-land-social-club-fire-trag...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Garifuna Kids
• Happy Land Social Club Fire
• Happy Land Social Club Tragedy
• Honduran immigrants
• Garifuna People
• Garifuna Ethnic Group
• Punta Rock
• Punta
• Punta Con Garifuna Kids
• Garinagou
• Garinagu

[TheElvis54]

I knew this guy as a child, I even got into a fist fight with him and his brother ganging up against me. They both ended crying and running to their mother.

That was 48 years ago the week before I arrived in the US.

This guy was very stranged even as a child. He looked like if he had the devil in him. I am surprised no one has found the number 666 burned in his scalp.

I did not realize he was the person that killed all of those people until recently. I did not even know he was in the Country.

[BeingGarifuna]

@TheElvis54 Thank you for writing TheElvis54.

Teofilo Colon Jr

Being Garifuna

[Railer505]

@hotters7060 I was living in Manhattan in 1990 but I was one year old. I didn't even know about this tragedy until they brought it up in light of a 2007 Bronx fire that killed 10. First carnage I remember seeing on TV was the Oklahoma City Bombing.

[Railer505]

@mamacita221 Umm 9/11 is often not considered a "fire" - when 10 Malian immigrants died in a Bronx fire in 2007 Happy Land came up since they said that was the worst fire since then. Then again a 9-alarm fire in Brooklyn in 2006 was considered the biggest fire in NYC in 11 years but not including 9/11.

[hotters7060]

@mamacita221 Well you don't have to have a an attitude with me! If you can't talk to me with respect than don't post anymore comments to me! I asked you a simple question and you answered me in a rude way!

[hotters7060]

@allahduafe Is the 9/11 attacks the worst fire in New York City? The Twin Towers were hit by 2 airplanes and collapsed! But they say that Happy Land Club was the worst fire in New York City! But what about 9/11?

[allahduafe]

I lived in New York on the 70s,and I remember those little clubs on the side of the street,must of them had only one door,they were called (sal,si puedes) wish means,get out,if you can.The fact,that they still exits by 1990,is unacceptable,this was the citys fault...

[hotters7060]

@Railer505 After Julio Gonzalez was kicked out of Happy Land, he decided to go to a gas station and buy some gasoline. Julio Gonzalez was very drunk on the night of the fire at Happy Land Club. Julio Gonzalez threw some gasoline at the only front door of Happy Land Club. The fire started on the stairs and then it got bigger and went up the stairs and smoke filled the entire room where the people were dancing. 87 people died as a result of the smoke!

[hotters7060]

@Railer505 I have read part of the article. Julio Gonzalez came to the United States in 1980 in a boat. He went to prison for something that he did in the armed forces. Ten years later he lost his job in Queens. He used to work at a warehouse in Queens New York City. His girl friend broke up with him after seven years. Julio Gonzalez argued with his girl friend and then he got kicked out of Happy Land by a security guard.

[Railer505]

@hotters7060 You should consult Crime Library's article on Julio Gonzalez, called "River of Tears: Happy Land" - tells all about what led up to his decision that fateful night, and what factors made him have nothing to lose.