J’Ouvert (pronounced Joo-vay) is an Antillian Creole French term meaning "dawn" or "daybreak" and was initially known as a “celebration from emancipation” as its origins coincide with the abolition of slavery in 1838. J'Ouvert is a giant street party celebrated in many Caribbean cultures worldwide. Revelers cover their bodies in coloured paint, motor oil, and baby powder as an expression of liberation from the constraints of the past. These images are from the annual event that begins before sunrise on Labor Day morning, precursing The West Indies Carnival Parade held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY.