In street festival's 40th year, a reminder of race relations

A DASH OF discontent accompanied the music, food and dancing at the 40th anniversary of the Odunde street festival on South Street yesterday. The festival, which hosted nearly 500,000 attendees, is an annual celebration of African-American culture and tradition. It was founded in 1975 by Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur, who based it on a celebration by the Yoruba people of Nigeria - who celebrated the coming of another year with offerings to Oshun, the goddess of the river. Colorful vendors lit up South Street from 21st to 23rd all day, as sellers peddled cotton candy and funnel cake alongside traditional African drums and gowns. Still, amid a festival celebrating the history of...