<P> The slaves used the opportunity of Pinkster to take jabs at whites, mimicking and ridiculing, very subtly of course, some of white culture and habits through drama, speeches, storytelling and song . </P> <P> "' Pinkster Day' was in Africa a religious day, partly pagan and partly Christian like our Christmas day . Many of the old Colored people, then in Albany, were born in Africa and would dance their wild dances and sing in their native language ." In Albany, "' Pinkster' festivities took place usually in May, and lasted an entire week . It was...the Carnival of the African Race, in which they indulged in unrestrained merriment and revelry ." "The dancing music was peculiar . The main instrument was a sort of' kettle - drum,' a wooden article called an eel - pot, with a sheepskin drawn tightly over one end ." </P> <P> During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the festival was presided over by a "King", who was himself a slave . The crowning of the Pinkster King recalled elections of leaders in some African cultures of Northeastern North America, investing respected members of the slave community with symbolic power over the whole community and honor within the slave community . This kind of celebration, inverting rank, recalls West African and European traditions like Boxing Day and Mardi Gras . This tradition has its roots in the Pentecost celebrations in the Kingdom of Kongo under the reign of Afonso I of Kongo . </P> <P> One well - known "king" in Albany was "Charley of Pinkster Hill", the "King of the Blacks ." Charley was born in Angola, said to be of royal blood, and became the servant of Volkert P. Douw, a wealthy merchant . "King Charles" dressed in the costume of a British Brigadier, a long scarlet coat with gold lace and yellow buckskin accessories, and a three - cornered hat . Charley and his followers, decorated with "pinkster blummies" (azaleas), led a parade up Albany's State Street . Following the parade "the negroes made merry with games and feasting, all paying homage to the king, who was held in awe and reverence as an African prince . In the evening there was a grand dance, led by Charles and some sable beauty ." </P>

Charley king of the pinkster festival in albany was described