Title: Caribbean American Heritage Month

Summary: Recognizing June 2021 as "Caribbean American Heritage Month" in Florida, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, emigration from the Caribbean region to the American colonies began as early as 1619, with the arrival of indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia, and since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean region to the United States, and WHEREAS, as educators, authors, community leaders, activists, athletes, artists, musicians, and politicians, Caribbean Americans have made their mark in every facet of our society and have contributed to the betterment and diversity of our state and nation, and WHEREAS, counted among many famous sons and daughters of the Caribbean are sociologist and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois; United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton; United States Secretary of State Colin Powell; United States Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm; Oscar-nominated actress Cicely Tyson; Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier; author, poet, and civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson; musician, actor, and social activist Harry Belafonte; Haitian Revolution General Henri Christophe; actor and author Louise Bennett-Coverley; writer and nationalist leader Jos  Mart ; professor of literature Mayra Santos-Febres; and numerous others who have displayed great strength and resiliency while serving as pioneers among the people of the Caribbean, and WHEREAS, in June 2005, the United States House of Representatives unanimously adopted a concurrent resolution recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States and observing the month of June as  Caribbean American Heritage Month,  and WHEREAS, on February 14, 2006, the United States Senate unanimously passed the resolution, culminating a two-year bicameral effort, and WHEREAS, since the passage of the resolution by the United States House of Representatives in 2005, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as  Caribbean American Heritage Month,  exemplifying the importance of this observance across the nation, and WHEREAS, the United States has thrived as a country of immigrants, united by common values and by the promise of a better tomorrow, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: That June 2021 is recognized as  Caribbean American Heritage Month  in Florida.