IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1333 

Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2024 

Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. PLASKETT, 

Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. TORRES of New York, and Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American 

Heritage Month. 

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 

State of the Union; 

Whereas emigration from the Caribbean to the American 

colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia; 

Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of slaves from the Caribbean were brought 

to the United States; 

Whereas millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean to the United States; 


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•HRES 1333 IH 

Whereas the current population of people in the United 

States who were born in or have ancestry from the Caribbean is estimated at over 84.54 million; 

Whereas, like the United States, the countries of the Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and struggled for independence; 

Whereas, also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean have diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious 

backgrounds; 

Whereas independence movements throughout the Caribbean 

and the consequential establishment of independent 

democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties 

between the Caribbean and the United States; 

Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the 

United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, 

was born in the Caribbean; 

Whereas many influential Caribbean Americans have contributed to the rich history of the United States, including 

Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; 

James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National 

Anthem; Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Salsa 

music; Sylvia Winter, influential feminist, writer, and 

human rights activist; John Brown Russwurm, co-founder of Freedom’s Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper; Harry Belafonte, a legendary musician, actor, and 

activist; Sir Sydney Poitier, the first Black actor to win 

the Academy Award for Best Actor, film director, and 

diplomat; Mervyn Dymally, the first African-American 

Lieutenant Governor of California and first Caribbean 

immigrant to serve in Congress; and Shirley Chisholm, 


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the first African American Congresswoman and first African American to run for a major party’s presidential 

nomination; 

Whereas the many influential Caribbean Americans in the 

history of the United States also include Kamala Harris, 

the first African-American Vice President; Colin Powell, 

the first African-American Secretary of State; Eric Holder, the first African-American Attorney General; Karine 

Jean-Pierre, the first African-American White House 

Press Secretary; Deval Patrick, first African American 

Governor of Massachusetts; David Paterson, first legallyblind and first African American to serve as Governor of 

New York State; Wes Moore, the first African American 

Governor of Maryland, Patrick Gaspard, labor union organizer and social justice advocate; Earl Graves, Sr, 

Founder of Black Enterprise; Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 

basketball great and social activist; 

Whereas Caribbean Americans have played an active role in 

the civil rights movement and other social and political 

movements in the United States; 

Whereas Caribbean Americans have contributed to every aspect of our society, including greatly to the fine arts, education, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, 

politics, government, the military, music, science, medicine, engineering, technology, and other fields in the 

United States; 

Whereas Caribbean Americans share their culture through 

festivals, carnivals, music, dance, film, food, and literature, which enrich the cultural landscape of the 

United States; 


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•HRES 1333 IH 

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic partners of the United States; 

Whereas the members of the Caribbean diaspora have established a solid, centuries-old track record of significant 

contributions to economic prosperity in the United 

States, as well as to the sustainable economic development of the Caribbean countries themselves, through, 

among others, monetary and social remittances that represent significant percentages of their GDP; 

Whereas the Institute of Caribbean Studies, headquartered in 

Washington, DC, is widely acknowledged as the leading 

Caribbean American diaspora organization, that which 

for over thirty years since its founding, has encouraged 

civic engagement through research, advocacy, education, 

and action, and is recognized as the cradle of the celebration of June as National Caribbean American Heritage 

Month; 

Whereas Dr. Claire A. Nelson, Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, is recognized as the chief 

architect and driving force of the movement for the official proclamation of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and has convened a network of volunteer leaders through the National Caribbean American 

Heritage Month Commemorative Committee to serve as 

a leadership community to ensure continuity of the official recognition for the month of June as Caribbean 

American Heritage Month; 

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 

States third border; 

Whereas the people of the Caribbean share the hopes and aspirations of the people of the United States for peace and 


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prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere and the 

rest of the world; and 

Whereas, since the passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th 

Congress by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a proclamation has been issued annually by 

the President declaring June National Caribbean American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean 

3 American Heritage Month; 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to observe Caribbean American Heritage Month with 

6 appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; 

7 and 

8 (3) affirms that— 

9 (A) the contributions of Caribbean Ameri10 cans are a significant part of the history, 

11 progress, and heritage of the United States; 

12 and 

13 (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 

14 United States enriches and strengthens the Na15 tion. 

Æ 


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