IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 372 

Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 2, 2017 

Ms. LEE (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. DEUTCH, Ms. MOORE, 

Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. HASTINGS, and Ms. MAXINE WATERS

of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American 

Heritage Month. 

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 

State of the Union; 

Whereas over 2.7 million people with Caribbean heritage live 

in the United States; 

Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region 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 region were 

brought to the United States; 


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•HRES 372 IH 

Whereas, since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from 

the Caribbean region to the United States; 

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 region have diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds; 

Whereas the independence movements throughout the Caribbean during the 1960s and the consequential establishment of independent democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the region 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; and Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American 

Congresswoman and first African-American woman candidate for President; 

Whereas the many influential Caribbean Americans in the 

history of the United States also include Colin Powell, 

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

Lorde, influential feminist, writer, and civil rights activist; Jean-Michel Basquiat, widely respected BrooklynVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:50 Jun 02, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR372.IH HR372

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•HRES 372 IH 

based painter and social commentator; Sidney Poitier, the 

first African-American actor to receive the Academy 

Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry Belafonte, 

a musician, actor, and activist; Al Roker, a meteorologist 

and television personality; and Roberto Clemente, the 

first Latino inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; 

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, technology, and other fields in the United States; 

Whereas Caribbean Americans share their culture through 

festivals, carnivals, music, dance, film, and literature, 

which enrich the cultural landscape of the United States; 

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

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 

States third border; 

Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes 

and aspirations of the people of the United States for 

peace and 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— 


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1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean 

2 American Heritage Month; 

3 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

4 to observe Caribbean American Heritage Month with 

5 appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; 

6 and 

7 (3) affirms that— 

8 (A) the contributions of Caribbean Ameri9 cans are a significant part of the history, 

10 progress, and heritage of the United States; 

11 and 

12 (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 

13 United States enriches and strengthens the Na14 tion. 

Æ 


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