III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 364 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 24 (legislative day, JULY 23), 2008 

Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT 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 region to the American Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of 

indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia; 


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HCON 364 RFS 

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

brought to the United States; 

Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from 

the Caribbean region to the United States; 

Whereas much 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, cultural, and religious 

backgrounds; 

Whereas the independence movements in many countries in 

the Caribbean region 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 there have been many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history of the United States, including Jean 

Baptiste Point 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; Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-American woman candidate 

for President; and Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen 

of Salsa music; 

Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the 

history of the United States also include Colin Powell, 

the first African-American Secretary of State; Sidney 


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HCON 364 RFS 

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; Roberto 

Clemente, the first Latino inducted into the baseball hall 

of fame; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and television personality; 

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 greatly to 

education, fine arts, business, literature, journalism, 

sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 

science, technology, and other areas in the United States; 

Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through 

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

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; 

Whereas in both June 2006 and June 2007, President 

George W. Bush issued a proclamation declaring June 

National Caribbean-American Heritage Month after the 

passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th Congress by 

both the Senate and the House of Representatives; and 

Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Caribbean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 


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HCON 364 RFS 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean4 American Heritage Month; 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to observe Caribbean-American Heritage Month with 

7 appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; 

8 and 

9 (3) affirms that— 

10 (A) the contributions of Caribbean-Ameri11 cans are a significant part of the history, 

12 progress, and heritage of the United States; 

13 and 

14 (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 

15 United States enriches and strengthens the Na16 tion. 

Passed the House of Representatives July 22, 2008. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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