IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 344 

Expressing the sense that there should be established a ‘‘National Garifuna 

Immigrant Heritage Month’’ in April to celebrate the great contributions 

of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States who 

have enriched the history of the Nation. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 28, 2023 

Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense that there should be established a ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ in April 

to celebrate the great contributions of Americans of 

Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States who 

have enriched the history of the Nation. 

Whereas the history of Americans of Garifuna immigrant 

heritage in the United States is inextricably tied to the 

story of the Nation; 

Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the 

United States come from the Central American region 

and have a common heritage and language that goes beyond national borders; 


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•HRES 344 IH 

Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage came to 

the United States voluntarily, and are distinct from, but 

have an origin similar to most African Americans, as 

both are descendants of mostly West and Central Africans who were involuntarily brought to the North American Continent by means of the historic Atlantic slave 

trade; 

Whereas the West African slaves that escaped to the island 

eventually intermarried with the Caribs and the Arawaks’ 

Indigenous native people, giving rise to what today we 

know as the Garifuna people; 

Whereas after a battle against the British that resulted in 

the surrender of the Garifuna people, the defeated 

Garifuna leaders were transported to England and the 

rest of the Garifuna people to the island of Roatan, Honduras, arriving there on April 12, 1797, which began 

their settlement in Central America; 

Whereas this year we commemorate the 226th anniversary of 

the arrival of the Garifuna people in Central America; 

Whereas ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ 

would provide an opportunity to commemorate and recognize the contributions of the Garifuna people, and highlight the history and culture of Central American Black 

Indigenous immigrants in the United States; 

Whereas language, dance, and music of the Garifuna people 

from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have 

been inscribed on a List of Intangible Cultural Heritage 

of Humanity, first proclaimed in 2001 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 

Whereas people should be aware of the Garifuna people’s 

fight for land rights against tourism, developers, and 


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•HRES 344 IH 

drug traffickers in the region of Pintadillera, Playa Blanca, Puerto Grande, La Flor, Ciudad Moraza ́n (Choloma), 

Orquı ́dea (Colo ́n), and Pro ́spera (Islas de la Bahı ́a); and 

Whereas raising awareness about Garifuna immigrant heritage is crucial to effectively fighting disparities and injustices against Black and Indigenous populations in the 

United States, Latin America, and across the world: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) a ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage 

4 Month’’ should be established to celebrate the sig5 nificant contributions of Americans of recent 

6 Garifuna immigrant heritage to the history of the 

7 United States; and 

8 (2) the people of the United States should ob9 serve the month with appropriate ceremonies, cele10 brations, and activities to recognize that Americans 

11 of recent Garifuna immigrant heritage enhance the 

12 rich diversity of and strengthen the United States. 

Æ 


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