•HRES 288 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 Afri-
cans who were involuntarily brought to the North Amer-
ican 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, Hon-
duras, arriving there on April 12, 1797, which began 
their settlement in Central America; 
Whereas this year we commemorate the 228th anniversary of 
the arrival of the Garifuna people in Central America; 
Whereas ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ 
would provide an opportunity to commemorate and recog-
nize the contributions of the Garifuna people, and high-
light 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 Na-
tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; 
Whereas the House of Representatives recognizes that the 
celebration of Garifuna Heritage Month started in New 
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•HRES 288 IH 
York City since 2009 and in the State of New York since 
2010, thanks to the dedicated efforts of community lead-
ers who have tirelessly advocated for this recognition, cul-
minating in the month of April as a time to honor and 
celebrate Garifuna culture, history, and contributions; 
Whereas people should be aware of the Garifuna people’s 
fight for land rights against tourism, developers, and 
drug traffickers in the region of Pintadillera, Playa Blan-
ca, 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 herit-
age is crucial to effectively fighting disparities and injus-
tices against Black and Indigenous populations in the 
United States, Latin America, and across the world: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) a ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage 
Month’’ should be established to celebrate the sig-
nificant contributions of Americans of recent 
Garifuna immigrant heritage to the history of the 
United States; and 
(2) the people of the United States should ob-
serve the month with appropriate ceremonies, cele-
brations, and activities to recognize that Americans 
of recent Garifuna immigrant heritage enhance the 
rich diversity of and strengthen the United States. 
Æ 
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