IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 439 
Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 25, 2021 
Ms. LEE of California submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and 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 emigration from the Caribbean to the American 
colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of inden-
tured workers in Jamestown, Virginia; 
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a signifi-
cant number of slaves from the Caribbean were brought 
to the United States; 
Whereas millions of people have emigrated from the Carib-
bean to the United States; 
Whereas the current population of people from the Caribbean 
is estimated at over 4.4 million; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:45 May 26, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR439.IH
HR439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 439 IH 
Whereas, like the United States, the countries of the Carib-
bean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and strug-
gled for independence; 
Whereas, also like the United States, the people of the Carib-
bean 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 contrib-
uted to the rich history of the United States, including 
Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chi-
cago; 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; Cicely Tyson, legendary star of 
stage and screen; John Russworm, co-founder of Free-
dom’s Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper; Mervyn 
Dymally, first African-American Lieutenant Governor of 
California and first Caribbean immigrant to serve in Con-
gress, and Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American 
Congresswoman and first African-American woman can-
didate for President; 
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, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:45 May 26, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR439.IH
HR439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 439 IH 
the first African-American Secretary of State; Eric Hold-
er, the first African-American Attorney General; Malcolm 
Gladwell, noted author and social commentator; E. Mi-
chael Thelwell, distinguished academic, author, and civil 
rights activist; 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 ac-
tivist; Al Roker, a meteorologist and television person-
ality; 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 as-
pect of our society, including greatly to the fine arts, edu-
cation, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, 
politics, government, the military, music, science, medi-
cine, engineering, technology, and other fields in the 
United States; 
Whereas Caribbean Americans share their culture through 
festivals, carnivals, music, dance, film, food, and lit-
erature, which enrich the cultural landscape of the 
United States; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important eco-
nomic partners of the United States; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 
States third border; 
Whereas the people of the Caribbean share the hopes and as-
pirations of the people of the United States for peace and 
prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere and the 
rest of the world; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:45 May 26, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR439.IH
HR439
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS