National Caribbean-American Heritage Month
June is a month full of celebration. Not only is June Pride Month, but there are almost 100 national observances and holidays throughout the month!. This week, we will be looking into the history of a month-long celebration: National Caribbean-American Heritage Month (CAHM).
The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) began an effort to establish a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Caribbean-Americans in 1999, when they reached out to President Bill Clinton to push the issue. This resulted in the first White House Caribbean American Community Briefing held at the White House. Over the next several years, the ICS worked diligently and continued to advocate for the adoption of June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Spearheaded by Founder and president of ICS, Dr. Claire Nelson, and after joining forces with several other advocacy groups including TransAfrica Forum and the Caribbean Staff Association of World Bank, 2005 saw an official campaign begin with the tabeling of a bill in the US Congress by Congresswoman Barbara Lee. The bill passed the House in 2005, the Senate in 2006, and a proclamation making June the official Caribbean-American Heritage Month was signed by President George W. Bush on June 5, 2006.
This holiday celebrates the many accomplishments and contributions that Caribbean-Americans have made and continue to make to our country and our culture. From one of our founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton from the island of Nevis; to Secretary of State, Colin Powell born to Jamaican immigrants; journalist Malcolm Gladwell, basketball great Rick Fox, sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois, and so many more; from reggae to salsa and merengue, from mannish soup to ceviche filled with scotch bonnet peppers and fresh fruit, Caribbean culture and cuisine has become an integral part of American cultural identity. This celebration continues to make it abundantly clear that the true beauty of America lies in her rich diversity. If you’re looking for some recipes to fill out your meal planning this month, take a look at some of these popular Caribbean dishes to spice up dinner!