US lawmakers introduce resolution honouring National Caribbean American Heritage Month
Stacey Plaskett, Yvette Clarke and André Carson co-lead the House resolution, which notes more than 13 million people in the US have Caribbean roots.
WASHINGTON, United States. US Virgin Islands Democratic Congress member Stacey E. Plaskett has reaffirmed her commitment to the Caribbean American community during National Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Ms Plaskett is a co-lead on House of Representatives Resolution 547 with Congress members Yvette D. Clarke and André Carson. The resolution recognises “the enduring contributions of Caribbean Americans to the history, culture, and progress of the United States.”
‘Woven into the very fabric’
“Caribbean Americans have shaped this nation in ways that are too often overlooked,” Ms Plaskett said. “From Alexander Hamilton, Malcolm X to Colin Powell and Sonia Sotomayor, from the arts to the military, Caribbean Americans have been woven into the very fabric of what makes this country great.”
“The Virgin Islands is America’s sovereign soil in the Caribbean; our people have always understood the strength that comes from this shared heritage,” she added.
Ms Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents New York’s 9th Congressional District and chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, said: “As a proud woman of Jamaican descent, I am honored to represent those who came to the United States in pursuit of opportunity, as well as their descendants.”
Mr Carson, who represents Indiana’s 7th Congressional District, said Caribbean Americans had contributed through “the arts, science, education, business, sports, military, and government.”
13 million with Caribbean roots
Ms Plaskett said the resolution notes that more than 13 million people in the United States were born in or have ancestry from the Caribbean. It has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Haitian Bridge Alliance joins celebrations
The San Diego-based Haitian Bridge Alliance also marked the month. Executive director Guerline Jozef told Caribbean Life that, citing Migration Policy Institute data, the Caribbean immigrant population in the US has grown by more than 40 per cent since 2010, with Haitians and Jamaicans among the largest communities.
“Caribbean immigrants embody resilience, excellence, and an unwavering belief in the promise of America,” she said. “Their story is an American story.”
