Caribbean American Heritage Month in Massachusetts launched

The virtual launch, hosted by the Authentic Caribbean Foundation (ACF) in association with The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), was held on June 1.

June is celebrated as Caribbean American Heritage Month which focuses on several issues impacting Caribbean people in the United States of America, chief among them education and research into HIV/AIDS.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the group had it first virtual launch since the month-long event came into being in 2006 by presidential proclamation in recognition of the extraordinary contribution of Caribbean-Americans to the American society.

And in the wake of global anti-racism protest sparked by a white police officer murdering African American George Floyd, Massachusetts Governor Charley Baker expressed solidarity with the black community. Mike Vasquez, representing Governor Baker, said “the greatest fear is that nothing changes and we mustn’t allow that; we mustn’t be silent. We must demand action and we must demand justice”. 

Dr. Claire Nelson, president, Institute of Caribbean Studies, Washington DC, and one of the founders in achieving the designation of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, spoke on the new approach in working together against the background of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. “The opportunity in crisis” she said “lies in the future we want to procreate and how we want our stories will be told”. Dr Nelson commended the ACF for bringing together all the council divisions in the state to mark the occasion.

Delivering the keynote address congresswoman Ayanna Pressley commended the Caribbean-American community for coming together “to build, to inform joy, and to celebrate diversity.” She spoke of her intentional decision to join the Caribbean-American caucus to work on the community’s behalf and commended the “resilience and diversity of the Caribbean community” which are “lessons we can take from you to get through this recent storm”.

Julia Mejia (Boston City Council); a first time member of Afro Latina Heritage from the Dominican Republic spoke of her pride in representing her community and highlighted her work with the immigrant small business to be “Covid Ready” especially for a second wave.

Gerlin Adrien, Everett City Council, spoke of her Haitian heritage, encouraging everyone with a quote from Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the US Congress, saying: “You don’t make progress by whimpering or complaining; you make progress by implementing ideas.”

Ken Clifton (Town Council, Randolph) highlighted the significant contributions of Caribbean Americans to the USA with Alexander Hamilton one of our founding fathers from St. Kitts & Nevis being the first secretary of the Treasury; Colin Powell of Jamaican heritage who was US National security advisor; Shirley Chisolm of Barbados descent was the first black woman elected to the United States Congress; W.E.B. DuBois, of Bahamian heritage was a historian, civil rights activist and Pan-Africanist. As a student at Harvard, he was the first African American to earn a doctorate. Toussaint Le Overture of Haiti, although not Caribbean American, was mentioned. Le Overture was a Haitian general and leader of the Haitian Revolution that was the first jurisdiction globally to end slavery and make possible the Louisiana Purchase.