- Ashley S.
- Thursday, June 01, 2023
Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month by checking out some of these awesome titles!
As a second generation Jamaican, I always feel a sense of pride and happiness during the month of June. My experience growing up with a Jamaican father and other Jamaican relatives provided me with cultural experiences and traditions that I will pass along to my own daughter. For a lot of individuals in the US, the month of June is the opportunity to celebrate and take pride in our Caribbean heritage. While National Caribbean-American Heritage Month has not been around for a long time, efforts to make it an officially recognized month began as early as 1999. After various conversations, the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) began to coordinate and organize events to celebrate National Caribbean-American Heritage Month in June of 2000. While the events weren't initially recognized by the US government, ICS began to partner with other groups such as TransAfrica Forum and the Caribbean Staff Association of the World Bank to build more robust events. Eventually, ICS along with the office of Congresswomen Barbara Lee reintroduced a previously tabled bill that would ultimately recognize June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The bill passed in the House in 2005 and in the Senate in 2006. On June 5, 2006, President George Bush signed a proclamation that made the resolution official. From that moment on, June has been recognized as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month celebrating and honoring the contributions that Caribbean Americans have made to the US. In hopes of continuing this celebration, I have selected a few titles for adults, teens, and children that showcase the rich cultures of the Caribbean. Please feel free to place these items on hold or visit one of our locations to check them out. Happy National Caribbean-American Heritage Month!