United States President Barack Obama yesterday issued a proclamation declaring June, 2015 to be National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
“I encourage all Americans to celebrate the history and culture of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities,” Obama said in the proclamation, where he also acknowledged the contributions of Caribbean immigrants to the United States.
“Caribbean Americans have shaped the course of our country since the earliest chapters of our history, and they continue to drive our nation to realise the promise of our founding,” he said.
During the month, he noted, America would honour the “courage and perseverance” of the Caribbean-American community and celebrate the Caribbean Americans whose legacies are woven into the fabric of the nation.
Obama said America and the Caribbean shared a common trajectory toward a more free, equal, and prosperous community. “Throughout the Caribbean, courageous peoples have thrown off the yoke of colonial rule, seizing the right to chart their own destinies, and they have overcome the stains of slavery and segregation to widen the circle of opportunity for all,” he pointed out.
Looking to the future, Obama noted that millions of Caribbean Americans continue to innovate and thrive in the United States. “America is and always has been a nation of immigrants, and today — as pillars of family and leaders in their communities — Caribbean Americans strengthen every aspect of our society. We must ensure our nation remains a magnet for the best and the brightest around the world,” he said.
Obama added that his administration is committed to lifting up hardworking individuals throughout the Caribbean and partnering with governments to build the foundation for the next century of progress and prosperity. “We are investing in young business leaders and civil society activists, working to expand what is possible for the next generation of Caribbean leaders, and supporting entrepreneurship, student exchanges, and more effective job training,” he said, while noting that with new partnerships, the United States is helping to move the region toward cleaner, more affordable energy.
He also said that as the United States begins to normalise relations with Cuba, there is the potential to empower a nation and end a legacy of mistrust in the hemisphere.
