US President Donald Trump may currently be in the UK, but before he took off across the pond he proclaimed June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
During the month of June, the US will celebrate and acknowledge, “the significant ways Caribbean Americans have shaped our culture and heritage”. Caribbean-American Heritage Month has been officially observed since 2006 and has been presidentially proclaimed annually in June since then.
In a statement from the White House, Trump said, “Americans with roots in the Caribbean have greatly enriched our society, contributing to the arts, business, journalism, technology, government, religion, the military, sports, and many other fields.”
This proclamation comes after a meeting Trump had earlier this year in Florida, where he met with the leaders of the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and St. Lucia. The meeting was meant to “reaffirm our [US] partnership with the Caribbean”.
Trump also stated, “We discussed how we can bring greater prosperity to this important region, including potential opportunities for energy investment and enhanced trade partnerships. We made tremendous progress, and we will build on these discussions to strengthen further the relationship we share with our Caribbean neighbors.”
The US and the Caribbean have a long history together. The Caribbean is the earliest and largest source of Black immigrant groups to go to the US, and the primary source of growth of Blacks in the US.
A number of historical figures and celebrities have Caribbean roots. Famous civil rights leader, Malcolm X had Caribbean roots. Celebrities such as Lenny Kravitz, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj also have Caribbean roots. The Caribbean and the US have shared culture for many years, and it’s wonderful to have a month dedicated to celebrating that.
“This month, we recognize the vibrant culture and patriotism of Caribbean Americans that continue to bolster our country and enrich our lives, and we pay tribute to the strong friendship between the United States and the countries of the Caribbean,” Trump added. “now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2019 as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.”