June marks 10th Annual Caribbean-American Heritage month

The positive and long-lasting effects Caribbean immigrants have had on American politics, the arts, science and music dates back to revolutionary times. Just a few of these noteworthy people include Alexander Hamilton, who served as our country’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Sidney Poitier, the very first Black actor to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field, the international singer and actress Beyonce, and Professor Louis Grant, who’s findings led to the creation of vaccinations and the isolation of diseases such as tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and the dengue virus.

The region of the Caribbean lies between the United States and South America, with Central America to its West, and is comprised of the Caribbean Sea and the islands and coast-lands within that region. It’s an enchanting area of diverse countries, cultures and languages.

California Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s legislation to (among other things) recognize the importance of Caribbean-Americans’ contributions, was signed by both the House and the Senate by 2005, and every President since then has signed an annual proclamation marking June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, including President Barack Obama.

Festivals and events are held every June across the country celebrating Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Below are just a few of the festivals and celebrations of the Caribbean-American Heritage Month events being held in and around our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Caribbean Heritage Festival, “Taste of the Caribbean”

June 4

Weekend Factory Tours of Chocolate from Cocoa single-sourced in the Caribbean

Weekends, June

CAHM – Caribbean Street Foods Lunch Club Starts 2nd week and continues to the end of June

Starting 2^nd week of June

Grilling with Caribbean Spices & Jerk Seasonings, Thursday, June 23rd , 6-7:00 pm

June 12

AllSPICE

Caribbean American Festival of the Arts and Humanities

June 14-18

History of Jerk