WHEREAS, 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the first National Caribbean American Heritage Month; and,
WHEREAS, Caribbean American Heritage Month was first recognized by the White House in 1999 with the introduction of a bill to establish the holiday; the first proclamation marking the date was issued in 2006 by President George Bush; and,
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WHEREAS, immigrants from the Caribbean region have been settling in Michigan since the 1800s, including in the established Black Bottom neighborhood of Detroit’s Lower East Side; and,
WHEREAS, in 1925, thirteen leaders of the Black community founded Detroit Memorial Park as a response to the segregation of Caribbean Americans at local cemeteries, including Joseph Gomez from Trinidad, James M. Gregory from Jamaica, and Vollington Bristol from Barbados; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Michigan affirms the importance of promoting awareness and understanding of the roles Caribbean Americans have played in Michigan and applaud their efforts to contribute to the growth and development of Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, This year’s theme for National Caribbean American Heritage Month is “Creating Legacy through Cultural Connections” and we should all join the global conversation on inclusion and diversity;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim June 2024 as Caribbean American Heritage Month in Michigan.
