Senate Resolution No. 2066

BY: Senator HAMILTON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2017, as Caribbean American Heritage Month in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, The fabric of our Nation has been woven together and
enriched by the diversity of our people; our legacy as a Nation of
immigrants is part of what makes America strong, and during National
Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich history and
vibrant culture Caribbean Americans have brought to our shores; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants from Caribbean countries, including Antigua and
Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands,
Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla (UK), Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands),
Caribbean Netherlands (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Cayman Islands (UK),
Curacao (Kingdom of the Netherlands), Guadeloupe (France), Martinique
(France), Montserrat (UK), Puerto Rico (US), Saint Barthelemy (France)
(Kingdom of the Netherlands), Saint Martin/Saint Maarten (France/Kingdom
of the Netherlands), Turks and Caicos Islands (UK), United States Virgin
Islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas) (US), and North
America's Guyana have come to America for centuries; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants from Caribbean countries came to America through
the bondage of slavery, while others willfully left behind the world
they knew in search of a better life; regardless of the circumstances of
their arrival, they had faith their descendants would have a chance to
realize their greatest potential; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2017, as Caribbean American
Heritage Month in the State of New York, to be observed in conjunction
with National Caribbean-American Heritage Month; and

WHEREAS, With the United States Senate approval on February 14,
2006, and a presidential proclamation on June 5, 2006, June has become
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month; with this, the
"colonization" of the Caribbean by the United States has been recorded
in American History; this particular legislation, first introduced in
the House in 2004 by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, celebrates the
contributions of the Caribbean-Americans to American life and culture;
and

WHEREAS, People of Caribbean ancestry who have become part of New
York State's lasting heritage by fighting against stereotypes, racism,
and insurmountable obstacles include, but are not limited to: Arthur
Alfonso Shomburg, Curator of the New York Public Library's Division of
Negro Literature, History, and Prints, and dedicated historian, writer
and collector; Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the black social
movement of the 1960s; Sidney Poitier, who altered the perception of
race through theatre and screen as an actor, producer and director;
Colin Powell, a four-star United States Army General and who eventually
became Secretary of State; Alexander Hamilton, who became Congressman,

founder of the Bank of New York, first Secretary of the Treasury, and
one of the first supporters of the Constitution; and Jean Michel
Basquiat, who revolutionized the world of painting and drawing through
the social introduction of the urban black culture that marginally
existed in the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, New York State has been, and continues to be, the home to
many distinguished people of Caribbean ancestry who have made their mark
in history as pertinent figures in their field, and who have succeeded;
these figures include: Shirley A. Chisholm, first African-American woman
elected to Congress, and who was also the cofounder of the National
Organization for Women (NOW) and a genuine activist, lecturer, and
political mentor; Marcus Moziah Garvey, who established, among other
things, the United Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.); Susan
Taylor, editor-in-chief of Essence magazine; Harry Belafonte, who used
his fame as an entertainer in the cause for human rights; Hazel Scott,
who achieved acclaimed status for her classical and Jazz technique as a
pianist, and who became the first black woman to have her own television
show; Edwidge Danticat, who invigorated the voices of Haitians and
Haitian-Americans who experienced poverty through her writing; Maryse
Conde, acclaimed international author, who now teaches at Columbia
University in New York in the French and Romance Philology Department;
and Maurice Ashley, the first African-American to win the chess
Grandmaster title; and

WHEREAS, Each year, New York State proudly celebrates Caribbean
heritage with the West Indian-American Day Carnival which is a weekend
of cultural activities, culminating with the Labor Day Parade down
Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; this annual parade attracts
between one and three million participants, and spectators along the
parade route; and

WHEREAS, The Labor Day Parade is New York City's largest parade, and
is a great contributor to the economy, as it generates over $300 million
in revenue to both state and local government and is among New York's
biggest tourist attractions; and

WHEREAS, Caribbean Americans have prospered in every sector of our
society and enhanced our national character while maintaining the
multiethnic and multicultural traditions of their homelands; they are
doctors and lawyers, public servants and scientists, and athletes and
service members; their successes inspire individuals in the United
States and abroad, and we take pride in the contributions Caribbean
Americans continue to make to the narrative of our Nation's progress;
their achievements are born of hard work and ambition; and

WHEREAS, During Caribbean American Heritage Month, we also recognize
the important friendship between the United States and the countries of
the Caribbean as we expand our partnership to promote economic
development, democratic governance, citizen security, and improved
health and education in the region; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, as Haiti continues to recover from 2010's
devastating earthquake, we remain committed to standing beside the
people of Haiti as they rebuild their proud nation, and to working with
others in the region to bring lasting prosperity and stability to the
country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2017, as Caribbean
American Heritage Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.