June is again being commemorated as Caribbean-American Heritage Month, highlighting the strong contributions Caribbean immigrants have made to American history and development. Unfortunately, the significance of this contribution is still relatively unknown by a preponderance of Caribbean-Americans, and barely recognized by the average American.
Caribbean-American heritage dates to the 17th Century when slaves were brought to Boston, Massachusetts, from Barbados. Since then, Caribbean immigrants have contributed to various areas of American life, having excelled as inventors, educators, medical practitioners, attorneys, journalists, entrepreneurs, cultural and sports icons, entertainers, politicians, and civil rights activists.
Caribbean immigrants didn’t arrive in America simply to make “quick money,” and then return to their homes in the Caribbean. Rather, they saw and seized opportunities to place their unique influence on America, their adopted country.
Very few, if any, Caribbean immigrants were content to embark on a journey leading to an inferior, segregated, humiliating destination. Caribbean people do not regard themselves as inferior to anyone, a fact that’s unfortunately misunderstood by some African Americans who, sadly, endured years of racist humiliation. This misunderstanding has resulted in occasional criticism of Caribbean migrants as “uppity blacks”. Most Caribbean immigrants do not regard themselves as better than other black people. It’s just characteristic of Caribbean-Americans that they aren’t content to be considered inferior. People like Jamaican Marcus Garvey tried to show the entire black race it was, in fact, a superior race.
Maybe, not even US presidents who traditionally pay tribute to Caribbean-Americans in their proclamation of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, fully understand the uniqueness of Caribbean immigrants and the contribution they have made to America.
It can only be hoped that as another Caribbean-American Heritage Month is commemorated and highlighted, the full worth and significance of the Caribbean migrant will be recognized and appreciated.
But maybe the Caribbean-American community itself is to be blamed for being underappreciated. Unlike other American ethnic groups, the Caribbean-American community is comprised of people from many different nations. This diverse characteristic has cost the community its cohesiveness. While, undoubtedly, several Caribbean-Americans and their descendants have independently made worthwhile contributions to American history, the community of an estimated 7 million people, is still, generally, in the developmental stages of becoming a powerful community.
The only way this power can be ascertained is through a deliberate attempt by those who originate from different Caribbean countries to recognize themselves as being and act as, a member of one Caribbean-American community. But this is no easy task. The same chauvinistic factors that foiled the success of a West Indies Federation in the early 1960s must not be allowed to foil the cohesiveness of the Caribbean-American community.
For most of the millions of Caribbean-Americans who, along with their ancestors, have played major roles in the development of several aspects of American society, there’s still much to be accomplished. They deserve and must be committed to seeking similar recognition given to immigrants of other ethnic origins, like Hispanics and Jews.
Caribbean-Americans are not content to be considered as just Black Americans, though they are. They want to be considered a community with its distinctive culture; an influential political constituency, and a formidable business sector. There is every justification for Caribbean-Americans to be recognized, unconditionally, as an autonomous American community.
People of Caribbean heritage should not only take advantage of the annual Caribbean-American Heritage Month to educate America about the impact they have made on this country since the 17th century and are continuing to do. This education ought to be an ongoing process.
Caribbean migrants have made significant contributions to America, and, undoubtedly, will continue relentlessly to carve out their indelible unique niche in American society.
Outstanding Caribbean-Americans like the late Shirley Chisholm, Colin Powell, Sydney Poitier, Malcolm X, Claude Mckay, and Madge Sinclair; former American basketball stars, Tim Duncan and Patrick Ewing, US Congresswomen Una Clark and Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick, Maryland Mayor Wes Moore and US Vice-President Kamala Harris: all icons of Caribbean-American heritage sought, and are seeking to make their, and other communities, better. They ensured, and are ensuring, the Caribbean influence integrates deliberately into America’s history.
The work is far from over. As a people and a community, Caribbean-Americans, despite the giddy platitudes and proclamations, still haven’t been given their rightful place in American society. A one-month commemoration cannot be objective. American history is resplendent with the contribution of Caribbean migrants. This community must continue to strive for uncompromised recognition in the US Census; in city, county, state, and federal legislatures, and in the general American society.
Caribbean-Americans helped build and are still helping to build America. While it’s appropriate for these achievements to be recognized, it’s nonetheless imperative that Caribbean-Americans focus on building the infrastructure that ensures their identity as a formidable American ethnic community.
