The past two weeks have witnessed unprecedented fervor in nationwide and international protests sparked by the extra judicial killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. The failure of leadership which contributed significantly to the alarming death toll of more than 100,000 persons in the United States, with Blacks disproportionately accounting for approximately 30% of those killed by the global pandemic, fueled people’s uncertainty and anxiety and created the perfect firestorm for protests to erupt at the unmasking of systemic and institutionalized racism in the United States. With such a sobering start to Caribbean-American Heritage Month, is there a reason to celebrate?
As painful, frustrating, and devastating to our collective mind, soul, and spirit that processing George Floyd’s public lynching has brought us, there is no denying the gains that have been made in the immediate term. One of the most significant gains has been the self-reflection of a nation that has forced many non-Black allies to declare “enough is enough” or “I can be silent no more” as they join in marches and protests, take the time to reflect on the complacency afforded by their privilege, or have earnestly sought to educate themselves on the plight of Blacks and in particular young Black males in America.
Despite the continued threat of the global pandemic, the grit displayed over these last two weeks by Blacks and their allies in America, is reminiscent of the indomitable resistance Nanny of the Maroons led in a multi-year war against British colonizers in the early to mid-1700’s in Jamaica. The coalescence of supporting marches and peaceful protests around the world hearkens back to the sustained effort by Toussaint Louverture, and later Jean-Jacque Dessalines and Henri Christophe in Haiti from 1791 to 1804. Their effort earned Haiti the crown jewel of the Caribbean as the first and only nation-state to be established out of a slave uprising ruled by non-whites ad former slaves.
Wherever the fight for freedom, justice, and equality, Caribbean folk have always been there. We need only look to Jamaican Marcus Mosiah Garvey who dedicated his life to the education of Blacks about their dignity and the need for self-determination or the chants of Bob Marley to “Get up, stand up . . . stand up for your rights!” Caribbean-Americans are standing up for our community by participating in the political process to ensure that the fight for equality is sustained until the deleterious effects of our slave past is no longer a chokehold on our progress. There is reason to celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage month!
This year, the poignant moment in our world’s history demands that we not just celebrate the influence of Caribbean-Americans on American culture readily identifiable by how well our culture, food, music, and art forms have been seamlessly interwoven into the tapestry of American life. Here in South Florida, where members of the Caribbean diaspora make up no less than 30% of the populace, no celebration will be complete without recognition of the ever-increasing presence and continued contribution of Caribbean-Americans in civic and political leadership. For that reason we invite you to not only join us on June 18, 2020 for Taste of the Caribbean featuring Island Flavors, but first on June 11, 2020 for Meet the Candidates ( A Forum featuring the Broward Judicial candidates), and also on June 25, 2020 for Meet the Caribbean-American Candidates.
Happy Caribbean-American Heritage Month! It will take all of us to get the job done – Join us!
Keeping the faith and the fight,
Tricia-Gaye Cotterell, President
