File #: Res 0338-2006    Version: * Name: Designating June of 2006 as “Caribbean Heritage Month”.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations
On agenda: 5/24/2006
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution recognizing the contributions of Caribbean Americans and people of Caribbean descent to the City of New York and designating June of 2006 as “Caribbean Heritage Month”.
Sponsors: Yvette D. Clarke, Albert Vann, Kendall Stewart, Robert Jackson, Diana Reyna, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Rosie Mendez, Maria Baez, Inez E. Dickens, Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, James F. Gennaro, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Miguel Martinez, Michael E. McMahon, Annabel Palma, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, David I. Weprin, Thomas White, Jr., Charles Barron, Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 26
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 6/13/06
Res. No. 338
 
 
Resolution recognizing the contributions of Caribbean Americans and people of Caribbean descent to the City of New York and designating June of 2006 as "Caribbean Heritage Month".
 
 
By Council Members Clarke, Vann, Stewart, Jackson, Reyna, Comrie, Mendez, Baez, Dickens, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Martinez, McMahon, Palma, Recchia Jr., Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Weprin, White Jr., Barron and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)
 
      Whereas, People of Caribbean ancestry have a long and distinguished history in New York City; and
      Whereas, New York City's Caribbean American population represents a wide array of countries, ranging from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to the many islands of the West Indies; and
      Whereas, This remarkably diverse population has brought an extraordinary variety of cultural influences into the City; and
      Whereas, Caribbeans are among New York City's oldest and most established ethnic groups, having lived in New York City since the City's founding in the 17th Century; and
      Whereas, Caribbean Americans in New York City have risen to distinction in countless fields ranging from government to the arts, and include such influential and accomplished New Yorkers as Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, Shirley Chisholm, the first African American elected to the United States Congress, civil rights leader Marcus Garvey, historian and writer Arthur Schomburg, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, actor and musician Harry Belafonte and legendary actor Sidney Poitier; and
      Whereas, In 2005, The United States Congress adopted a resolution authored by Representative Barbara Lee that designated June as "Caribbean Heritage Month;" and
      Whereas, The Institute of Caribbean Studies will be hosting and coordinating a variety of events in New York City during Caribbean Heritage Month, including book fairs, parades and other events; and
      Whereas, The extraordinary music, dance, poetry, theatre and cuisine of the Caribbean region have greatly enriched the cultural life of New York City; and
Whereas, Caribbean Americans have earned the recognition of New York City's government for the important roles that they and their ancestors have played in the development of the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes the contributions of Caribbean Americans and people of Caribbean descent to the City of New York and designates June of 2006 as "Caribbean Heritage Month"
 
LS# 998
5/16/06
JN