Caribbean Americans 

We Were There from the Beginning

Introduction: Woven into the Fabric of the Nation

We, the Caribbean peoples, have been with you from the very beginning.

We are your friends, your spouses, and your partners. We are the fathers and mothers of your children, and the builders of your communities. We are foundational contributors to your political, economic, civil rights, cultural, and religious landscapes—and at every turn, we have defended and protected this nation.

Pioneers, Patriots, and Revolutionaries

Look at the history we have forged together:

• We gave you Alexander Hamilton, who came from St. Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. As an artillery officer in the American Revolutionary War under General George Washington, he helped secure American victory and independence. A Founding Father of this country, he built the U.S. Treasury and shaped the intellectual soul of the nation.

• We gave you Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian frontier explorer who became the brilliant founder of Chicago, America’s second-largest city.

• We gave you Toussaint Louverture, who led the Haitian Revolution, creating the world's most successful slave revolt and establishing the first free Black republic in the Americas in 1804.

Architects of Power and Civil Rights

Our heritage flows directly through the veins of American leadership and justice:

• We gave you Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of immigrants from Barbados and Guyana, who became the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to run for President.

• We gave you General Colin Powell, whose parents hailed from Jamaica, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State.

• We gave you Vice President Kamala Harris, whose father came from Jamaica, breaking barriers at the highest echelons of American leadership.

• We gave you the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey of Jamaica, whose powerful message raised the dignity of Black people worldwide and fostered Pan-African, anti-colonial freedom movements.

• We gave you the Caribbean bloodlines that shaped intellectual and spiritual giants: the parents of Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X (whose mother was born in Grenada), and legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(with roots in Trinidad), Patrick Ewing (born in Jamaica), and Kwame Ture / Stokely Carmichael (born in Trinidad).

Icons of Culture, Rhythm, and Style

We did not just build the infrastructure of this nation; we gave it its heartbeat, its soul, and its style:

• We gave you iconic civil rights leaders and legendary entertainers who changed the face of stage and screen: Harry Belafonte (with Jamaican roots), Sidney Poitier (of Bahamian heritage), Cicely Tyson (whose parents were from Nevis), Geoffrey Holder (born in Trinidad and Tobago), and Grace Jones (born in Jamaica).

• We shared the global, multicultural rhythms of Bob Marley and Reggae, the infectious energy of Soca, and the vibrant steps of Merengue and Cha-Cha-Chá.

• We have enriched our communities with the flavors, warmth, and hospitality of our fantastic restaurants, food trucks, and nightlife that bring people together every single day.

Champions of Local Leadership and Service

Right here, in our own backyard, we see the profound impact of our diaspora. We are immensely proud of our county and state representatives, our healthcare heroes, and the dedicated academic professionals who teach our children in public schools and universities.

We look with pride at:

• The service of Attorney General Anthony Brown, the current Attorney General of Maryland, whose father immigrated from Jamaica.

• Angela Alsobrooks, the dynamic leader and former Prince George’s County Executive (with deep family roots in the Caribbean/Jamaica).

• Maryland Governor Wes Moore, whose mother immigrated from Jamaica—a leader redefining what it means to serve as one of the finest governors in America.

• The vital work of the Jamaica Nationals Association, the Caribbean American Political Action Committee, and the faith communities and churches that uplift, support, and champion the activities of Caribbean Americans in our region.

Conclusion: The Creed of Equality

Above all, we are proud of the ordinary, extraordinary Caribbean peoples living right here in our counties, our state, the District of Columbia, and Virginia.

Every single day, our people live by the timeless creed that all men are created equal. We move forward with resilience, with joy, and with unyielding determination. Because, as the great Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley reminded us, and as our history proves:

"You can get it if you really try."

Thank you, and God bless the Caribbean diaspora!