Speech #1090155077

I rise today in celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month. It is appropriate for our country to recognize the numerous contributions of CaribbeanAmericans and our Caribbean neighbors to United States history and culture. particularly since our friendships and economic partnerships in the region continue to expand. Caribbean immigrants are found throughout the United States. and aspects of Caribbean cultures are becoming increasingly commonplace. often touching our lives in subtle ways through art. music. literature. and science. People from the Caribbean nations have a long and proud history here. In fact. one of our most prominent founding fathers. Alexander Hamilton. was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis and then raised in St. Croix. another island of the Caribbean. However. meaningful contributions by Caribbean immigrants began long before the American Revolution. Beginning as early as 1619. indentured workers were brought to the Jamestown colony in what is now modernday Virginia. Over the next four centuries. our histories and cultures became inextricably linked. so much so that many of our communities have now become an indistinguishable mixture of Caribbean and American culture and language.