A note about California and Caribbean Heritage Month
By Deputy Director Molly Watson
Sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Caribbean Heritage History Month was established through bipartisan efforts in 2005 and officially recognized by President George W. Bush in 2006. June provides an opportunity to acknowledge Caribbean people’s significant impact and influence in various fields, from art, music, literature, sports, and politics. Caribbean Heritage History Month is a platform for education and awareness about the diverse histories, struggles, and triumphs of Caribbean nations and their people. Through this, we can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complex past of the Caribbean, encompassing both the legacy of colonialism and the resilience of its inhabitants.
My father arrived in Berkeley in 1976 from the Caribbean island of Haiti with only $50 in his pocket and the promise of shelter in his uncle’s garage while he attended Cal. Despite losing most of his money on the cab fare and struggling with English as a fourth language, he persevered due to his roots and his promise to his mother. He graduated from the University of San Francisco, became a physician, learned two more languages, and dedicated his career to working in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire caring for patients from marginalized communities, including poverty stricken, immigrant, incarcerated, and high-risk HIV patients. His story resonates with many immigrants, especially Caribbean people, who bring a deep sense of pride and a commitment to hard work and paving the way for future generations.
We recognize national political figures like Vice President Kamala Harris (Jamaican/Indian), White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre (Haitian), and Co-Founder of Higher Heights Glynda Carr (Jamaican), who fight for others as they share rooted stories of self and conviction, representing those who have been systematically marginalized, but also those who have overcome.
California may have fewer Caribbean residents than some states, but we have trailblazers of Caribbean descent within our civic and political ecosystem, which we are proud of at CDT. Caribbean leaders in California, such as Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond (Panamanian), Assemblymember Mia Bonta (Puerto Rican) of Oakland, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon (Cuban), Celinda Vasquez (Puerto Rican) of Los Angeles Planned Parenthood, Romilda Avila (Haitian) of Tides Advocacy, and James Herard (Haitian) of Lift Up Contra Costa/Action, have been unwavering champions of progress, advocating for empowerment at all levels of our ecosystem. Additionally, one-third of the California Donor Table staff are Haitian, with Ludovic serving as the first Haitian, first Black and first immigrant state donor table Director, and myself as the first Haitian Deputy Director of a state donor table. With Black immigrant backgrounds, Ludovic and I, as others mentioned, take the revolutionary fight of our ancestors and the stories of our own families coming to America on the mission to bring power to all the people in California and beyond.
