[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 131 (Saturday, September 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1397-E1398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE SENSE THAT THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL 
   AMERICANS OF AFRICAN IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH (AFRICAN IMMIGRANT 
                             HERITGE MONTH)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 2013

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize September as 
National Americans of African Immigrant Heritage Month and to celebrate 
the significant contributions of Americans of African Immigrant 
Heritage who have enriched the history of the United States:
  Whereas, people of recent African immigrant heritage are found in 
every State of the Union;
  Whereas, the history of Americans of African Immigrant Heritage in 
the United States is inextricably tied to the story of the United 
States;
  Whereas, the community of Americans of African immigrant heritage is 
an inherently diverse population comprised of more than 45 distinct 
ethnicities and more than 500 language dialects;
  Whereas, Americans of African immigrant heritage in the United States 
come from all regions in Africa and do not constitute a homogeneous 
group, including people from different national, linguistic, ethnic, 
racial, cultural and social backgrounds;
  Whereas, Americans of African immigrant heritage came to the United 
States voluntarily, and are distinct from African Americans, the latter 
of whom are descendants of mostly West and Central Africans who were 
involuntarily brought to the United States by means of the historic 
Atlantic slave trade;
  Whereas, the month of September has been celebrated by the Africans 
of Montgomery County, Maryland since 2008, because, African Union Day 
is on September 9th;
  Whereas, recent African immigrants have made significant 
contributions to American culture such as having high educational and 
income levels, as well as contributing to many areas of American life 
such as the military, health-care, arts, education, community service 
and public policy; and
  Whereas, raising awareness about African immigrant heritage is 
crucial to effectively fighting disparities within the greater Black 
population in the American narrative and is essential to building a 
stronger community and a stronger America; and
  Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant 
number of slaves from Africa region were brought to the United States;
  Whereas, African immigrants from Cape Verde first came to the United 
States in the 1790s, The Cape Verdean immigrants arrived aboard New 
England whaling ships, which would often pick up crewmen off the coast 
of Cape Verde in Africa and their descendants include the legendary 
Lena Home and sailors who fought in the Union Navy;
  Whereas, In 1922, the US government restricted the immigration of 
peoples of color, greatly reducing Cape Verdean immigration. The new 
regulations also prevented Cape Verdean Americans from visiting Africa 
for fear of being denied reentry into the United States;
  Whereas, In the 1960s to 1970s, due to the more racially inclusive 
regulations of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, more 
African immigrants from across the continent came to the US primarily 
as students;
  Whereas, In the 1980s and 1990s, Africans in the US were primarily 
refugees, who were fleeing hardships from countries such as Ethiopia, 
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan;
  Whereas, In the 2000s Africans in the US were primarily beneficiaries 
of the highly popular State Department program known as the Diversity 
Visa lottery program;
  Whereas, much like the United States, the countries in Africa faced 
obstacles of in country-slavery and colonialism and struggled for 
independence;
  Whereas, the independence movements in many countries in Africa 
during the 1960s and the consequential establishment of independent 
democratic countries in Africa strengthened ties between the region and 
the United States;
  Whereas, there have been many influential Americans of recent African 
immigrant heritage in the history of the United States, including in 
Academia: Jem Spectar, Elfatih A.B. Eltahir, Ahmed Zewail;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent in sports, which include: Betty Okino, Yoakim 
Noah, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ndamukong Suh, Luc Mbah a Mboute, Freddy Adu, 
Alfred Aboya;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent in the arts, which include: Akon, Charlize 
Theron, Dave Matthews, Djimon Hounsou, Karine Plantadit, Idris Elba, 
Wale, and Anika Noni Ross;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent in media, which include: Sade Baderinwa, Yves 
Bollanga, Lola Ogunnaike, Pamela Anchang, Celestin Ngoa, Omoyele 
Sowore;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent in fashion, which include: Imam, Kibonen Nfi, 
Oluchi, Bertini Wandja Heumegni, Liya Kebede, BeBe Zahara Benet, and 
Betrand Fote;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent who are successful entrepreneurs, which 
include: Jessica Matthews, Kase Lukman Lawal, Christopher Che, Elon 
Musk, and Noah A. Samara;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent in government, such as Members of the 
Montgomery County Executive's African Advisory Group (MD), Washington, 
DC Mayor's Commission of African Affairs, the Newark Mayor's African 
Commission (NJ the Philadelphia Mayor's African and Caribbean 
Commission (PA), the Bronx Borough President's African Advisory Council 
(NY), Council Member Edoaurd Haba, and Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson;
  Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent 
African immigrant descent as African immigrant activists, which 
include: Tsehaye Teferra of Ethiopian Community and Development Center 
and Sylvie Bello of Cameroon American Council;
  Whereas, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein 
Obama, is of Kenyan descent;
  Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage have played 
an active role in the civil rights movement and other social and 
political movements in the United States;
  Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage have 
contributed greatly to education, fine arts, business, literature, 
journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 
science, technology, and other areas in the United States;
  Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage share their 
culture through art, fashion, festivals, music, dance, film, and 
literature that enrich the cultural landscape of the United States;
  Whereas, the countries in Africa are important economic partners of 
the United States;
  Whereas, the people of Africa share the hopes and aspirations of the 
people of the United States for peace and prosperity throughout the 
world;
  Whereas, there remains much to be done to ensure that Americans of 
recent African immigrant heritage have access to resources and a voice 
in the Government of the United States and continue to advance in the 
political, social, and economic landscape of the United States;
  Whereas, celebrating African Immigrant Heritage Month provides the 
people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the 
achievements, contributions, and history of and to appreciate the 
challenges faced by Americans of recent African immigrant heritage; and

[[Page E1398]]

  Whereas, September is an appropriate month to establish an African 
Immigrant Heritage Month: chosen because African Union Day is September 
9.
  I am firmly resolved that a National Americans of African Immigrant 
Heritage Month should be established to celebrate the significant 
contributions of Americans of recent African Immigrant Heritage to the 
history of the United States, and believe the people of the United 
States should observe the month with appropriate ceremonies, 
celebrations, and activities.
  Americans of recent African Immigrant Heritage strengthen the United 
States and enhance its rich diversity; it is time we formally celebrate 
this fact.

                          ____________________