[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 59 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               HONORING GARIFUNA-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

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                         HON. JOSEE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 2014

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to 
recognize the 217th anniversary of the forcible transfer of the 
Garifuna people from St. Vincent to Central America, which is to be 
observed on April 12, 2014. Each year this day serves as an important 
reminder of the rich history and heritage that is an intrinsic part of 
this community, and of the history of the United States. This 
commemoration is the culmination of Garifuna-American Heritage Month, 
which celebrates the important and unique contributions of the Garifuna 
community to my home borough of the Bronx, to New York City, and to our 
nation as a whole.
  The Garifuna community has a unique heritage, language, and culture. 
As descendents of West African slaves, Venezuelan Caribs and Arawaks, 
Garifuna community has long been an important part of several nations, 
including Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 
and Nicaragua. The Garifuna people first arrived in New York City in 
the 1930s as part of the merchant marines, and their numbers quickly 
grew in several neighborhoods. The Garifuna people are now a long 
established part of the fabric of New York City, and of my district in 
the Bronx. Today, I am proud to be able to pay tribute to their history 
and their future.
  Mr. Speaker, Garifuna-American Heritage Month celebrates the unique 
cultural contributions and ethnic pride this community has provided to 
the melting pot that is New York City. I am confident that this month 
will continue to exist as an important cultural landmark celebration 
for many years to come. I hope my colleagues will join me in 
recognizing the significance of April 12th in the history of the 
Garifuna people, and in recognizing their contributions to New York 
City and to our nation.

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