CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
THE MONTH OF JUNE
Celebrated every June in the United States, Caribbean American Heritage Month recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Americans with roots in the Caribbean. The observance encompasses all nations in the Caribbean Sea, with the vast majority of Caribbean-Americans tracing their heritage to 13 primary countries and several US territories. The 13 officially recognized Caribbean nations honored during the month include:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
Additionally, the heritage month celebrates communities from nearby mainland and island territories, most notably Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, as well as Caribbean-cultural nations on the northern coast of South America, like Guyana.
NATIONAL PRIDE MONTH
THE MONTH OF JUNE
Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ, is a celebration of love, authenticity, and community. Pride Month is a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture and community.
We've gathered some affirmations to celebrate and honor the LGBTQIA+ community.
JUNETEENTH
FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH
Juneteenth (short for "June Nineteenth") is an annual federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. Although President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, the news did not reach enslaved populations in Texas for over two years due to the state's geographic isolation and lack of Union troop presence.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively freeing the last enslaved people in the country. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and read General Order No. 3, declaring that all enslaved people were completely free and establishing "an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves".
Celebrations often highlight historic African American and African diasporic foods. A deep cultural focus is placed on the color red—symbolizing resilience and the bloodshed of ancestors—seen in traditional items like hibiscus tea and red-colored desserts.
FATHER'S DAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST
Father's Day is on Sunday, June 21st, and this year coincides with the Summer Solstice! This precious holiday is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June, and honors fathers and father figures. This special day gives us the chance to honor all paternal entities in our lives, and maybe even be a guiding force in the life of another.