Celebrating National Caribbean American Heritage Month
June 2025
Love as Celebration
Dear Friends and Fellow Seekers,
June is National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to honor the profound contributions of Caribbean Americans to our nation’s cultural, spiritual, and artistic tapestry. In June 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H Con Res 71, sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. As we begin this month, here are some cultural highlights that you may want to investigate.
The Rhythm of Faith and Culture
The Caribbean American experience is deeply intertwined with music that speaks to the soul. From the steel drums of Trinidad to the reggae rhythms of Jamaica, from the merengue of the Dominican Republic to the calypso traditions that echo through island communities, Caribbean music carries within it stories of resilience, hope, and unwavering spirit. These musical traditions remind us that worship and celebration are universal languages that transcend borders and unite hearts across all faith traditions.
Consider the profound influence of Bob Marley, whose reggae music carried messages of peace, unity, and spiritual awakening to millions worldwide. His songs like “One Love” echo our Unitarian Universalist principle of affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person, reminding us that “we are one people” connected by our shared humanity. Similarly, the spiritually-influenced music of artists like Jimmy Cliff and the depth found in traditional Caribbean spiritual songs demonstrate how faith and culture interweave to create something beautiful and transcendent.
Musical Ministers and Cultural Ambassadors
Caribbean American musicians have served as both entertainers and spiritual guides, using their gifts to spread messages of hope, justice, and transformation. Harry Belafonte, known as the “King of Calypso,” used his platform not only to share the joyful music of his Jamaican heritage but also to champion civil rights and social justice. His rendition of traditional songs like “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” brought Caribbean culture to mainstream America while his activism demonstrated the prophetic role artists can play in building the beloved community we seek.
The influence extends to contemporary artists like Rihanna from Barbados, whose global platform has been used for humanitarian efforts, and the countless Caribbean American musicians making hearts dance and souls rejoice across all religious and cultural boundaries.
Lessons for Our Spiritual Journey
The Caribbean American musical tradition teaches us several important spiritual lessons that align beautifully with our Unitarian Universalist values. First, it shows us that joy and reverence are inseparable. Our spiritual lives can be expressed with gladness and thanksgiving, honoring the interdependent web of existence of which we are all part.
Second, Caribbean music often emerges from struggle and hardship, yet maintains an underlying current of hope and resilience. This mirrors our commitment to justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, showing us how to find strength in difficulty and proclaim victory even in challenging times. Reggae’s meditation on universal love, the communal celebration in calypso, and the storytelling tradition in Caribbean folk music all demonstrate how art can be a vehicle for spiritual expression and community building across diverse faith traditions.
A Call to Celebration and Understanding
This month, I encourage you to explore Caribbean American culture and music. Listen to the spiritual depth in Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” or the joyful celebration in traditional calypso songs. Learn about the history of Caribbean immigration to America and the challenges overcome by Caribbean American families in building new lives while maintaining their cultural identity.
Moving Forward Together
As we celebrate National Caribbean American Heritage Month, let us remember that our commitment to the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all is strengthened when we celebrate the unique gifts each culture brings to our shared human journey.
Let us hold in our thoughts and prayers the ongoing contributions of Caribbean Americans to our nation and our diverse spiritual communities, and may we learn from their example of maintaining cultural identity while building bridges of understanding and love that connect us all in the web of existence.
In fellowship and solidarity,
Paul Ermisch,
Music Arts Coordinator
Bridges UU
For more information and access to other events, sign our Guestbook!