Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM) has been federally recognized each June since 2006, following a proclamation by President George W. Bush (White House, 2006).

Yet many corporate DEI calendars still overlook the month’s rich potential.

With more than 13 million Caribbean‑descended people living in the United States—about 4 percent of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023)—recognizing CAHM is an invitation to honor layered histories, global perspectives, and vibrant cultural contributions.

By celebrating this month intentionally, organizations move beyond broad racial categories and demonstrate respect for national, linguistic, and cultural nuance, strengthening belonging and retention along the way.

Who Are Caribbean Americans?

The Caribbean diaspora is as diverse as the region itself.

Identities trace to African, Indigenous, South Asian, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and European lineages, shaped by colonization, migration, and resistance (Institute of Caribbean Studies, 2024).

Popular U.S. census terms such as “Black” or “Hispanic” often flatten this complexity, obscuring stories of multilingualism, hybrid religions, and transnational family structures.

Key data:

• The largest U.S. Caribbean‑born groups hail from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana (Migration Policy Institute, 2024).

• Nearly 90 percent of Caribbean immigrants speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023).

Understanding this diversity helps leaders avoid one‑size‑fits‑all programming and embrace more inclusive policy design.

Caribbean American Contributions

Caribbean Americans have shaped nearly every U.S. sector, and not just through cultural arts or athletics.

Their influence spans business, science, politics, and innovation.

Elevating these stories reminds employees that excellence isn’t confined to a single narrative.

It’s global, generational, and richly complex.

• Business & Finance: Ursula Burns (Jamaican heritage) became the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading Xerox and reshaping the corporate leadership landscape.

• Science & Medicine: Dr. Fauzia Ahmed (Trinidadian heritage) has made pioneering contributions in HIV research, helping expand treatment and prevention strategies in vulnerable communities.

• Politics: Vice President Kamala Harris (Jamaican father) holds the second-highest office in U.S. government, proving how diasporic stories can shape national identity and leadership.

• Arts & Entertainment: Lin-Manuel Miranda (Puerto Rican heritage) redefined American musical theater through Hamilton, blending history, hip-hop, and Caribbean storytelling traditions.

Highlighting these individuals challenges monolithic assumptions and shows employees that leadership pathways are expansive and deeply rooted in global identity.

How to Celebrate Authentically at Work

Storytelling Campaigns

Launch an internal “My Roots, My Rise” series featuring Caribbean American employees. Provide opt‑in recording booths or blog templates so participants control their narrative.

Cultural Programming

Partner with local Caribbean cultural centers or the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to host virtual cooking demos, steel‑pan music workshops, or carnival costume showcases, pairing celebration with historical context (Smithsonian, 2024).

Learning Resources

Create a curated reading list using the Library of Congress CAHM portal (Library of Congress, 2024). Include fiction, history, and contemporary thought leaders to spark discussion.

ERG & Leadership Collaboration

Fund Caribbean‑focused Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to lead events and offer executive‑level mentoring. Budget transparency signals long‑term commitment, not one‑off optics.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Token cuisine‑only celebrations. Food can open dialogue, but without context it risks exoticizing cultures.

2. Monolithic framing. Treating the Caribbean as a single culture ignores differences among, say, Haitian Creole speakers and Spanish‑speaking Cubans.

3. Accent bias. Research shows speakers with Caribbean English dialects face wage penalties (Wilson, 2022). Include accent‑bias training in manager education.

Ongoing Inclusion Strategies

• Visa & Mobility Support: Offer legal resources for employees navigating Temporary Protected Status or H‑1B renewals.

• Language Access: Provide multilingual onboarding and captioned meetings to accommodate Creole, Spanish, Dutch, and French speakers.

• Global Mobility ERG: Connect U.S.‑based staff with satellite offices in the Caribbean to foster transnational mentorship.

Conclusion

Recognizing Caribbean American Heritage Month is more than a calendar check.

It’s a commitment to nuanced storytelling, equitable policy, and cultural fluency.

By celebrating CAHM with depth and respect, organizations prove that every layer of identity enriches the collective, and that belonging isn’t seasonal, it’s structural.

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Sources & References

• Institute of Caribbean Studies. (2024). Caribbean diaspora demographics. https://icsdc.org

• Library of Congress. (2024). Caribbean American Heritage Month resources. https://www.loc.gov/collections

• Migration Policy Institute. (2024). Caribbean immigrants in the United States. https://www.migrationpolicy.org

• Smithsonian Institution. (2024). Caribbean cultural programming guide. https://www.si.edu

• U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Caribbean American Heritage Month: June 2023. https://www.census.gov

• White House. (2006). Proclamation 8037—Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

• Wilson, M. (2022). Accent bias and wage inequality in U.S. workplaces. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 26(3), 345–362.