Clarke joins Biden, Harris for signing of historic
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
‘Super excited’ inaugural National Caribbean American Restaurant Week
Caribbean Life, JUNE 18-24, 2021 7
By Nelson A.King
Dominic Christopher, the Jamaicanborn
president of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean
American Restaurant Association
(CARA) has described as “super excited”
his organization’s hosting of the first ever,
in-person National Caribbean American
Restaurant Week.
The historical event was launched on
Sunday at the popular Suede Restaurant
in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Christopher said CARA also organized
participating restaurants in over 17 states
and 30 cities across the US in honor of
National Caribbean American Restaurant
Week.
“As we also celebrate Caribbean American
Heritage Month, let us all remember
to do all we can to patronize our restaurants
not only here in New York City but
also across the US,” Christopher told Caribbean
Life.
“Our restaurants experienced the brunt
of COVID-19 business closures, so CARA
will stay focused on our mission of fully
supporting our members,” he added.
Christopher said National Caribbean
American Restaurant Week featured
“exceptional Caribbean foods, topshelf
mixtures of Caribbean drinks, and
a unique experience for our important
invited guests and patrons alike.”
He said Sunday’s celebration kick-started
extended Restaurant Week, “which is
helping as many restaurants as possible to
recover and restore the financial health of
their business due to the devastating losses
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Christopher said one of the objectives
of the National Caribbean American Restaurant
Week is to help generate local
support for restaurants impacted by the
pandemic in New York City and around
the country.
Sunday’s launch was also hosted by
Oliver Samuels, the legendary Jamaican
actor, performer, comedian, director and
producer, who recently celebrated his
50th year in cultural entertainment.
“Whenever Jamaican and Caribbean
people gather, I’m very proud to be part
of the gathering,” Samuels told Caribbean
Life during the event. “It is believed
that we’re the most fragmented people,
and this is a manifestation that this is
not the case. The idea of this event is a
brilliant one.
“I feel very honored and very special to
be here,” added Samuels, who came from
Jamaica specially for the event. “What I
would like is that it gets bigger and bigger.
And I hope Caribbean peoples will
support and give it the support, so it’ll
become an annual event to be part of our
heritage.”
Chaka Bomani, the St. Lucian-born
co-owner of Suede Restaurant, said the
restaurant was “proud to host the first
ever National Caribbean American Restaurant
Week.
“As a sponsor and a proven community
partner, we are happy to do our
part in bringing awareness to such a
critical endeavor,” he told Caribbean Life.
“COVID-19 devastated many of our restaurants.
So, doing our part is essential.”
By Nelson A. King
Caribbean American Democratic
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and
members of a congressional delegation
on Thursday joined US President Joe
Biden and Vice President, Caribbean
American, Kamala Harris for the signing
of the historic Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act.
On Wednesday, in an overwhelming
vote of 415-14, the US House of
Representatives passed S. 475, the
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Act, to commemorate Juneteenth, the
national remembrance of the end of
chattel slavery in the United States, as a
federal holiday.
“I am so proud to join President
Biden, Vice President Harris and my
colleagues for the singing this historic
legislation into law,” Clarke, the
daughter of Jamaican immigrants, told
Caribbean Life soon after the signing
ceremony.
“This year commemorates the 156th
anniversary of Juneteenth, when Union
troops arrived in Galveston, Texas,
declaring the abolition of slavery two
years after the Emancipation Proclamation
and two months after the end
of the Civil War,” added the representative
for the 9th Congressional District
in Brooklyn. “With their freedom, the
original sin of the American experiment
came to an end, and a chapter — of
optimism and promise — opened.
“Juneteenth’s prolific significance
continues to resonate across our global
diaspora,” continued Clarke, chair of
the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce
on Immigration, a senior member
of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee, and a senior member of
the House Committee on Homeland
Security. “Whether you are from the
Caribbean or Africa, born in America or
abroad, Juneteenth marks when many
of our ancestors were liberated from
bondage.
“However, the realization that
although free, Black Americans continue
to face racial discrimination, inequality,
terror and violence is cause
for grave concern, and a clarion call to
action. Juneteenth is more than a celebration;
it is a reminder of the plight of
enslaved people,” the congresswoman
said. “We must never forget our ancestor’s
sacrifices, and we continue the
work in their honor.”
Clarke noted that, on Jun. 19, 1865,
the United States’ last remaining
enslaved persons were informed of their
liberation, more than two years following
the Emancipation Proclamation.
Over the course of the subsequent 156
years, she said Jun. 19 became known as
“Juneteenth”, and has been celebrated
and commemorated by untold individuals
throughout the world.
By signing national legislation recognizing
Jun 19 as “Juneteenth National
Independence Day,” Biden created the
United States’ 12th federal holiday.
U.S. President Joe Biden during a news conference at the White House, in
Washington, U.S. May 21, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Oliver Samuels (center) in discussion with Dominic Christopher (right)
and community advocate Ray Martin during launch of National Caribbean
American Restaurant Week. Photo by Nelson A. King