Being a bride-to-be is a difficult job—they have to worry about planning their wedding, picking out the reception hall, and choosing the perfect dress. Picking out the perfect gifts for a bride-to-be can sometimes feel like an even harder job, especially if they’re picky.
No matter how close you are to the newlywed, you want your gift to feel impactful and thoughtful, even if you’re on a tight budget. Start by brainstorming some small gifts for a bride-to-be with these ideas that will please any lucky lady before her big day!
Give Her a Spa Day
Any future bride who is close to her wedding day will have her hands full with stressful chores and preparations—even with help from her fiancée. If you know she’s waist-deep in wedding preparations, gift her the most precious present of all—a break.
Give her a certificate for a manicure, pedicure, or massage, or start a pool with the bridesmaids to give her a full treatment at a luxurious spa. Though it’s only one day away from the stress of life and planning, the refreshing break will mean more to her than it would under normal circumstances. If you want to turn it up a big notch, get her and hubby-to-be a trip to a Caribbean spa to enjoy on their honeymoon.
Accessories for Her Ring
A bride’s engagement and wedding rings hold a special place in her heart. If you’re searching for a more unique or thoughtful gift to avoid duplicates, consider getting her a piece of décor or accessory for around the house to keep her rings and other valuables safe. You don’t have to give her a basic, boring safe—just give her something to place her ring on while she’s showering, cleaning, or working out.
Find a beautiful ring stand or jewelry box to sit on her dresser that will act as elegant décor for her bedroom and a useful gift to protect her rings from getting lost or damaged. If she’s not comfortable leaving her ring anywhere, give her a portable ring safe that can sit on a lanyard while she’s hard at work—especially if she has a job that requires dirty work, such as a profession in healthcare or cleaning.
Personalized Photo Album or Frame
The big wedding day comes with plenty of joy, emotions, and precious memories. Help the bride-to-be keep the memories close to her heart by giving her a personalized photo album or photo frame. Find something cute that matches her and her fiancée’s relationship perfectly, and get their names engraved, embroidered, or stamped on the front of an album or the mat of a frame.
She can fill the pages or the frame with the most memorable images from the wedding or the honeymoon and display them front and center for guests to see when they visit. It may be a small gift to get a bride-to-be, but it’ll have a lasting impact in her home and in your friendship.
From Gucci to Sports Illustrated to Aerie, these beautiful island girls stomp down runways, demand your attention on billboards, and sport designer dresses in A-list catalogues. Although these women can be seen in the most elaborate garb at New York Fashion Week and similar events, they have dreams and aspirations beyond their beautiful features. Read more to discover the most iconic next-gen Caribbean women in the modeling industry to be on the lookout for.
Tami Williams
Giambattista Valli at Couture Spring 2018
Everyone can agree that American Vogue editorial model, Tami Williams, is one of the most beautiful island girls. She was born and raised with her four siblings by a single mother in Kingston, Jamaica. She was discovered at the young age of 11, already standing at 5’8”, by Saint International’s CEO, but turned down the offer because she wanted to experience childhood. Two years later, Williams placed second at Saint International’s Fashion Face of the Caribbean contest and started modeling — by then she was 5’11.” She moved to New York to pursue her modeling career and signed with modeling agency Elite New York.
Williams is the first Caribbean model to be shown in Calvin Klein and by the time she was 16, she had been in American Vogue multiple times. Williams is categorized as an “it girl” with the biggest designers already on her portfolio like Dior, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, and Chanel. Though Williams is a regular at places like the Chanel Couture show, success has not changed her and at the young age of 22, she still returns home often and remains one of the most beautiful island girls.
Kai Newman
Valentino Couture Fall Winter 2015 Fashion Show in Paris
Kai Newman’s modeling career started at the age of 14 when she was leaving the dentist with her mother. Born in Kingston, Jamican with an impressive height of 5’10, Newman was instantly discovered by Saint International. In 2013 Newman won the Fashion Face Of The Caribbean and was signed by One Management model agency, which represents some of the biggest names in the fashion business.
Considered a one of the most beautiful island girls, Newman is among the industry’s most in-demand models and has worked for the biggest brands like Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Calvlin Klien, Moschino, Rag & Bone, Maybelline, Nordstrom, and Banana Republic. Newman and fellow Kingston, Jamaican model Tami Williams have a model sisterhood that has media buzzing, saying this could be the Jamaican version of the legendary trinity of Naomi, Cindy and Christy Turlingotn. Newman, who can be seen strutting down runways during New York Fashion Week, says she adores coming back to her hometown to do runways in Kingston.
Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Shivani Persad has been seen on campaigns for popular retail brand Aerie. Growing up she was told that she should be a model, but fears of her skin being too dark or not dark enough to represent her culture led Persad to push these dreams to the side. It wasn’t until she went to Canadian Idol as a dancer and was told by one of the judges that she should consider modeling that she started to apply to agencies. Once she started modeling, she became tired of being defined only by her beauty and solely being asked questions like, “What’s your favorite style?” or “Who’s your favorite designer?”
To combat this, she started a podcast called “More than a Model” and decided that she was going to start interviewing models for being entrepreneurs, having blogs, or being activists. Because of her multicultural background she tries to educate others about feminism, inequality, and shadeism. If she wasn’t a model, Persad said that she would want to be doing something of substance in the media, fighting for black and brown girls everyday. Environmental activism is also very important to her, especially being in the fashion industry. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the fashion industry accounts for about 20% of the world’s water waste and another 10% of all global carbon emissions.
As a Trinidad native, Naomi Chin Wing attended a modeling workshop in 2015 where she won a competition she had casually entered, and was immediately signed to a modeling agency. Wing later had her breakout moment at the age of 18 years old, when she was cast to walk exclusively in the Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2019 show in Paris. Only moving up from here, the next stop for the young model was couture.
She appeared on the runway for big-name shows like Dior Haute Couture, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, and Valentino Haute Couture. In the 2018 Fall/Winter ready-to-wear season, Wing walked in 26 shows in New York, London, and Paris for designers including Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Off-White, and Alexander McQueen. The family she grew up in didn’t have a lot of money, so she now works to create a safe space for her family and herself. If she weren’t a model, Wing says that she would be an artist or graphic designer.
Chase Carter was scouted at the Sydney Airport flying back to her home country of The Bahamas when she was just 13 years old, making her one of the youngest beautiful island girls every discovered. Carter’s first photoshoots were with NYLON, a top modeling magazine, and she has since gained a strong following on her social media accounts, becoming an influencer with millions of followers. Carter’s popularity has grown a lot because of her YouTube channel, MickCheese, that she runs with best friend and fellow model, Meredith Mickelson.
Carter was a 2018 rookie for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue where she landed a partnership with the athletic brand Under Armour. Her catalog of campaigns includes huge name brands like Victoria’s Secret Pink, Maybelline, Nike, and she has been on the cover of Maxim magazine. Carter has a passion for athleticism and has explained that she wants to give back to her country as much as possible, whether its tennis shoes or helping sports coaches.
Making Puerto Rico proud is one of the most beautiful island girls every discovered: Mileshka Cortés Bernard, who is quickly fulfilling a lifelong dream to become a model. In 2017, at the age of 17, Bernard’s sharp features and editorial look locked down her first runway show for Yves Saint Laurent at Paris Fashion Week — her entree into the competitive world of modeling. Not long before walking for YSL, Bernard was signed with Elite Model New York. With a promising career ahead of her, she walked in a FENTY x PUMA runway show for Rihanna’s well known lingerie brand. Despite her young age, Bernard has an impressive resume, walking for other designer brands like Alexander Wang, MSGM, Acne Studios, Yang Li.
Government, community, and faith-based leaders join forces to champion the fight against COVID-19
The new year has brought with it more daunting challenges in the African American community’s fight against COVID-19. More transmissible variants of the coronavirus have emerged and are swiftly sweeping their way across the United States. This latest trend in the year-long pandemic is especially troubling for Black people, who are 4 times more likely to be hospitalized and 3 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than white people. Despite these stark numbers, COVID vaccination rates for African Americans are among the lowest of all ethnicities. In fact, February data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that only 5.4% of Black people have received their first dose of the COVID vaccine compared to 60% of white people.
As of March 22, all Florida residents over the age of 50 are eligible to receive the vaccine, and Governor DeSantis has approved eligibility for all individuals 18+ to receive the vaccine starting April 5. However, according to a January poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 43% of African Americans are still reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine; taking a “wait and see” approach to find out how well the vaccine works for other people.
African American communities are still brimming with mistrust following historical and contemporary experiences of medical discrimination, including the decades-long Tuskegee experiments and the Henrietta Lacks saga. These are just two of many scars that still resonate today and are at the forefront of the Black community’s view of the country’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout through a skeptical lens.
To share accurate information about COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout with African Americans, the Black Doctors Against COVID-19 (BCAC) hosted a recent Facebook Live event, “Making it Plain: What Black America Needs To Know About COVID-19 and Vaccines,” an episode in an important and informative series which features the nation’s top Black medical experts as well as faith-based and social organization leaders who are keeping Black Americans informed about what we need to know about COVID-19 and vaccines. Here we will be sharing some important insights from that conference.
Good News Ahead
For the moment, the worst wave of the current coronavirus infections seems to be behind us. According to a recent March report from the CDC, the average number of new COVID cases have declined by almost a whopping 79% compared with the highest peak on January 11.
As America mass vaccinates the population in hopes of continuing to lower infection rates and death totals, Dr. Nunez-Smith, one of the event’s guest speakers and director of the White House’s Health Equity Task Force, said that’s why the Biden Administration is taking the imperative steps to lessen the impact of social determinants which affect Black communities.
“We have to make sure that vaccinations are free,” Dr. Nunez-Smith said. “That is an important consideration. But vaccination alone is not sufficient. Specific to COVID-19, we have to make sure everyone has equal access to things like testing for COVID.”
Racial Equality in Vaccine Roll-Out
Also at the center of the issue of equity in the dissemination of COVID vaccines to African Americans is Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO of the Chicago Community Trust. She’s also co-director of the prestigious National Academies of Medicine committee which was commissioned last fall by the CDC to submit recommendations for a framework which will help to determine how the COVID-19 vaccines can be distributed equitably.
Dr. Gayle noted the framework recognizes that communities of color have been the hardest hit and are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This concern also relates to the impact of racism. Dr. Gayle said this has made the project a landmark undertaking.“It’s the first time that equity has been front and center in title and design of a vaccine rollout,” she said.
However, here are concerns in the Black community that the process of distributing the COVID-19 vaccines needs to be improved. Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, has echoed this uneasiness about the dissemination of the COVID-19 vaccines for African Americans. He says the vaccine distribution strategy relies too heavily on hospitals and chain pharmacies, making it insufficient to get the job done.
Morial is strongly urging the Biden Administration to make fast and radical changes to the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan across the United States. He said a broader approach of having nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants administer the vaccine in community-based sites, schools and libraries would be a more effective and “common sense” solution to getting shots of the COVID-19 vaccines into African American’s arms.
Fostering Trusting Relationships
Another dilemma regarding COVID-19 is the misinformation, a lack of information and deep-seated mistrust in the Black community regarding the vaccines and the process used to develop them. Morial said this has led to the concern, for some African Americans, that the vaccine development was rushed or that the process is attached to ghosts of the Tuskegee experiments. To confront these concerns, Morial suggests that government, states, counties and cities foster broad engagement, public relations and advertising campaigns to provide Black communities with accurate information, helping to create transparency relating to the vaccines.
Morial has also noted that it’s key to have the right messengers amplify medical advice and messages about COVID-19 to our communities. “The right messengers are African American physicians, doctors and scientists,” he said. “Those medical professionals who we respect in the Black community, from the Black medical schools, from the Black professional associations, have examined, looked at, reviewed the process and have green lit it.”
As some states continue to struggle with closing the racial gap in the number of COVID-19 vaccinations for African Americans, Black pastors and other faith-based leaders are taking the reins as the respected messengers about the virus in the Black community.
One of those respected messengers is Reverend Calvin Butts, pastor of the nationally renowned Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York. He is also co-chair of the Choose Healthy Life Black Clergy Action Plan which addresses COVID-19 and other health disparities in Black communities.
“Our community has been the one that’s been the least informed, often left out and of course manipulated,” Reverend Butts said. “We’re trying to save lives.”
In late-January, Reverend Butts rolled up his left sleeve to get his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, along with his wife Patricia at their historic church, which was New York city’s first church to administer the vaccine. He is continuing to be a champion for the cause. He’s spreading the gospel, encouraging his congregation and other faith-based communities to rise above reluctancy, trust the COVID-19 vaccines and take the “leap of faith” to get vaccinated. This really gives us our best “shot” to stay healthy, combat COVID-19 and the more contagious virus variants and win the war that’s being waged against the virus.
Darryl Sellers is the Public Relations Director for Creative Marketing Resources, a strategic marketing agency in Milwaukee and a partner of the BCAC.
For more information about COVID-19, health, wellness and upcoming BCAC Facebook Live events: Black Coalition Against COVID-19, a key health resource for African Americans
Black Doctor.org, the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans
In a highly competitive music industry, it’s often hard to get your voice heard. This is especially true for those who are willing to break boundaries, adding their own unique sound to the music landscape. But that’s never stopped these popular Caribbean singers and rappers form claiming the spotlight. In honor of Women’s History Month, we take time to celebrate the amazing Caribbean and Caribbean-American performers who have transformed pop music as we know it.
Nicki Minaj
Popular Caribbean singers and rappers: Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj, who goes by stage name Nicki Minaj, is a hip-hop artist who soared to fame with hit songs like “Super Bass,” “Starships,” and “Anaconda.” Nicki Minaj was born on December 8, 1982, in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago; her father is of Indo- Trinidadian descent, and her mother is of Afro-Trinidadian descent.
Minaj’s music career took off after 2007 when the CEO of a popular record label, Dirty Money Entertainment, found her music on Myspace and immediately signed her. She became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously on the Billboard 100 chart. She has won countless MTV, BET, and American Music Awards, and continues to have success in the music industry; she is labeled an icon and one of the most prominent female rappers in the industry.
Rihanna
Popular Caribbean singers and rappers: Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, professionally known as Rihanna, was born on February 20, 1988, in St. Michael Parish, Barbados. She is the youngest and fastest solo artist to have 14 #1 singles, selling more than 54 million albums and 210 million tracks worldwide. When Rihanna was 16, she left Barbados and moved to America to pursue her singing career. In 2005, Rihanna released her first dancehall-inspired single “Pon de Replay.” The hit song reached #2 on the Billboard singles chart and she was announced as the next up and coming pop star.
In 2007 Rihanna won her first Grammy award for her song “Umbrella,” for best rap/sung collaboration. She is currently an eight time Grammy-award winner. Along with her musical achievements, Rihanna is also a businesswoman, actor, and entrepreneur. She launched her own makeup line called Fenty Beauty, creating make-up for all skin tones, and her own lingerie line, Savage x Fenty, which is a size inclusive lingerie line for people of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is a multi-Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter. She was born on January 25, 1981 in New York. At the age of 7, she began piano lessons and has soared ever since. She excelled in school and graduated early at only 16 years old. Her most popular album “Songs in A Minor,” has gone platinum five times and has earned her a total of five Grammys.
In 2009, Keys’ vocals were featured on Jay Z’s song, “Empire State of Mind” and instantly became a national hit for decades to come. The song spent five weeks as number one on Billboard’s top 100 list, and became one of the biggest successes of her career. In addition to being an artist, Keys is also a businesswoman who has launched her beauty and lifestyle brand, Keys Soulcare, which is inspired by ancient beauty rituals.
Cardi B
Popular Caribbean singers and rappers: Cardi B
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, better known as her stage name, Cardi B, is an American songwriter and rapper. She was born and raised in Bronx, New York on October 11, 1992. She is of mixed Caribbean heritage; her mother is Trinidadian and her father is from the Dominican Republic. She burst onto the scene with her mega hit “Bodak Yellow,” which won two Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. The record also made Cardi B the first solo female rapper to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for nearly 20 years. Cardi B even surpassed Beyonce as the first woman to have 5 top 10 singles simultaneously.
In 2018 Cardi debuted her album “Invasion of Privacy,” which, according to Apple Music’s records, became the 5th most streamed album ever on their platform.
Jennifer Lopez
Popular Caribbean singers and rappers: Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez, popularly known as J.Lo, is an iconic singer, dancer, actor, and businesswoman. She was born July 24, 1969, in The Bronx, New York, to Guadalupe Rodríguez and David López, both of Puerto Rican descent. She first stole the spotlight with her killer dance moves on the show “In Living Color.” Later, she starred in the movie “Selena” which became a box office hit, earning nearly 12 million in its opening week. It wasn’t until Lopez released her album “On the 6” that gave her an A-list title as a performer.
She’s now seen as a true triple threat: she could dance, she could act, but now the world knew she could sing. She has 8 studio albums, starred in over a dozen movies, worked as an executive producer for some films, and has been a host for reality television on shows like “American Idol” and “World of Dance.” She has also recently come out with a beauty line JLo Beauty.
Gloria Estefan
Popular Caribbean singers and rappers: Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan is a ground-breaking Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She was born September 1, 1957 in Havana, Cuba. As a toddler, her family fled to the United States in 1959 following the Cuban Revolution. A lover of poetry and music, Estefan would go on to become the lead singer of the legendary band Miami Sound Machine, where she met her future husband, Emilio Estefan.
The band became a huge success, scoring several Billboard Top 10 hits. They recorded four Spanish albums and hit North America with their first English album “Eyes of Innocence” in 1984, featuring hits like “Conga” and “Dr. Beat.” Other iconic singles followed, such as “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”, “1-2-3”, “Don’t Wanna Lose You”, “Get On Your Feet”, “Here We Are”, “Coming Out of the Dark”, “Bad Boy”, “Oye!” and “Party Time.”
She has won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In honor of her enduring legacy, in 2015 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 for her contributions to American music.
Living in a multigenerational home has become increasingly common in the United States. One in five Americans currently live in a home with multiple generations. This is particularly true among Caribbean families. While this living arrangement has its benefits – financial support, accessible childcare, and shared meals – a multigenerational household can also be a double-edged sword during COVID-19, especially for Black and immigrant families.
With the pandemic pushing past the one-year mark, many Black organizations have been addressing hesitancy and concerns among the community about getting the COVID-19 vaccines. According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), there are still 38 percent of African Americans who are reported to be reluctant to get the COVID vaccine. It is crucial that all Black Americans get the most accurate information about how to stay safe and healthy during the fight against COVID.
The Black Doctors Against COVID-19 (BCAC) is one organization which is keeping African Americans up to date about the pandemic. The BCAC has hosted several Facebook Live events to help Black Americans make informed decisions about COVID which will help to save our lives. During January’s “Making it Plain: What Black America Needs to Know About COVID-19 andVaccines” event, Dr. Felicia Collins, Rear Admiral, United States Public Health Service; HHS Acting Assistant Secretary of Health was one of the 15 speakers who addressed what Black America needs to know about COVID and the vaccines including how the virus affects multigenerational families.
The impact that the coronavirus is having on multigenerational families really hits close to home for Dr. Collins. “The essential worker in my extended family, unfortunately became infected with COVID and brought it home,” said Dr. Collins. “And then grandma became infected and later passed away,” she said.
For some multigenerational families, not having access to separate facilities in their homes poses another challenge when trying to stay healthy during the pandemic. “The multi-generational families living in homes with one bathroom makes it harder for us,” said Dr. Collins. “As African Americans are trying to quarantine and go through these periods knowing that if we’re infected with COVID, we have to stay at home and be away from others.”
Another concern facing the community are social determinants of health, which include access to quality healthcare, housing, transportation, and the access to education and job opportunities.
Dr. Collins stresses the importance of staying equipped with vital information to ensure that they are not at the end of the line when the COVID vaccine is widely available. “The fact is, there are other people waiting to take our spots in line,” said Dr. Collins. They are willing to take the vaccination if we say, ‘No thank you’ to when the vaccine is offered,” she said.
Being armed with accurate information is key as the Black community fight against COVID-19, especially at a time when there’s a surge of new virus variants which some studies suggest is about 50 percent more transmissible than the existing iterations of the virus. Dr. Collins said the Office of Minority Health is committed to providing the black community with accurate information about COVID-19, vaccines and so much more. Dr. Collins said the collective sharing of accurate information is vital to push past the pandemic; “I’m a really firm believer in the power of information,” she said. Each of us must share that power of information with our families and communities. And then we’re going to collectively defeat COVID-19.”
The Biden administration has an aggressive plan in place to help us push through the pandemic, which includes vaccinating 300 million Americans by the end of the summer or early fall. While Black Americans wait for the COVID-19 vaccine to become widely available, the CDC recommends the following tips to protect themselves and family members, including those who are at an increased risk for severe illness from the virus. Dr. Colins said it’s important that families don’t allow COVID-19 fatigue to make us complacent. “Recommit to the public health measures which I know that everyone has heard of, but they are really critical to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe from COVID,” she said.
Wear your mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin. Fit the mask snugly against the sides of your face, slipping the loops over your ears or tying the strings behind your head.
Stay home as much as possible.
Keep social distance. Stay 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) apart from others.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, mouth or mask with unclean hands.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and any shared items between use like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, and sinks with soap and water. Then, use a household cleaner to disinfect the surface. Wear gloves, if possible, when cleaning and disinfecting.
Make sure the household has good air flow. Open a window and turn on a fan to bring in and circulate fresh air if it is safe and practical to do so.
Avoid hugging, kissing, or sharing food or drinks with people at increased risk for severe illness in your household.
Don’t have visitors unless they need to be in your home (e.g., home health nurse). If you do have visitors, before they enter your home, check yourself and others in your household for symptoms of COVID-19 and ask your visitors to do the same. Remember to stay at least 6 feet apart, wear a mask, and ask visitors to wear a mask before entering your home.
Do not allow any sick or exposed visitors to enter your home.
Avoid having family members at increased risk care for others in their household. If people at increased risk must be the caregiver, those who are being cared for should stay home as much as possible to protect their family members at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Dena Vang is the Public Relations Manager for Creative Marketing Resources, a strategic marketing agency in Milwaukee and a partner of the BCAC.
In times of turmoil and uncertainty, the best journalists have always been the voice of reason, providing facts and context to cut through confusion. These Caribbean-American women in journalism are no exception. For Women’s History month, we take the time the highlight a few of the exciting Caribbean-American voices working in journalism today. These women are at the forefront of breaking stories, and have dedicated their careers to cover political, social, and cultural issues and current events.
Abby Phillip
Caribbean-American women in journalism: Abby Phillip
Abby Phillip is an American journalist who works as a political correspondent and weekend anchor for CNN. She was born November 25, 1988 in Bowie, Maryland to parents of Trinidadian descent. Phillip graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Government, where she then worked at the Washington Post to report on national politics. Phillip began her journalism career as a White House reporter and blogger for Politico, covering campaign finance issues and lobbying.
In 2017, Abby joined CNN where she covered the Trump Administration and served as the White House Correspondent. Most recently, she moderated CNN’s 2020 democratic presidential debate in Iowa between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. On January 11, 2021, Phillip has been announced as the new anchor on “Inside Politics.” She also anchored the CNN Special Report “Kamala Harris: Making History” about the Vice President’s barrier-breaking career and the childhood experiences that helped shape her.
Yamiche Alcindor
Caribbean-American women in journalism: Yamiche Alcindor
Yamiche Alcindor is an American journalist who is the current White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a political contributor to NBC News and MSNBC. She was born November 1,1986, in Miami, Florida to Haitian parents.
She has previously worked as a reporter for USA Today and The New York Times, where she wrote about politics and various social justice issues. In 2020, Alcindor received the Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage from the White House Correspondents Association. She is fluent in Haitian Creole and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Alcindor is particularly passionate about stories that highlight communities often outside of mainstream coverage, from immigrants seeking asylum to the impact of COVID-19 in working-class communities.
Soledad O’Brien
Soledad O’Brien was born in September 1966 in St. James, New York. Her father was a mechanical engineering professor from Australia and her mother was a French and English teacher from Havana, Cuba. O’Brien is an American broadcast journalist and founder of her own production company, Soledad O’Brien Productions.
The 54 year old has enjoyed a long and successful broadcast journalism career. She co-anchored the CNN show “American Morning, from 2003 to 2007. In 2012, she became the news anchor for CNN’s morning news program, “Starting Point”. That same year, she also became the special correspondent on the Al Jazeera America News program, “America Tonight.”
Since 2016, she has been the host of her own syndicated talk show “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien” . Through her production company, she has also produced several acclaimed documentaries like “The War Comes Home” following veterans with PTSD, and “Hungry to Learn,” which shines a light on college students struggling with food insecurity. She is also a member of the Peabody Awards board of directors.
The Other Side of Now: Foresight in Contemporary Caribbean Art, Pérez Art Museum Miami, 2019–20.
Photo: Oriol Tarridas
Caribbean art across the diaspora has a fresh showcase in Miami with the Caribbean Cultural Institute (CCI)— a recently launched initiative from Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The program is currently offering fellowships to Caribbean artist and art scholars, to support further art production and research throughout the diaspora.
In 2020, the inaugural fellowships were granted to Guadeloupean artist Ronald Cyrille and Columbia University researcher and writer, Julián Sánchez-González.
Caribbean Artists for Perez Art Museum Miami: “The Other Side of Now: Foresight in Contemporary Caribbean Art”, Pérez Art Museum Miami, 2019–20. Photo: Oriol Tarridas
The Caribbean Cultural Institute reflects the museum’s longstanding support of art in the Caribbean. Past exhibitions and programs have highlighted contemporary artists, selected in collaboration with Caribbean curators and scholars.
Members of the Caribbean Consular corp, Broward Commissioner Dale Holness and guests at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum | Photo: David I. Muir
Caribbean leaders from across the diaspora joined together for a celebratory night of heritage and leadership at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum on March 8. Eight consuls general from across the Caribbean and India, as well as Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness and a number of business leaders, convened at the museum — the first Caribbean heritage museum in the western hemisphere.
This marks the first in-person meeting of the current Caribbean consular cohort. Present were Dean of the Consular Corps Gilbert Boustany of Antigua and Barbuda, and Consuls General R. Oliver Mair of Jamaica, Linda Mackey of The Bahamas, Neval Greenidge of Barbados, Tassa Jean of St. Lucia, Stéphane Gilles of Haiti, Dianne Perrotte of Grenada (deputy), and visiting from Atlanta, Georgia, Asim Kumar of India.
Caribbean Consuls General at Island SPACE: Island SPACE Executive Director Calibe Thompson leads a tour with consular corps members and Broward County officials. | Photo: David I. Muir
Gilles presented Island SPACE with a $5,000 donation in support of the museum’s programming and development. “The consular corps are invaluable partners in executing our mission,” said the nonprofit’s Executive Director Calibe Thompson, “We appreciate their commitment to supporting Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, and their decision to visit with us for the first gathering of their cohort. We were very grateful and pleasantly surprised by this contribution from Mr Gilles on behalf of the Haitian Consulate in Miami.”
Caribbean Consuls General at Island SPACE: Haitian Consul General Stéphane Gilles (center) presents a $5,000 check to Island SPACE Board Member Tamara Philippeaux (left) and Executive Director Calibe Thompson. | Photo: David I. Muir
“This meeting embodied the museum’s motto ‘Island SPACE, a place where Caribbean cultures unite,’” said Mair. “We are all invested in the success of this organization, and strongly believe it will positively impact our individual and collective constituents.”
At a socially distant, informal round table, Holness championed partnerships in infrastructure, trade and commerce between the Caribbean and Broward County. Topics of conversation included local and regional development and the establishment of a world trade center within the county.
Caribbean Consuls General at Island SPACE: Members of the Caribbean Consular corp, Broward Commissioner Dale Holness and guests at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum | Photo: David I. Muir
Launched in 2020, Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives that represent the Caribbean region, in South Florida and the broader diaspora community.
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, located in Plantation, Fla., is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00a.m. through 7:00p.m. and Sundays from 11:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General entry fees are $10 per adult and $5 per child.
Caribbean-American women in Politics. (L-R) Jennifer Carroll (photo: Gage Skidmore), Kamala Harris (photo Gage Skidmore) , Karine Jean Pierre.
For Americans among minority and immigrant communities, equal representation in American governance remains an urgent goal. So much still needs to be done, but many Caribbean-American women in politics are proudly leading the way, providing hope for the future. In honor of March as Women’s History Month, we’ve highlighting a few inspiring Caribbean-American women leading in way in United States politics. From the recent iconic election of Vice President Kamala Harris, to Karine Jean Pierre’s efforts in the Biden administration, and Jennifer Carroll’s success as former Lieutenant Governor of Florida, all of these women are a part of the political leadership dedicated to changing our world for the better.
Caribbean-American Women in Politics: U.S. Senator Kamala Harris speaking with attendees at the 2019 National Forum on Wages and Working People hosted by the Center for the American Progress Action Fund and the SEIU at the Enclave in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Gage Skidmore
After years of public service and political achievements, Kamala Harris was elected Vice President of the United States in 2020 under the Biden Administration. Harris was born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California. Her father Donald Harris, a former professor at Stanford University, is Jamaican. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan was a research biologist originally from India. After studying political science and economics at Howard University, she then went onto earning her law degree from Hastings College.
Harris is currently the highest ranking female elected official in U.S. history. She is also the first woman, African-American, and Asian American to become Vice President as the 49th Vice President of the United States. Before becoming VP, she previously served as a Senator in the U.S. Senate, the first Indian-American and the second Black woman to do so. She also previously held the position as the first female and African-American attorney general of California.
Karine Jean Pierre: Chief of Staff
Caribbean-American Women in Politics: Karine Jean-Pierre at BookExpo at the Javits Center in New York City, May 2019
Karine Jean Pierre, a Caribbean national, was born August 13, 1977 in Martinique to Haitian immigrant parents. She was raised in Queens, New York and graduated from the New York Institute of Technology. She would regularly watch Haitian documentaries to further explore her roots and ancestry. Under the Biden Administration, Pierre was selected to be the Chief of Staff to Senator Kamala Harris, becoming the first Black person in history to serve for a U.S. Vice President in that role.
Her years of experience with presidential campaigns, politics, and activism made her a perfect candidate for this role, such as her position as Deputy Battleground States’ Director for former U.S. president Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. In addition, she is also a Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org, a progressive public policy group, and as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC. In 2018, the Haitian Times named her one of six “Haitian Newsmakers Of The Year.” She also wrote an autobiography book called Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard work, and the Promise of America, that was published in 2019.
Jennifer Carroll: First female Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Caribbean-American Women in Politics: Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll speaking at CPAC FL in Orlando, Florida, 2011. Photo: Gage Skidmore
Jennifer Carroll is a republican politician who was the first black female and Trinidadian-American elected to statewide office in Florida. She is also regarded as the first Black person ever to be elected to statewide office in Florida after the American Civil War. Carroll was born August 27, 1959 in Trinidad and Tobago, moving to the U.S. at the young age of 8. Jennifer Carroll served as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 2011 to 2013 under Governor Rick Scott. Before this role, Carroll served as a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives. Later in her career, after working on the 2016 presidential campaign for Donald Trump, she was appointed as a commissioner on the American Battle Monuments Commission and has served there since 2018.
Susan Rice
Susan Rice is an American diplomat, policy advisor, and public official. She has recently taken on the role of director of the United States Domestic Policy Council in 2021 under the Biden Administration. She was born on November 17, 1964, in Washington DC. Her maternal grandparents were Jamaican immigrants. She attended Stanford and Oxford, where she earned her PhD and was a Rhodes Scholar. Rice also served as the 27th US Ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013. and as the U.S. National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2017.
Protesters rally in Miami campaigning for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants. Photo: Courtesy of Family Action Network Movement.
In the months between Miami Carnival in October and the New Year, South Florida is usually busy with a slate of music concert, food festival and holiday gatherings. This time is filled the silky melodies of steel pan and calypso, parades in the streets and a waft of exotic spices from foods fresh off the grill. But not this year.
COVID-19 silenced the spirited gatherings that anchor Florida’s West Indian-themed calendar. The pandemic has been devastating to Caribbean-American communities, including businesses and families. In addition to navigating the dual financial and health crises, some island immigrants have battled to maintain their legal status—even as they worked essential jobs that kept health services and critical industries running.
A Grinding Halt
Eddy Edwards (right) in happier times with GraceKennedy Foods VP Sales Northeast Region, Ricardo Bryan at Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival. Photo by David I. Muir
When refrigerated trucks (mobile morgues) in New York City became a horrific icon of the world’s COVID-19 hot spot experience, business people took heart. By March, Eddy Edwards knew things were changing. As founder of the popular Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival held in New York City and Miramar, Florida, he saw the writing on the wall early.
Edwards decided the risk of the event in Florida wasn’t worth it, even with social distancing. “I didn’t want to be that guy,” he said of his fear that an in-person festival could become a super-spreader where the virus is passed to many people in one area.
The celebration was among many felled in Florida by the pandemic, from Afro-Carib Fest to Haitian Flag Day. The quiet festival season soon became yet another symptom of the outbreak that shredded the core of the Caribbean-American community—disturbing all work, school and play.
Its most heartbreaking metric is the death toll. Current reports on deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19 do not specify the impact on Caribbean communities since data lump together many people of African descent. What is known is that COVID-19 has ravaged the Black population in Broward County, Florida. According to reports through November 2020 from Florida’s Department of Health, Black people accounted for 25% of positive cases. Of those who got sick, about 40% were hospitalized and 36% died. These numbers were markedly higher than statewide percentages where the Black community made up 15% of infections, 23% of hospitalizations and 19% of deaths.
Gail-Ann Brown and her family are among so many others in the community whose lives have been disrupted by the virus. This summer’s losses range from the pedestrian to the tragic—from a canceled trip back home to Jamaica, to being unable to attend her aunt’s funeral in England, forced to watch from afar via Zoom.
Dr. Michelle Powell observed that this prolonged separation from loved ones has mental health consequences. Among patients at her North Miami Beach practice Powell Health Solutions (25% of whom are of Caribbean descent), she’s seen an increase in COVID-related stress symptoms. These include insomnia, random uncontrolled feelings, anxiety and crying spells.
In contrast to more chronic conditions, Dr. Powell attributes these to situational depression which occurs following experiences of loss or major life changes. Some people have experienced “real, tangible things” such as pay cuts or strains on reliable housing.
“The most important thing for people who are experiencing [symptoms] to know is that it doesn’t mean you are weak,” says Powell. “When the pandemic is managed, we will see people developing coping skills.”
The Cost of COVID
Andy Ingraham, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD).
Mandatory isolation has an economic toll too. Many businesses have been affected by social distancing protocols, especially in the hospitality industry. This disproportionately affected local Caribbean-American workers, says Andy Ingraham, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD). “About 50% of the people in the hospitality industry in South Florida have ties to the Caribbean, [including] longshoremen, purveyors and travel agents, ” he said. “And we found that 90% of the people laid off at the start of COVID were people of color.”
“They have been hit very hard,” said Jamaican-born Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. Eying the recovery, the county is helping businesses stay open or reopen with support from the CARES Act federal stimulus funds. Meanwhile, Holness also predicts many residents soon will need help to keep a roof over their heads.
Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. Photo by David I. Muir
“A large percentage of residents have been devastated. They have no money to pay bills and no ability to pay their mortgage or rent,” Holness said. To combat the impending homelessness crisis, the county spent $17 million of its $25 million of CARES Act funds for housing to assist people living in zip codes with high poverty rates.
“Most poor people have suffered more than the people who are wealthy,” Holness said. “So we prioritized. We used targeted databases, robo calls, texting and email blasts. [We] notified cities that have residents who meet the area median household income [requirements] about the available funds. We have funding for those who need housing to isolate themselves. And we have given money to not-for-profits like the Urban League of Broward County.”
Left Behind
Marleine Bastien leads protestors at Miami rally. Photo: Courtesy of Family Action Network Movement.
Despite these COVID-19 programs supporting residents, Marleine Bastien, executive director of Family Action Network Movement, believes many of her clients in the Caribbean community have fallen through the cracks.
Many of the vulnerable are undocumented immigrants. Others are among the nearly 18,000 with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who are classified as essential workers in Florida, according to the Center for American Progress. This includes many Haitian immigrants, who were granted TPS approval following the devastating 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated quarter million people in their nation.
This past September, an appeals court opened the way to end TPS on March 4, 2021. In October, Bastien, with a group of protestors, rallied in front of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Office in Miami to support an extension of the program, and for recipients to be given a pathway to citizenship. If neither happens, deportations could begin.
This crisis speaks to how Caribbean-Americans and other immigrants have been uniquely impacted by the global pandemic. Many in this group have been deemed “essential” workers — a lifeline for the high risk or more privileged among us — yet federal officials have blithely moved to deport them.
“They are our teachers, our organizers, our doctors, our nurses and most importantly, they’ve been our essential workers,” said Bastien. “They’ve put their lives in danger to feed us, to [shop for] our food even during the pandemic, and they’ve been dying.”
South Florida freelance editor and writer Carolyn Guniss has been socially distancing since March.
