Caribbean American Heritage Awards

The Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH) were established in 1994 to recognize and celebrate individuals "who have made outstanding contributions to American society, promoted Caribbean culture and interests in the United States, as well as to friends of the Caribbean."^[1] The annual awards ceremony is hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies in Washington, D.C.

For the first time since its inception, the 2020 awards ceremony was held virtually.^[2] Although initially announced as an awardee,^[3] musician Buju Banton was omitted from the 2020 awards.^[4] It was widely speculated that the organization rescinded the award after Banton spoke out against mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]^[6]^[7]

The Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals of Caribbean or Caribbean-American descent who have been instrumental in the development or creation of an essential facet of Caribbean culture. In 2021, Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson received this prestigious award.^[8] Previous recipients are listed below:

2020: Judy Mowatt from Jamaica was recognized for her "significant impact on the reggae scene"^[9]
2019: Jamaican businessman and philanthropist Michael Lee-Chin, O.J.
2018: Jamaican actor, playwright and comedian Oliver Samuels, O.D. was recognized for his body of work in the performing arts^[10]^[11]
2017: Jamaican scientist and philanthropist Hon. Henry Lowe, O.J., Ph.D.
2016: Dr. Gerard Alphonse of Haiti, an electrical engineer, research scientist and prolific inventor
2013: Freddie McGregor, a Jamaican pioneer in ska and reggae music, was awarded for his accomplishments^[12]

Other notable awardees

CEO of GraceKennedy Group Don Wehby received the award for Outstanding Corporate Citizenship in 2020, the first CARAH award of its kind.^[13]
Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was recognized in 2020 for her achievements in track and field.
Gramps Morgan, lead singer of Morgan Heritage, received the "Outstanding Contribution to Reggae Music" Award in 2019.^[14]
Soca Artiste Machel Montano was recognized in 2016 for his contribution to soca music.^[15]
International Reggae Artiste Maxi Priest was the recipient of the 2015 Luminary Award for his contribution to Reggae Music.^[16]
Actress Cicely Tyson
Reggae matriarch Rita Marley
Susan Taylor, former Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine
Olympian sprinter and world record-holder Usain Bolt received the Vanguard in sports award in 2009

List of recipients

Early years (1994–2010)


Year	Recipients and Award Details
1994	Hon. Una Clarke, Outstanding Community Service Kojo Nnamdi, Excellence in Journalism US Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY), Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Hon. Kweisi Mfume, Keynote Speaker & Outstanding Political Leadership
1995	Maureen Bunyan, Excellence in Journalism Bertram Fraser-Reid, Ph.D., Excellence in Science Ivan Sertima, Ph.D., Outstanding Community Service Geoffrey Holder, Excellence in the Arts Earl Graves, Jr., Keynote Speaker & Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
1996	G.E. Morris Husbands, Ph.D., Excellence in Science Augusta Souza Kappner, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution in Education Bert N. Mitchell, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Dalton A. Tong, Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Hon. C. Delores Tucker, Outstanding Community Service US Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Outstanding Political Leadership Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados, Keynote Speaker
1997	Hon. Dame Eugenia Charles, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Deputy US Attorney General, Eric Holder, Jr., Outstanding Public Service CCH Pounder, Excellence in the Arts Randall Robinson, Outstanding Community Service US Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Outstanding Political Leadership Ralph O. Williams, Outstanding Contribution in Healthcare
1998	Farley Cleghorne, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Hon. Veronica Airey-Wilson, Outstanding Community Service Lowell Hawthorne, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Edwidge Danticat, Excellence in the Arts Niara Sudarkasa, Ph.D., Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement US Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD), Outstanding Political Leadership Prime Minister Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Keynote Speaker
1999	Hon. Christopher R. Thomas, Excellence in Diplomacy Winston Clive-Victor Parris, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Patricia Isaacs-Green, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Hon. Wilma Lewis, Excellence in Public Service Walt W. Braithwaite, Outstanding Contributions in Corporate America Ernest ‘Ernie’ Ranglin, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
2000	Irving Burgie, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Grace Cornish, Ph.D., Outstanding Community Service Velma Scantlebury, M.D., Excellence in Medicine Dumas Simeus, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Curtis N. Symonds, Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America Neil Jones, Excellence in Science and Technology Jair Lynch, Excellence in Sports
2001	Marva Allen, Outstanding Community Service Hon. Dr. Slinger ‘The Mighty Sparrow’ Francisco, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Ann Rubena Guscott, Spirit of the Caribbean Centenary Award US Congressman Major Owens, Outstanding Political Leadership Don Rojas, Excellence in Journalism C. Sherman Severin, Ph.D., Excellence in Science and Technology Yolanda Simmons, Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Aubrey Stephenson, Outstanding Entrepreneurship
2002	Hon. Diane Abbott, M.P. Great Britain, Trailblazer US Congressman John Conyers, Outstanding Political Leadership Jocelyn Dow, Outstanding Contribution to International Development Norge Jerome, Ph.D., Excellence in Education Elliott ‘Ellie’ Mannette, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Von Martin, Excellence in Journalism Robert Rashford, Excellence in Science and Technology Errol Service, Outstanding Entrepreneurship
2003	Sir George Alleyne, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Hon. Jean Augustine, Trailblazer Carole ‘Sister Carole” East, Outstanding Contribution to Reggae Music Dawnn Lewis, Excellence in the Arts Elizabeth Nunez, Ph.D., Outstanding Contribution to Literature Jeffrey Thompson, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Ronald Williams, Ph.D., Excellence in Education Hon. Andrew Young, Outstanding Public Service
2004	Sydney F.C. Barnwell, M.D., Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Chris and Randy Chin, Outstanding Entrepreneurship US Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Outstanding Political Leadership Hon. Angela King, Excellence in Diplomacy Caryl Phillips, Excellence in Literature Ernesta Procope, Trailblazer Rene John Sandy, Excellence in Journalism Cicely Tyson, Luminary Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Keynote Speaker Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998, Host
2005	Edward Braithwaite, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Alphonsus ‘Arrow’ Cassell, Trailblazer Emmanuel and Jean Cherubin, Outstanding Community Service Vincent HoSang, Outstanding Entrepreneurship George Hulse, Outstanding Corporate Leadership Nekisha Mohan, Excellence in Journalism Richard ‘Richie’ Richardson, Excellence in Sports Thelma Thompson, Ph.D., Excellence in Education Hon. Dr. Michael Misick, Premier of Turks & Caicos, Keynote Speaker
2006	Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Excellence in Public Service US Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Outstanding Political Leadership Ambassador Carlton Masters, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Tracy Neale, Excellence in Journalism McCartha Linda ‘Calypso Rose’ Sandy-Lewis, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Susan Taylor, Trailblazer Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts & Nevis, Keynote Speaker
2007	Frank Ross, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Dr. Muriel Petioni, Forerunner Raymond Goulbourne, Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America John Blake, Excellence in Media Maria Kong, Outstanding Community Service Cardinal Warde, Ph.D., Excellence in Science and Technology Dr. Solanges Vivens, Outstanding Entrepreneurship George C. Fraser, Trailblazer Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, Luminary
2008	Hon. Neil O. Albert, Outstanding Public Service Andrew Ballen, Vanguard in Entrepreneurship Ato Boldon, Excellence in Sports Garth Graham, M.D., M.P.H., Outstanding Contribution to Public Health Hon. Marcia Griffith, O.D., Luminary Dr. Cato Laurencin, Excellence in Science and Technology Hon. Beryl Levi, O.D., Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Karl B. Rodney and Faye A. Rodney, Outstanding Community Service Hon. Helen Marshall, Outstanding Political Leadership Egbert L.J. Perry, Outstanding Entrepreneurship
2009	Hon. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Willard Wigan, M.B.E., Luminary George Willie, Outstanding Entrepreneurship Hon. Usain Bolt, O.D., Vanguard in Sports Alison Hinds, Outstanding Contribution to Soca Music Lynton G. Scotland, Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America
2010	Hon. Rita Marley, O.D., Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Joy Stephenson, Trailblazer Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Outstanding Community Service Joseph Baptiste, D.D.S., Outstanding Social Entrepreneurship K. David Boyer, Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America Wayne Frederick, M.D., Vanguard in Medicine Hon. Marie St. Fleur, Outstanding Political Leadership Sir Edward Cheung, Ph.D., Excellence in Science and Technology Michael Blake, Deputy Director, White House Office of Public Engagement, Special Guest Speaker

Recent awardees (2011–2021)


Year	Recipients	Country of Heritage	Award Details
2011	Rev. Neville Callam	Jamaica	Luminary Award
	Maryse Condé	Guadeloupe	Award for Excellence in Literature
	Frank L. Douglas, M.D. Ph.D.	Guyana	Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship
	Garth Fagan	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Hazelle Goodman	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in the arts
	Arlie Petters	Belize	Excellence in science and technology
	Larry Quinlan	St. Kitts and Nevis	Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America
	Janet Rollé	Jamaica	Trailblazer
2012	Hon. Monty Alexander, O.D.	Jamaica	Luminary
	Anya Ayoung-Chee	Trinidad and Tobago	Vanguard
	Colin Channer	Jamaica	Excellence in literature
	William ‘Bunny Rugs’ Clarke	Jamaica	Cultural Ambassador
	Dean Garfield	Jamaica	Outstanding contribution to corporate America
	Robert Greenidge	Trinidad and Tobago	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Shaka Hislop	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in sports
	Andy Ingraham	Bahamas	Trailblazer
	Constance C. R. White	Jamaica	Excellence in journalism
2013	Camille Wardrop Alleyne Ed.D	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in science and technology
	Leanna Archer	Haiti	Visioneur Award
	Etienne Charles	Trinidad and Tobago	Trailblazer
	Guy Harvey, Ph.D.	Jamaica	Luminary
	Jimmy Jean-Louis	Haiti	Excellence in the Arts
	Hon. Frederick (Freddy) McGregor O.D.	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Shala Monroque	St. Lucia	Vanguard
	Deborah Persaud, M.D.	Guyana	Outstanding contribution to medicine
	Kim Watson	Jamaica	Outstanding community service
2014	Gowton Achaibar		Outstanding contribution to corporate America
	Roger Bobb		Trailblazer
	Dr. Robert France		Excellence in science and technology
	Jeff Haynes		Excellence in the arts
	Carol Maraj	Trinidad and Tobago
	Dr. Rudy Moise		Outstanding entrepreneurship
	Dr. Mortimer Neufville		Outstanding contribution to education; Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Major General Vincent R. Stewart		Outstanding public service
2015	Beverley East	Jamaica	Forerunner
	Barbara Hutchinson M.D., Ph.D	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in medicine
	Gordon Henderson	Haiti	Trailblazer
	Lt. Col. Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell		Vanguard
	Maxi Priest	Jamaica	Luminary
	Magdalah Racine-Silva	Haiti	Outstanding entrepreneurship
	Miguel Southwell	Antigua and Barbuda	Outstanding Public Service
	Michael Thompson	Jamaica	Outstanding Community Service
2016	Gabriel Abed	Barbados	Vanguard
	Dr. Gerard Alphonse	Haiti	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Dr. Goulda Downer	Jamaica	Outstanding Contributions to Public Health
	Ambassador Dr. Edward Greene	Guyana	Outstanding public service
	David Hochoy	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in the arts
	Machel Montano	Trinidad and Tobago	Luminary
	Victoria Rowell	Jamaica	Trailblazer
2017	Dr. Glendon Archer	Guyana	Outstanding entrepreneurship
	Dr. Clive Callender	Barbados	Excellence in medicine
	Hon. Jennifer Carroll	Trinidad and Tobago	Trailblazer
	Congressman Eliot Engel	Friend of the Caribbean	Outstanding political leadership
	Hon. Henry Lowe, O.J., Ph.D.	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Nneka Norville	Guyana	Vanguard
	Hon. Karl Racine	Haiti	Forerunner
	Bevil Wooding	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in science and technology
	Etana	Jamaica	Excellence in the arts
2018	Jerry Butler	Bahamas	Outstanding public service
	Alyson Cambridge	Guyana	Vanguard
	Dr. Andre Cropper	Trinidad and Tobago	Excellence in science and technology
	Tony Harris	Guyana	Forerunner
	Sherry Herbert	St. Kitts and Nevis	Outstanding contribution to corporate America
	Hon. Oliver Samuels, O.D.	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Jean-Claude Legagneur	Haiti	Excellence in the arts
	Inner Circle Reggae Band	Jamaica	Luminary
2019	Evens Charles	Haiti	Outstanding Entrepreneurship
	Dr. Kingsley Chin, M.D.	Jamaica	Excellence in Medicine
	Donnette Cooper^[17]	Jamaica	Forerunner
	Andre Fenton, Ph.D.	Guyana	Excellence in science and technology
	Hon. Michael Lee-Chin, O.J.	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Dr. Winnette McIntosh-Ambrose	Trinidad and Tobago	Trailblazer
	Gramps Morgan	Jamaica	Outstanding contribution to Reggae music
	Euzhan Palcy	Martinique	Luminary
	Erwin Raphael	Dominica	Outstanding contribution to corporate America
2020	Anaya Lee Willabus	Guyana	Visioneur
	Andrea McKenzie	Trinidad and Tobago	Vanguard
	Michele L Jawando^[18]	Bermuda/ Jamaica	Outstanding contribution to corporate America
	Dr Swinburne Augustine	Dominica	Outstanding contribution to public health
	Rt. Honourable David Lammy	Guyana	Outstanding political leadership
	Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce	Jamaica	Excellence in sports
	Senator Don Wehby	Jamaica	Outstanding corporate leadership
	Judy Mowatt	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Frederick A Morton	US Virgin Islands/ Nevis	Trailblazer
	Dr Nicholas Brathwaite	Grenada	Excellence in science and technology
2021	Lloyd Carney	Jamaica	Outstanding entrepreneurship
	Dr. Cindy M.P. Duke	Trinidad and Tobago	Forerunner
	Gordon Chambers	Jamaica	Luminary
	Vidia Roopchand^[19]	Guyana	Excellence in science and technology
	Wanda Tima	Haiti	Outstanding community service
	Hon. Basil Watson	Jamaica	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement
	Justina Nixon-Saintil	Dominica	Trailblazer
	Jason Mars	Guyana	Vanguard
	Daynia La-Force	St. Lucia	Excellence in sports
	Black Violin (Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester)	Haiti, Dominica	Excellence in the arts
2022	Dr. Trisha Bailey	Jamaica	Luminary
	Eric Adolphe		Excellence in science and technology
	Josanne Francis	Trinidad and Tobago	Vanguard
	Stacy Mollison	Guyana	Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility
	Dwight Thanos Smith	Jamaica
	Carol Davis-Boyce	Trinidad and Tobago	Outstanding Scholarship in African Diaspora Studies
	Ainsley Gill	Trinidad and Tobago	Trailblazer
	Bihari Lall	Trinidad and Tobago	Outstanding Entrepreneur
2023	Team Antigua Island Girls	Antigua & Barbuda	Forerunner
	Stuart Archibald	St. Vincent & the Grenadines	Outstanding Contribution to Corporate America
	Michael Blake	Jamaica	Outstanding Public Service
	Leah Marville	Barbados	Vanguard
	Richie Etwaru	Guyana	Excellence in Science and Technology
	Cleve Mesidor	Haiti	Outstanding Social Entrepreneurship
	Jacky Wright	Jamaica	Trailblazer
	Lincoln Phillips	Trinidad & Tobago	Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Sports
	Stephen 'Cat' Coore	Jamaica	Luminary

Caribbean American Heritage Awards

Other notable awardees

List of recipients

Early years (1994–2010)

Recent awardees (2011–2021)

References

External links

Related Articles

Timelines

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