Month: June 2025

Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage: A Legacy of Culture and Contribution

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National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM) is a celebration of the history, culture, and impact of Caribbean Americans in the United States.  In 2024, UConn Law published a  previous blog post  which featured two UConn Law Students, Toni Ann Gayle and Farah Jean commenting on their experience as students from Jamaica and Haiti respectively.

This year, we focus on the history of this heritage month and travel back to 1999, when the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) took the lead in advocating for national recognition. That same year, history was made with the Caribbean American Community Briefing at the White House, hosted by the Clinton administration—a powerful moment of visibility and pride for the community.

In 2004, ICS launched an official campaign to designate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. The movement gained traction quickly: the House of Representatives passed a bill in June 2005, followed by Senate approval in February 2006. Then, on June 5, 2006, President George W. Bush issued the first presidential proclamation, officially establishing the month-long celebration.

Since then, until this year, every June has been marked by presidential proclamations and nationwide observances that highlight the achievements, resilience, and diverse cultural heritage of Caribbean Americans. From music and food to politics, science, and the arts, this community continues to enrich the American story in countless ways.

There are several resources to assist with researching the area of Caribbean:

Available at UConn Law Library!

Image of book Legal Research Methods for English Speaking CaribbeanLegal research methods for the English-speaking Caribbean

Identifies the sources of legal information for the English-speaking Caribbean and provides unique coverage of the independent states and overseas territories in this jurisdiction with a shared history of British colonialism.

 

 

 

 

Transitions in Caribbean Law book coverTransitions in Caribbean law : law-making, constitutionalism and the convergence of national and international law

Traces Caribbean legal thought and its development across many areas of law. Issues of administrative, constitutional, corporate and commercial, international, and labour law are explored in the context of the analyses of the Privy Council, the transnational dimensions of law and within the purview of the intrusive role of international law in domestic law.

 

 

Online Resources

Yemisa Dina, Caribbean Law Research Globalex (Nov./Dec. 2024)

The Commonwealth Caribbean describes all Caribbean countries geographically located in the West Indies. The region is made up of dependent and independent states. Caribbean legal literature has evolved rapidly in the last decade. This guide provides information on available resources for conducting legal research for the following English-speaking Caribbean countries: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Turks & Caicos.

Guide to Law Online: Nations of the World

Links to free online legal materials & pertinent resources in the LOC catalog, pick your country of research.

Caribbean Law Project – Common LII

The Caribbean Law Project is a free‐access resource that makes it easier to find legal information from all Caribbean jurisdictions. Located on the Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII), operated by AustLII in conjunction with other free access Legal Information Institutes across the Commonwealth. The Project covers 16 countries and British Territories.

Caribbean-American Heritage Month  Official 2025 Book List

Book Bankra – List of thirty books released between 2023 and 2025; Caribbean literature written by Caribbean-connected authors with Caribbean themes. The list includes literary work, horror, mystery, romance, poetry, non-fiction, children, all in one.

As we celebrate this month, we honor the legacy of those who made it possible—and look forward to a future shaped by the vibrant Caribbean American spirit.

Map of Caribbean
United States Central Intelligence Agency. Central America and the Caribbean. [Washington, D.C.: Central Intelligence Agency, 1990] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/90683938/>.

 

Juneteenth: Recognizing Freedom and Equality

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Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863, the news took time to make its way around the country. As such, it was not until June 19, 1865, when the Union army brought word of the proclamation to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, making them among the last to be freed, thus Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.

On February 25, 2021, H.R. 1320 and S. 475 were both introduced to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. S. 475 was signed into law on June 17, 2021 and Juneteenth National Independence Day became a Federal holiday. All 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or observance, and many states have designated Juneteenth as a legal holiday.

Juneteenth became a legal state holiday in Connecticut through Public Act 22-128, which Governor Lamont signed into law in 2022. It requires every June 19 to be observed as Juneteenth Independence Day beginning in 2023. If June 19 falls on a Saturday, the legal state holiday will be on the prior Friday, and if it falls on a Sunday, the legal state holiday will be on the following Monday.

Governor Ned Lamont noted the significance of Juneteenth his press release of June 14, 2023:

For far too long, Juneteenth and the end of slavery have not been truly appreciated as a major part of United States history to the extent that they should…embracing this history is an important component of educating everyone about how our nation was built and the significance of what this day means. When we ignore the impact of slavery, we ignore who we are as Americans and the extraordinary injustice that it created. Making Juneteenth a legal state holiday does not erase the cruelty of slavery, however it makes it clear that Connecticut acknowledges this gross injustice in our collective history and recognizes its impact.

HeinOnline’s database Slavery in America and the World: History, Culture and Law is available through the UConn Law Library.  This database brings together all known legal materials on slavery in the United States and the English-speaking world. Read more about this database in the HeinOnline Blog.

Learn more about Juneteenth with the following sources:

UConn Law Library will be open on Juneteenth from 9-5. You can check out which offices are closed  in Connecticut on Juneteenth as well as Juneteenth celebrations across our Nutmeg state.

Juneteenth stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the African American community in the face of oppression and injustice. Its significance underscores the enduring struggle for freedom and equality in America. As we commemorate Juneteenth, let us not only celebrate how far we’ve come but also recommit ourselves to the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality for all.

UConn Law Library + Summer = B-I-N-G-O!

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Mark Off Summer Fun with “Summer Law Bingo”!

Summer is here — and while some people are grabbing beach reads and heading for the lake, we’ve got something just as exciting for our fellow legal minds: Summer Law Bingo!

That’s right! We’re mixing sunshine with statutes, and inviting you to explore the quirkier, lesser-known corners of the law while enjoying a bit of summer fun. Whether you’re a student brushing up on niche legal areas or a practicing attorney looking for an offbeat refresher, our bingo card is designed to match your summer experiences that align with the subject matter featured in the books on display!

 What’s on the Summer Law Bingo Card?

Each square on our bingo card is tied to a legal topic that’s as summery as sunscreen — with books ready for you to check out (literally and figuratively). Here’s just a sampling:

  • Boating Law – Learn about regulations on the high seas (or your local lake). Perfect reading before your weekend on the water.
  •  Golf Law – Explore liability for stray golf balls, loss of consortium (?!) Yes, there’s a body of law for that perfect swing.
  • Recreation & Tourism Law – From amusement park liability to hotel safety standards, learn how the law keeps your summer vacations safe, fun, and well-regulated.
  • Legal Issues in Professional Baseball – From antitrust exemptions and player contracts to collective bargaining agreements and stadium liability, America’s favorite pastime has a legal backstory as rich as its history. Great for fans and future sports lawyers alike!
  • Barbecue Law – Whether you’re attending a community BBQ or running a smoker at a festival, dive into the legalities of outdoor cooking.

How It Works Summer Law Bingo Card

  1. Scan the QR Code! – The QR code will link you with a Bingo card.
  2. Read & Explore – Match your summer experiences with the square that corresponds with each topic. Bonus, check out a book that corresponds to each topic. Really interested? Ask the librarians for more suggestions!
  3. Mark It Off – As you complete each square, mark it off!
  4. Get a Bingo? – Let us know!

 

 

 

Whether you’re interning at a firm, studying for the bar, or just enjoying some downtime, we invite you to take part. Swing by the library to browse the curated display of summer law reads, and let the summer legal adventures begin!

Happy summer!

 

 

Celebrating Diversity: Pride Month 2025 at UConn Law Library

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June is LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) Pride Month! Originally celebrated as Gay Pride Day on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, Pride Month gradually became a month-long event.

The Stonewall site was declared a National Monument by Presidential Proclamation. The Stonewall uprising is regarded by many as the most important catalyst for the dramatic expansion of the movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQI+ Americans.

Stonewall Inn Johannes Jordan/Wikimedia Commons

Today, LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world and has grown to a month-long series of events such as parades, picnics, parties and concerts, including some great events to check out right here in Connecticut:  https://ctvisit.com/articles/pride-month-celebrations-2024

Many legal changes for the LGBTQI+ community have been made since the police raided the Stonewall Inn nearly fifty years ago. However, continuing LGBTQ+ civil and equality rights issues remain relevant today.  HeinOnline features a LGBTQ+ Rights database.  This collection charts the gay rights movement in America, showing the civil rights codified into law in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as the inequalities that still exist today.  To learn more about the newest database check out HeinOnline’s blog here and for additional research, check out UConn Law’s Research Guide, Sexuality, Gender Identity and the Law.