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." 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. Although initially announced as an awardee, musician Buju Banton was omitted from the 2020 awards. It was widely speculated that the organization rescinded the award after Banton spoke out against mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award 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. Previous recipients are listed below:
2020: Judy Mowatt from Jamaica was recognized for her "significant impact on the reggae scene" 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 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
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. 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. Soca Artiste Machel Montano was recognized in 2016 for his contribution to soca music. International Reggae Artiste Maxi Priest was the recipient of the 2015 Luminary Award for his contribution to Reggae Music. 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) +YearRecipients and Award Details1994Hon. 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 Leadership1995Maureen 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 Achievement1996G.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 Speaker1997Hon. 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 Healthcare1998Farley 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 Speaker1999Hon. 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 Achievement2000Irving 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 Sports2001Marva 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 Entrepreneurship2002Hon. 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 Entrepreneurship2003Sir 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 Service2004Sydney 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, Host2005Edward 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 Speaker2006Justice 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 Speaker2007Frank 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 2008Hon. 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 Entrepreneurship2009Hon. 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 America2010Hon. 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) +YearRecipientsCountry of HeritageAward Details2011Rev. Neville CallamJamaicaLuminary AwardMaryse Condé GuadeloupeAward for Excellence in LiteratureFrank L. Douglas, M.D. Ph.D.GuyanaAward for Outstanding EntrepreneurshipGarth FaganJamaica Marcus Garvey Lifetime AchievementHazelle GoodmanTrinidad and TobagoExcellence in the artsArlie PettersBelizeExcellence in science and technologyLarry QuinlanSt. Kitts and NevisOutstanding Contribution to Corporate AmericaJanet RolléJamaicaTrailblazer2012Hon. Monty Alexander, O.D.JamaicaLuminaryAnya Ayoung-CheeTrinidad and TobagoVanguardColin ChannerJamaicaExcellence in literatureWilliam ‘Bunny Rugs’ ClarkeJamaicaCultural AmbassadorDean GarfieldJamaicaOutstanding contribution to corporate AmericaRobert Greenidge Trinidad and TobagoMarcus Garvey Lifetime AchievementShaka HislopTrinidad and TobagoExcellence in sportsAndy IngrahamBahamasTrailblazerConstance C. R. WhiteJamaicaExcellence in journalism2013Camille Wardrop Alleyne Ed.DTrinidad and TobagoExcellence in science and technologyLeanna ArcherHaitiVisioneur AwardEtienne CharlesTrinidad and TobagoTrailblazerGuy Harvey, Ph.D.JamaicaLuminaryJimmy Jean-LouisHaitiExcellence in the ArtsHon. Frederick (Freddy) McGregor O.D.JamaicaMarcus Garvey Lifetime AchievementShala MonroqueSt. LuciaVanguardDeborah Persaud, M.D.GuyanaOutstanding contribution to medicineKim WatsonJamaicaOutstanding community service2014Gowton AchaibarOutstanding contribution to corporate AmericaRoger BobbTrailblazerDr. Robert FranceExcellence in science and technologyJeff HaynesExcellence in the artsCarol MarajTrinidad and TobagoDr. Rudy MoiseOutstanding entrepreneurship Dr. Mortimer NeufvilleOutstanding contribution to education;