Shared by Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina, Director Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center at UVI
David Hamilton Jackson has ascended among venerated ancestors of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands. Jackson’s foundational work and sacrifices made for the preservation of a multiplicity of layers of culture, heritage, economics, social systems, education and traditions of the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, the Americas and beyond. The impact of his work to the sustenance of native, indigenous, ancestral, and human rights to the with intervals of birth, sweat equity, labor and choice- provide a very different perspective from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Each of their achievements
contributed to the evolutionary and revolutionary developments of the Virgin Islands in its on-going quest for the preservation of self-determination, regional unity, national security and global heritage restoration.
UVI students continue to be encouraged to research, study, engage and learn more about the cultural heritage research and community-centered contributions and achievements of the Outstanding Virgin Islander David Hamilton Jackson often regarded by the people of the former Danish West Indies as a Black Moses. Resources that are openly accessible for faculty, staff and the wider UVI and VI communities are available upon request from the VICCC@UVI or via a quick search in the VI Department of Education’s Division of Cultural Education https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19va69fFgY/ , Danish National Archives, and Society of Virgin Islands Historians media sites and archives.
Creative independent study assignments included having students view and share reflections on researched information on David Hamilton Jackson who was born September 28. 1884 and transitioned from the living on May 30.1946. Select starting links shared were:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CSJVLgBEy
https://friendsofdenmarkstx.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/David-Hamilton-Jackson-1.pdf
https://www.vi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221028-David-Hamilton-Jackson-Month-Nov.-2022.pdf
Several facts on the life and times of David Hamilton Jackson are provided in the Danish National Archives made available by researching information at www.virgin-islands-history.org and https://friendsofdenmarkstx.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/David-Hamilton-Jackson-1.pdf . Some key points include:
1884: Born Sept. 28 in Christiansted, St. Croix
1885: Christened March 8, at Moravian Church in Friedensthal
1902: On Nov. 18 Jackson was a signatory to the petition from the Native Insular Convention to the Danish parliament for better conditions for the population
1904: Jackson worked as a clerk at Barren Spot Station
1908: Jackson taught at the public school in Frederiksted
1915: On Jan. 8 Jackson published his first criticism of conditions on the three Danish West Indian islands in the West End News
1915: Jackson visited Denmark between 13 May and 22 July
1915: On Nov. 1, Jackson published the first issue of the newspaper The Herald
1915: In November, David Hamilton Jackson established the St. Croix Labour Union
1916: On Jan. 24, Jackson called a general strike on St. Croix
1916: Jackson and the Labour Union entered an agreement with the Planters’ Society and the strike ended on Feb. 26
1916: On Aug. 12, Jackson married Theolinda Joseph from St. Croix
1916: In the Aug. 12 edition of The Herald Jackson threatened rebellion if the sale of the colony to the United States was not implemented
1917-1921: Jackson studied law at Howard University in Washington D.C.
1946: Jackson died on May 30.
…and there is more on-going research on the achievements and impact of the work of David Hamilton Jackson in progress.
In the Virgin Islands (US), the month of November is annually designated as David Hamilton Jackson Month in accordance with VI Legislative Act 7771. http://legvi.org:82/ShowPDF.aspx?num=7771&type=Act. This annual observance contributes to the recognition given to the historic publication of the first free press newspaper in the former Danish West Indies in 1915- The Herald- edited and published by the VI historical heritage icon and leader David Hamilton Jackson in concert with the Virgin Islands Liberty Day commonly referred to as David Hamilton Jackson Day or Bull and Bread Day annually celebrated on November 1st. These celebratory observances are customarily hosted in Estate Grove in the park bearing D. Hamilton Jackson’s name and bust.
Resources that provide accurate historical and cultural narratives on the life and contributions of David Hamilton Jackson continue to be expanded upon in the 21st century. Additional resources include:
https://www.virgin-islands-history.org/en/history/fates/david-hamilton-jackson-rebel-and-hero
http://www.here.vi/davidhamiltonjackson.html
https://www.vi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/20221028-David-Hamilton-Jackson-Month-Nov.-2022.pdf
https://www.virgin-islands-history.org/en/history/fates/david-hamilton-jackson-rebel-and-hero
The research and publication of a Virgin Islands historical timeline by lawyer, historian, researcher, published author, designer, entrepreneur and former Senator Wayne James, provides these additional historical facts of the intellectual and revolutionary passion of David Hamilton Jackson that impacted the transfer and purchase of the former Danish West Indies by the United States to becoming the Virgin Islands of the United States:
“–September 28, 1884: David Hamilton Jackson, Crucian judge, lawyer, editor, councilman, and labor leader, born at Estate East Hill to Wilford Jackson and Eliza McIntosh Jackson.
–1906: Colonial Law of 1906. Law established, amongst other things, voting rights to persons who met certain property/salary requirements. Law also established two districts of administration: St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John.
–1913: D. Hamilton Jackson (along with Colonel Crowe, Charles Ruebel, and Sammy Smith) started a night school at the Danish School on King Street, Christiansted, for the purpose of teaching day-laborers how to read, write, and do arithmetic.
–1915: D. Hamilton Jackson travels to Denmark and is given an audience by King Christian X and the Danish Parliament in order to voice his grievances regarding health care, labor practices, etc., in the Danish West Indies. Jackson also petitions for freedom of the press since the local newspapers were government-owned/controlled.
–November 1, 1915: First issue of D. Hamilton Jackson newspaper, The Herald, distributed across St. Croix. (The Herald remained in publication until 1922). “Readers” were sent out into countryside to read the paper to any illiterate laborers.
–December 1915: D. Hamilton Jackson (along with Ralph Bough) organizes the first labor union in the Danish West Indies, called the St. Croix Labor Union. Membership quickly grows to over 6,000, and the organization eventually purchases and subdivides several estates, namely Rust-Op-Twist, La Vallee, Grove Place, Cane Bay, and Hard Labor, thereby allowing laborers to purchase land on St. Croix. The Labor Union Bank is established.
–February 26, 1916: After six weeks of work stoppage, laborers, organized by the two-month-old Labor Union, win a victory over the island’s plantocracy, resulting in higher wages and better working conditions. (Jackson strategically timed the strike at the beginning of the sugar cane harvest season. When planters forced striking laborers to leave their plantation-village residences, laborers sought refuge at churches and at black-owned residences in the towns. Black merchants supported the laborers by providing food, clothing, etc.).
–October 1916: Success of St. Croix Labor Union encourages St. Thomas laborers, mainly female coal workers organized by George A. Moorehead into the St. Thomas Labor Union with a membership of about 2,700, to demand wage increase from one cent per basket of coal to two cents. The Danish West India Company, Ltd. grants the coal workers the wage increase.”
May this November month and forthcoming seasons within the Caribbean Americas and beyond be respectfully and inclusively commemorated, celebrated, observed and recognized within the best interests, intangible heritage, research, creative sciences, cultural traditions and sacred institutions of Caribbean civilization and humanity. Nationally, regionally and internationally, the month of November has a multitude of annual designations, holidays, and anniversaries. Homegrown Virgin Islands’ observances include David Hamilton Jackson Heritage Month – in accordance with the Virgin Islands Legislative Act 7771 (2015); Virgin Islands Liberty Day (November 1st-1915) ; Antigua and Barbuda Independence Day (November 1st -1981); Dominica Independence Day (November 3rd – 1978); Virgin Islands Indigenous Native Amerindian Heritage Month; Cape of Arrows / Cabo de Flechas Observance (November 14th-1493); St. Jan/St. John African Rebellion/Revolution (November 23rd-1733); United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25th); Barbados Independence Day (1966) and Republic Day (2021) (November 30th); and numerous historic occurrences. The VICCC proudly celebrates our 13th Anniversary on November 9th (2012) in alignment with these other historic, cultural, Caribbean Studies related observances, commemorations and times of reflection of how the Virgin Islands and Caribbean spaces move forward sustainably, strategically and prosperously to thrive.
This is a time of reflection, active engagement, creative momentum and commemoration of great contributors like David Hamilton Jackson to Virgin Islands, Caribbean and global history, culture, heritage and more. May we remember his call to action: “Do My People, Do! “
For more information and to explore digital and physical resources in the VICCC Collections, send an email to: chenzira.daviskahina@uvi.edu or call 3406924123.
Remain Inspired!
About the Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC)
The Virgin Islands Caribbean Cultural Center (VICCC) housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) is designated to produce, manage, develop, teach, collaborate and institute state-of-the-art education, visiting scholars programming, research, publications, mixed media productions, conferences, academic exchanges, professional internships, community partnerships, curricula creation, interdisciplinary cultural media, economic-heritage tourism projects, creative cultural heritage arts, philanthropic fund development, and other resources cooperatively and collaboratively within the University of the Virgin Islands and comprehensively with the Virgin Islands Caribbean community. The VICCC provides research focused on Caribbean Studies and interdisciplinary resources that support the formal relaunch of physical and virtual experiential creative exhibitions and technology that teach and institutionalize the significant historical legacy of Virgin Islands Caribbean culture, heritage, arts, sciences and freedom narratives inclusive of highlights during the month of November annually honoring the memory and achievements of an Outstanding Virgin Islander David Hamilton Jackson.
