D. Hamilton Jackson D. Hamilton Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and worker’s rights in the Danish West Indies. When the islands were under Danish rule, Jackson traveled to Denmark to petition for better living. Photo Credit: VALERIESIMS
As of Liberty 2021, students in public schools in the Virgin Islands have the opportunity to create a symbolic portrait displaying the legacy of David Hamilton Jackson – the person after whom annual Liberty Day is celebrated.
Called “Art for Activism Project – I am David Hamilton Jackson,” the initiative is held in collaboration with the Department of Planning & Natural Resources- Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DPNR-DLAM) ?and the Department of Education- Division of the Virgin Islands Cultural Education. It was announced and explained during Liberty Day celebration activities held at Government House, St. Croix Monday.
Monica Marin, territorial chief curator, DLAM and arts administrator said the project is really to showcase “the great talent of our students.” “The students are going to create a symbolic portrait that was inspired by David Hamilton Jackson to showcase his legacy and activism,” she said.
“Here in the Virgin Islands, we have a very powerful history of arts and activism. This is a great opportunity for young people to use their voices to indicate what Liberty Day means to them and what freedom means to them, and how David Hamilton Jackson made life better for people of the Virgin Islands,” she said.
“They will be encouraged to share any symbols that best represent his fight for social justice, workers’ rights, increased pay, voting rights, freedom of the press among the many issues he stood up for as injustice,” she explained.
Ms. Marin believes that the project will allow young people to think about how they can use their art to tackle issues of the day and how to take a stand. The medium of choice to showcase their piece can be in the form of a play or monologue via Tik Tok, or a traditional self- portrait in their medium of choice.
“It just has to portray what freedom means to them,” Ms. Marin said.
Born in September 1884, David Hamilton Jackson was a labor rights advocate in the Danish West Indies which later became the United States Virgin Islands. Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and workers' rights on the islands. He petitioned for freedom of the press, and organized the islands' first trade union. Following the transfer of the territory to American control in 1917, he lobbied for US citizenship for the islanders. He died on May 30th 1946.
For more information students and teachers should please contact project collaborators: Monica Marin, DLAM territorial chief curator, DPNR at [email protected] and Stephanie Chalana Brown, director of the Division of the Virgin Islands Cultural Education at [email protected]
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