Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., delivered the inaugural Alexander Hamilton Distinguished Lecture at the University of the Virgin Islands Orville E. Kean campus on St. Thomas Thursday.
Although UVI President Safiya George plans to make the lecture series an annual occurrence, Aderholt’s inaugural iteration, entitled “The Virgin Islands’ Place in America’s Founding,” was especially significant as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence.
“[Hamilton’s] journey from the Caribbean to the highest levels of national leadership serves as a powerful reminder that talent can emerge from any community, and that opportunity, when matched with determination, can change the course of history,” George said.
Aderholt noted that, while many Americans likely do not know of Hamilton’s connection to the Virgin Islands, his story is a reminder of the country’s diversity.
“As we commemorate America’s 250th birthday, Hamilton’s story reminds us that the American story has never been confined to one particular place, and it has always been enriched by people, by ideas, and by experiences that are far beyond the mainland, and the Virgin Islands is a very, very important part of that story,” Aderholt said.
Aderholt’s sentiments were echoed by Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Delegate Stacey Plaskett, who also delivered remarks as part of the morning’s proceedings.
“Many people talk about [Hamilton] being the architect of our banking system, but what they don’t discuss is the many components that the Virgin Islands brought to that discussion for him, not just utilizing the ledger system that he learned from the clerks, but the counting system that he learned from enslaved Africans, the Danes, the Dutch, all provided components to what became the greatest banking system in the world,” Plaskett said.
Roach spoke of the importance of considering Virgin Islands history in the context of resilience and fortitude in the face of inherited slavery.
“African people gathered in Fredriksted and said, ‘No, this is not how this will happen. We will take our freedom, because if we are not free, this place does not thrive any longer. You have built countries on our backs, and we will not continue that experience,’” he said.
While much of the morning was devoted to history, each of the speakers also took a moment to lay out their vision for the future.
“[Myself] and the legislature to a great degree have supported efforts to have a medical school at the University [of the Virgin Islands],” Roach said. “We know that part of the solution to our health dilemma in the Virgin Islands is to have more qualified individuals to service the health needs of our population, and I’m sure that we’re going to have this happen under the presidency of Dr. Safiya George,” Roach continued.
Turning to the future, Plaskett posed a sobering question.
“The Virgin Islands gave Alexander Hamilton his foundation. The question for us is whether we give our young people theirs,” she said.
Plaskett touted legislation recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would grant instate tuition to Virgin Islanders seeking to attend public universities on the mainland.
“We know that every major is not going to be at the University of the Virgin Islands, and therefore having this opportunity can relieve the burden [of tuition payments] for our students to be able to say ‘I could take a job back home,’” she said.
Aderholt also spoke of the uplifting character of education, noting that Hamilton “understood something that remains true today, and that is that a society thrives when people are given the opportunity to develop their talents and to contribute to the common good.”
“The story of Alexander Hamilton demonstrates how extraordinary contributions can come from perhaps unexpected places. A young boy from Saint Croix in the Virgin Islands, who faced adversity and uncertainty, helped shape the destiny of a nation. His life reminds us that talent is universal, even when opportunity is not, and it reminds us of the importance of creating pathways for future generations to learn, to grow, and to lead, and that mission is embodied by this great university here today,” he continued.
The event was jointly sponsored by the University of the Virgin Islands and the government of the Virgin Islands.
