A follow-up community meeting is being planned later this month to continue discussions that began during St. Thomas’ Emancipation Day observance, as organizers work to turn ideas generated during the event into long-term community initiatives.
The Emancipation Day Coalition is planning a Zoom meeting for either Tuesday, July 21, or Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. Community members are encouraged to review notes from the July 3 discussion and join a WhatsApp group to vote on the meeting date, receive updates and participate in future planning efforts.
The meeting follows the coalition’s nearly two-hour “Rebuild the Village” roundtable discussion held after its annual Emancipation Day program at Emancipation Garden. Organizers said the discussion brought together cultural leaders, educators, nonprofit organizations, government stakeholders, entrepreneurs and residents to discuss social, educational, economic and civic issues affecting the Virgin Islands.
According to organizers, participants agreed that the work should continue beyond the annual observance and focus on collaboration, accountability and community action.
Throughout the Virgin Islands, residents commemorated the 178th anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the former Danish West Indies on July 3 and July 4.
Although July 3 is the territory’s official Emancipation Day holiday, many St. John residents continue to observe July 4 as Emancipation Second Day. Historical accounts indicate that news of the successful uprising led by General Buddhoe and the proclamation of emancipation in Frederiksted on July 3, 1848, did not reach St. John until the following afternoon.
Commemorative events were held across the territory. On St. Croix, historian Mario Moorhead spoke at Buddhoe Park in Frederiksted about the history of emancipation. According to University of the Virgin Islands political science professor Malik Sekou, Moorhead and the United Caribbean Association helped revive public observances of Emancipation Day around 1970, contributing to the Legislature’s decision to designate the holiday officially in 1972.
Additional events included the annual Quelbe Tramp through Freedom City in Frederiksted, the “Cry for Freedom” theatrical presentation in Cruz Bay and ceremonies and cultural programs throughout the territory.
On St. Thomas, the Emancipation Day Coalition, which includes the Pan African Support Group, Ascension Livity and We Grow Food Inc., hosted its annual celebration under the theme, “Honoring Our Ancestors: Rebuilding the Village.”
The program featured the ceremonial blowing of the conch shell, libation prayers, ancestral calls, bell ringing, drumming, historical readings about the July 3, 1848, emancipation, a reading of Frederick Douglass’ speech, “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,” along with poetry, dance, music and community reflections.
The planning session that followed focused on identifying ways organizations could work together to address challenges facing the territory. Organizers said proposed next steps include creating a shared community calendar, developing collaborative funding strategies, strengthening accountability among participating organizations and refining a shared vision for addressing social, educational, economic and cultural issues.
“The Virgin Islands community calendar will not simply be a flyer posting site. We will be ensuring the strategic implementation of programs for sustainable impact. Several of the organizers participated in efforts in the 1970s to similarly unite. We have the urgency of now, the benefit of their hindsight, and the ingenuity of young members on our side. Division and demise are not an option. May God Bless the Virgin Islands of the United States,” Lindiwe Francis of Ascension Livity said.
Organizers said community participation will be critical as the effort moves forward. Residents interested in participating are encouraged to join the WhatsApp group, review the meeting notes and take part in the scheduling poll for the upcoming Zoom meeting.
For more information, community members may contact Lindiwe Francis at 340-244-9660, Anna Francis at 340-514-0973, Leba Ola’Niyi at 340-203-3885 or DaraMonifah Cooper at 340-643-6863.
