Hello Marie,

Read the article about him in our October 2003 newsletter at:

https://www.vinow.com/news/Oct03/dhjackson.php

(Copy and paste the link)

--Islander

It's actually "Bull and Bread Day" otherwise known as "Liberty Day" otherwise known as "D. Hamilton Jackson Day"

Yeah!

You can see the baobab tree on St. Croix under which Jackson and the union members used to meet.

From Centerline Road, turn north onto Route 705 where the green Consumer$ Service Center gas station and Plaza Extra are. Where Route 705 turns right or east, continue going straight north on the residential street. The road will bear right or east, and you’ll see the steam mill and ruins of Estate Grove Place on the left. Go about 100 feet and turn left or north on the side street and go another 100 feet. The tree is on the left about a mile from Centerline Road. It has three enormous trunks and when I last saw it, was covered with fruit.

If you go another 100 feet, there is a mural dedicated to Bob Marley on the left. The Mahogany Road is right ahead if you want to continue into the forest.

I've just read an interesting article about the baobab tree. It is believed to be the oldest tree in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and is the sight of some hangings and other important St. Croix history. It should have a historical marker.

http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/np_uvi/odavis2001/history/baobab.shtml

This tree keeps cropping up as I read about the Virgin Islands. It is registered as the largest tree on the three major islands based on it's circumference, height, and average spread.

http://faculty.uvi.edu/users/rnicholl/trees/

D.Hamilton Jackson was a young african american seeking freedom of the press, t his is because the newspaper that was printed wasn't about their concerns. So he was chosen to go away to gain freedom of the press. Also the newspaper he published was called the Herald. In comemoration the day was named David Hamilton Jackson, Liberty Day or Bold and Bread Day.

Hello,

The islands were Danish when Jackson sought freedom of the press, not American.

"Jackson was well received in Denmark and was given permission to print a newspaper. Jackson returned from Denmark and began the first free press publication on St. Croix, void of all the strict censorship the Danish government subsidized publications had enforced for years. The Herald’s first issue appeared on November 1, 1915."

And other achievements of Jackson's are:

"One of his great contributions was the organization of the first labor union on St. Croix. He envisioned discussions and development rather then the mass physical uprisings of the past. His commitment to the local freedom movement from the strict labor laws that confined free people to work for a few land owners in poor conditions immortalized him as the “black moses”.

Jackson served on the Colonial Council of St. Croix from 1923-1927 and on the Municipal Council of St. Croix in 1941 and 1945. During these terms he often served as a spokesperson, traveling to the nation’s capital to speak on pertinent issues affecting the new US territory like citizenship for the island’s people and voting rights.

He served as a judge of the Municipal Court of St. Croix from 1931-1941 and was privileged to have played a prominent role in the development of the 1936 Organic Act, the body of laws that replaced the Colonial Law of 1906. He attained his law degree from the University of Indiana at Indianapolis; he provided legal services, often without charge, to his people. He was also a member of the St. Croix School Board."

--Islander

No he wasn't "African American", he was "West Indian". I'm sick and tired of people applying the wrong terminologies to our people. African Americans are blacks in the CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.... NOT in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean. The correct terminology would be "West Indian" or "Virgin Islander" or a "Black Virgin Islander" or "Black West Indian" since West Indians and Virgin Islanders can be of any race.

Although the Virgin Islands are part of the United States politically, "African American" has a cultural and historical connotation behind the term, and the Virgin Islands are of a different culture and history than that of the US. Just trying to educate you all about correct terminologies....

Found this article in the online St. Thomas Source. The John Zenger of the Virgin Islands!

D. Hamilton Jackson's Legacy Celebrated Nov. 1
by Source staff

D. Hamilton Jackson.
Oct. 31, 2004 – On Nov. 1, the Virgin Islands celebrates the life and times of David Hamilton Jackson, educator, journalist, judge, legislator and labor leader. Formerly known as Liberty Day, the holiday was later renamed David Hamilton Jackson Day.
On St. Croix, the Grove Place Action committee traditionally hosts the activities, and organizers are preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to the tiny West End village on Monday. On even-numbered years the holiday is celebrated the day before general elections, and politicians and their supporters will be taking advantage of the crowds to do some "last lap" politicking.
Jackson (1884–1946) was born in Estate Hill, St Croix, on Sept. 28, 1884. Both his parents were educated, and Jackson attended East Hill School, where his father was principal. He worked as a bookkeeper at a business owned by James C. Canegata and was known as a community activist. In 1913, with the help of Ralph Bough, Jackson organized the first labor union. Men, women and children on St. Croix were working in cane fields from dawn until dusk for 10 and 20 cents a day. The labor movement later included St. Thomas where the majority of the population were coal workers employed by the West India Company. They earned one dollar or more a day. The union allowed the laborers on both islands to abandon physical uprisings for better working conditions in favor of organized protests.
Because of his knowledge and oratorical skills Hamilton was selected to go to Denmark and make a plea to remove the censorship of newspapers in the then Danish West Indies. He fought and won his case before King Christian X, and in 1915 established the territory's first free press, The Herald.
The Danish government was gradually realizing that governance over its only colonies was becoming increasingly cumbersome. They entered into negotiations to transfer the Virgin Islands to the United States of America. Jackson led the way in gaining support for the 1917 transfer.
On Monday, government offices and schools will be closed territorywide in observance of the holiday. Events in Estate Grove Place on St. Croix begin at noon and continue until well after dusk. According to Raymond Williams, Grove Place Action committee president, the event will include historical information presented by various speakers and direct descendants of Jackson. Several schools will provide entertainment. Vendors will line the outskirts of the village circle selling a variety of local foods, drinks and desserts.