Most of the Caribbean and Pacific was obtained by the United States around 1898 but was previously claimed by European empires. The history of colonization as well as migrations can be found, an example being in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This article was written in order to report on a talk by St.Croix labor leader David Hamilton Jackson. David Hamilton Jackson was a hero for the black population of the islands. He was educated as a school teacher but he spoke about the catholic church which eventually dismissed him by the Danish school authorities. This led to him receiving legal training at the University of Chicago. During this report, Jackson alludes to the Manhood movement, also known as the New Negro Movement. This talk helped lay the groundwork for the border-crossing black empowerment movement led by Marcus Garvey.
In the article they speak about the population makeup of the Virgin Islands, there were 2000 whites or 3% of the total population, dominate the 20,000 full blooded persons of color and the 4,500 persons of mixed blood who make up the three islands. Hamilton, who is secretary of the labor, social and reform party, declared that the time was coming quickly where intolerable conditions were going to end. During his time in the country he will be helping pass legislation in order to help better the conditions of his people. He mentions he wants to improve the water works system and have more adequate hospitals.
During the talk, they speak about the way in which people aren’t in good conditions, they explain that planters are land owners but they hold all the public offices and make the laws. One of the biggest laws was that the annual income in order to vote had to be $300 annually. Before the Manhood Movement, not one person of color had a vote because of the labor wages which were 15 or 20 cents a day. This was only until 1915, when Jackson was able to organize the laborers and they started to earn no less than $1 a day.
Since Jackson was able to change governors, they were under Governor Oman who was being fair and caused the white tyranny over the natives to be ceased. Anyone was able to have access to him when needed and instead implemented a trial procedure when there was something wrong.
Source:
Magill Charles T. “Not One Person of Color Had A Vote” 1920. In American Empire at the Turn of the Twentieth Century, edited by Kristen L Hoganson, 46-48. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017.