Territory’s Youth Shine During African Liberation Day Event At Legislature

ST. THOMAS — The 32nd Legislature hosted simultaneous African Liberation Day events in the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John Districts on Thursday, which was also part of African Heritage Week in the territory.

In St. Thomas, activities commenced with a ceremonial flag raising outdoors at the Legislature, before moving inside to the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall for a program that included music, dance, speeches, and poetry, as seen in the video below.

“This is an opportunity for us to celebrate and observe and have a better under of the dynamics that shaped our history as African people who made contributions to global society and found themselves enslaved in the New World institution of slavery,” said Senate President Myron Jackson in a release preceding the event. “We should recognize our building of New World societies and our continued struggle for self-determination and economic and social advancement.”

African Liberation Day became a territorial observance in the USVI with the passage of Act. No. 5473 (Bill No. 18-0147) on Nov. 3, 1989, proclaiming the Third Week in May, African Heritage Week. The legislation was proposed by Senators Lorraine Berry, Holland Redfield, St. Claire Williams, Bent Lawaetz, Elmo Roebuck, Edgar Iles, David Puritz, Alicia Hansen, and Robert O’Connor, according to information provided by the Legislature.

The proclamation, inspired by the work of the Afrikaan Appraisal Workshop and other community groups, recognizes that a majority of the territory’s population descends from African ancestors, whose culture and heritage have significantly shaped the islands.

African Liberation Day is officially celebrated around the world annually on May 25. This year’s theme was “Raising the Consciousness of African Youth Through Enlightenment, Empowerment, Culture, & Organization for Liberty & Dignity.”