D. Hamilton Jackson

David Hamilton Jackson
David Hamilton Jackson
Born	September 28, 1884 ; Estate East Hill , St. Croix , Danish West Indies
Died	May 30, 1946 (aged 61) ; St. Croix , U.S. Virgin Islands
Occupation(s)	Educator, Bookkeeper, Newspaper Editor, Lawyer, Judge, Councilman
Known for	Crucian Leader of Civil Rights Movement, Labor Movement Organizer

David Hamilton Jackson (September 28, 1884 ? May 30, 1946) was a labor rights advocate in the Danish West Indies , later the United States Virgin Islands . Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and workers' rights on the islands. He petitioned for freedom of the press , and organized the islands' first trade union. Following the transfer of the territory to American control in 1917, he lobbied for US citizenship for the islanders.

Life and career [ edit ]

Jackson worked as an educator and later a bookkeeper and clerk before becoming involved in the politics of the Danish West Indies. He traveled to Denmark and successfully petitioned for the repeal of a 1779 law which prohibited independent newspapers and enforced strict censorship on all publications in the territory. Upon returning home, he established the first free newspaper, The Herald . The date of this event, November 1, is celebrated as an annual public holiday known as " Liberty Day ", D. Hamilton Jackson Day , or Bull and Bread Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With the help of Ralph Bough, Jackson organized the first union in the Danish West Indies, St. Croix Labor Union , in 1913. He lobbied for the transfer of the islands to American control . After his visit, a majority of the Folketing was convinced that Danish rule over the islands should be ended. ^[1]

A residential community in Christiansted has been named in his honor. He is also honored in the Grove Place Settlement Across from the Baobab tree.

References [ edit ]

^ Lidegaard, Bo (2006) [2003]. Dansk u denrigspolitiks historie 4: Overleveren 1914-1945 (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Gyldendal. p. 80. ISBN 87-02-04976-7 .

Sources [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

"The Herald" issues openly online in the Digital Library of the Caribbean

This biographical article about a workers' rights activist is a stub . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it .

[lidegaard80-1] Lidegaard, Bo (2006) [2003]. Dansk u denrigspolitiks historie 4: Overleveren 1914-1945 (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Gyldendal. p. 80. ISBN 87-02-04976-7 .

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Life and career [ edit ]

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