V.I. Strong

Too Caribbean to be American, Too American to be Caribbean

Cyrenity Augustin

This grant project was funded by the Brandeis University’s Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies Department’s Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Grant

The US Virgin Islands is a place that, though filled with culture, music, history, and life, is often left on the fringes of the public eye. When one does know of these islands, it is either reduced to a mere vacation spot, or is described as “Too American to be Caribbean, and too Caribbean to be American”, framing the Virgin Islander identity as one left in the in-between. Constantly consumed, and rarely included.

This photo gallery, titled V.I. Strong, is meant to highlight the wonderful story of the Virgin Islands, with this segment having a heavy focus on the island of St Croix. As you look at the various photos displayed, I hope that you leave with a stronger awareness of the Virgin Islands’ culture, history, and people, and come to see it as just as beautiful as I do.

This hand sign is a common one used to represent the Virgin Islands, with the fingers making a “V” with the pointer and middle finger, and an ”I” with the pinky.

Videos

Interviews with:

Senator Marise James

Jordan James

Mabel Maduro

Coming Soon!!

This statue is known as the “Freedom Statue” and is located in Frederiksted, also known as “The City of Freedom”. It is here that the slave revolt that brought an end to slavery in the U.S. Virgin Islands took place in 1848.

After Christopher Columbus arrived on the island on November 14, 1493, 7 flags were flown over the island. The Spanish, the Dutch, the English, the French, the Knights of Malta, the Danish, and the US.

“The year 2023 marked the 175th anniversary of emancipation for the US Virgin Islands, which originally took place on July 3, 1848. The enslaved people of the Virgin Islands led “a non-violent slave rebellion” with “the Danish Governor Peter von Scholten…stating that “all unfree in the Danish West Indies are from today emancipated” despite the Danish Crown having said that the last slaves would be emancipated in 1859.””

(officeholidays.com VI Emancipation Day in US Virgin Islands in 2024)

The US Virgin Islands is a US territory, having been bought from the Danish on March 30, 1917. Despite this, the islands and their people are often improperly represented in governmental spaces, including elections and military bodies.

“When I joined the Black Student Union, I felt a disconnect…I couldn’t relate based on our cultural differences. When I joined the Caribbean Association, I felt shunned, because they kept telling me we weren’t Caribbean, we were American.” (Cindy Augustin)

“For me to walk both words, I just focus on where the culture overlaps…one becomes adept at walking in both cultures, the Virgin Island culture…and the Black American culture.” (Curtis Augustin)

“Some people just don’t know that we exist…especially people in the United States. I had experiences even in the military, where military members from other states were like ‘Virgin Islands National Guard?’ you know?” (Senator Marise James)

“Built between 1738-1749 on the site of a French fortification that was destroyed in a hurricane, Fort Christiansvaern served to protect the interests of the Danish West India and Guinea Company’s and Danish assets in Christiansted. The fort defended the island of St. Croix and Christiansted from piracy and privateers. It served many roles over the centuries: housing the first Danish governors, a prison, an instrument of mass oppression and eventually a place of liberation.”

(https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-christiansvaern.htm)

“Fort Frederik is a mid-eighteenth century Danish masonry fort located at the north end of Frederiksted, on the western end of St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. It is also known as Fort Frederiksted and Frederiksfort. The fort was built to protect Danish colonial interests in the Caribbean and the western end of St. Croix against incursions by other colonial powers, prevent smuggling, protect shipping in the Frederiksted harbor from pirates and privateers, and maintain order among the colony’s enslaved people. ...During the twentieth century, Fort Frederik served as a police station, jail, court, fire department, public library, and telephone exchange. The structure was vacated in 1973 and restoration as a historic site was completed by the Virgin Islands government in 1976. At that time the fort was restored to its 1780 configuration, and it currently serves as an interpreted facility and local, history museum.”

https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-frederiksted-usvi.htm

“You have probably seen dozens of historic sugar mills dotting the landscape of St. Croix. Many of these mills were constructed between 1750 and 1800 when, while under Danish rule, St. Croix was one of the richest sugar producing islands in all of the Caribbean. These picturesque mills and remaining sugar plantation ruins now serve as reminders of the heritage of the island when ‘sugar was king’ and St. Croix was known as ‘The Garden of the West Indies’”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/explore-sugar-mill-plantation-ruins/)

“Embracing our history with pride even from the dark eras! St. Croix, with over 150 wind-powered sugar mills in its past, holds stories of resilience and strength. These historical landmarks are not just reminders of a challenging past but symbols of our community’s spirit. Just like the sturdy foundation of the sugar mills, we stand tall with hope and pride, reflecting on how much we have overcome and celebrating our journey towards a brighter future.”

(West Gyul Instagram page)

The machete is a symbol of revolution, strength, and independence. Clear the path! Proud hands wield the machete as a versatile tool with deep ties to our agricultural roots.”

(Crucian Gold)

During the Fyah Burn of 1878, when the Crucian people revolted and set fire to the town of Frederiksted, the machete served as a weapon during the riot, becoming a tool for liberation.

“The holiday that we have is the holiday that originally was called Columbus Day, but we don’t call it Columbus Day. For us it’s Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day….So it becomes a holiday where we recognize the contributions of people who came from Puerto Rico here and how they formed families with people who are from here, so you’ll see a lot of people who have both Crucian–and that’s why they’ll say Crucian-Rican…Crucian and Puerto Rican Heritage.” (Senator Marise James)

“Hibiscus sabdariffa commonly known as “Roselle” or “red sorrel” is a member of Malvaceae family. It is a medicinal plant with a global fame and is estimated to have more than 300 species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world (Singh, Khan, & Hailemariam, 2017). Many parts of H. sabdariffa such as the leaves, seeds, fruits, and roots are used in various foods as well as in herbal medicine as a potential nonpharmacological treatment.”

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/sorrel)

The importance of agriculture is one that cannot be overstated.

“Lemongrass is a plant in the grass family. There are over 100 lemongrass species, including Cymbopogon citratus, which is often used in foods and medicine. …People use lemongrass for stomach pain, dandruff, high cholesterol, gingivitis, thrush, and many other conditions”

​​(https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-719/lemongrass#:~:text=Lemongrass%20is%20a%20plant%20in,bacteria%20and%20yeast%20from%20growing.)

“Bay leaves are a fragrant leaf from the laurel tree used as an herb. They're available whole—either fresh or dried—or ground into a powder. The leaves are added to slow-cooked recipes, such as soups, sauces, and stews, and are removed before serving the dish.”

(https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-a-bay-leaf-995576)

“Star fruit, also known as carambola, is a tropical fruit that looks like a star when you slice it. Unripe star fruit is dark green, but its thin layer of skin turns glossy yellow as it ripens. …Ripe star fruit is fleshy, crunchy, and juicy, and has a sweet and slightly tart taste.”

(https://www.webmd.com/diet/star-fruit#:~:text=Star%20fruit%2C%20also%20known%20as,glossy%20yellow%20as%20it%20ripens.)

Coquito is a Puerto Rican staple, a cocktail of rum and coconut. At the 2024 Agricultural Festival, Love Croix Eatz sold coquito soft serve as a cool treat under the heat of the sun.

Alison Hinds, a Soca artist and cultural ambassador of Barbados and the Caribbean, performed at Village for the Christmas Festival in 2023.

Known as the Lyrical Queen of Soca, Nadia Batson, a Soca artist from Trinidad, performed at Village for the Christmas Festival in 2023.

A folk artist, jewelry designer, and historical preservationist from St. Thomas, Mabel Maduro created the Coal-Carrying Woman project, creating an artistic representation of the historical women who carried the coal for the ships that came to the harbors of the Virgin Islands during the 18th to 19th century before taking part in a successful labor strike for equal pay.

“Stanley Jacobs and The Ten Sleepless Knights wrap the old-time Virgin Islands quelbe sound of squash (gourd rasp), steel (triangle), flute, and banjo uke, in the contemporary trappings of electric keyboard, drum set, conga, and electric bass. The distinctively Caribbean, yet uniquely Virgin Islands, sound of quelbe music is an old but new dance music. Declared the “official” music of the United States Virgin Islands, classic songs such as “Queen Mary” and “LaBega Carousel” tell of historical events on the island of St. Croix, while other pieces accompany the local traditions of quadrille dance.”

Pictured here is Olaf Hendricks, one of the members.

(https://folkways.si.edu/stanley-and-the-ten-sleepless-knights/quelbe-music-of-the-u-s-virgin-islands/caribbean-world/album/smithsonian)

“Every year, St. Croix hosts the largest agricultural festival in the Territory. AgriFest, is a colorful display of locally produced agricultural products, livestock, arts and crafts and native cuisine. Taking place over four days, festival goers can taste, touch and see everything on St. Croix that has to do with agriculture.”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/calendar/vi-agriculture-food-fair-agrifest/)

“If you are not familiar with madras, it’s a calico-like fabric that was originally used by the peasant class in India. Named for the small fishing village of Madraspatnam (Madras) where it originated, madras became a very popular fabric throughout the Caribbean when it was traded by the Dutch and British settlers in the 1600s. Many Caribbean islands have officially adopted their own unique madras pattern to use in their cultural costumes and official decor (similar to the Scottish tartans used for making kilts), and now the USVI has our own unique madras.”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/new-madras-for-the-virgin-islands/)

The first night that the Village opens during Christmas Festival, a quadrille dance of guests and dancers takes place! Calling people from the crowd to join, the dance group leads them through the routine alongside the instructions from the announcer, making for a joyful start to the rest of the Village nights.

The Food, Arts, and Crafts Fair takes place during the Crucian Christmas Festival, with vendors selling food, clothes, and art showcasing the culture and talent of the US Virgin Islands. One of the highlights of this event is the Quadrille, a dance that has been modified and adapted into its own unique style from its French colonial roots. The dance takes place alongside quelbe music, which has come to be known as the official music of the US Virgin Islands.

“The Crucian Christmas Festival (or Carnival) is a month-long celebration incorporating modern day celebrations with standing traditions. Carnival takes place on many Caribbean islands at different times of the year, on St. Croix it starts in December and culminates the first week of January near Three Kings Day....

These holiday traditions date back to the early 1800s when enslaved Africans were allowed time off to celebrate Christmas. During this time they dressed up in costumes, paraded through the streets, and visited other plantations....

There was also dancing, music and general merrymaking. In 1952, these traditions were revived into an annual organized festival of events we’ve come to know as the Crucian Christmas Carnival.”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/events/crucian-christmas-carnival/)

“Traditionally, Three Kings Day is also known as the feast of the Epiphany, on which day children receive Christmas season gifts. It is said that if a child has been good for the past year, he or she will receive candies, sweets or toys. A major holiday in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and much of Latin America, it has long been an important celebration in the U.S. Virgin Islands, too, especially among its people of Latin heritage. "You put a shoe box under your bed with some grass in it and the three kings would come and take the grass for their camels and leave presents for the kids," recalled Frederiksted’s George Flores, who came to St. Croix from Vieques, Puerto Rico, as a small child.”

Three Kings Day Still Significant for Many Virgin Islanders | St. Croix Source (stcroixsource.com)

“Moko Jumbies have been in the Virgin Island’s cultural heritage for over 200 years and can be traced to Africa as far back as the 13th and 14th centuries. …They are viewed as symbols of our history, culture, and heritage. ...The actual meaning of the words Mocko Jumbie varies depending on whom you ask. In Central Africa, the word ‘moko’ means healer, while most English speaking people interpret moko as ‘mock’. Simple, huh? ‘Jumbie’ would be slang for ghost, or spirit. West Africans view a Moko Jumbie as a seeker or a protector and that their tallness is symbolic to the power of God.”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/the-moko-jumbie-a-cultural-icon/)

“In the summer of 1981, Judge Verne A Hodge, then Presiding Judge of the Territorial Court of the US Virgin Islands set out to change the course of the youth that were appearing in front of his judicial bench. Using the adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," he began an experimental steel drum program, with the goal of preventing school dropout and juvenile delinquency among our youth. The program's focus was to recruit students between the ages of 10 and 18 from public, private, and parochial schools and help guide them to successfully complete their high school education. The program that initially started as a summer project became so successful that it was then made into a year round program, under the name of the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra.”

(https://superior.vicourts.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=12810831&pageId=14180928)

The town [Frederiksted] was settled in the late 1600s and has a fascinating history that has spanned seven governments, slavery and emancipation, fireburn, industrialization. The Frederiksted Pier as it stands now was constructed in the early 1900s. In early 2000s, a multi-million dollar revitalization of the waterfront park and pier transformed the historic Frederiksted waterfront and Pier into the charming port it is today.”

(https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/frederiksted-pier/)

Rain showers in my grandparents’ yard. “When rain hits the galvanized roofs, the sound it makes is soothing.”

- Cindy and Curtis Augustin

“The Virgin Islands Senate Bill, Act No. 6577 was enacted May 7, 2003 to honor Eliza James-McBean posthumously and name the clock tower and boardwalk located in Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands “The Eliza James-McBean Clock Tower and Boardwalk””

(http://msummerfieldimages.com/eliza-james-mcbean-clock-tower/)

Cyrenity Augustin