St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc. Celebrates Black History

Press release

February 14, 2016

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc. celebrates Black History Month in the USA

In the United States of America, the month of February is recognized as Black History Month. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc. welcomes this celebration and wishes to highlight the contributions of Vincentians to the development of Black people in the USA and to the USA in general. The Diaspora Committee is acutely aware that while this celebration is directed at Black communities in the USA, Black History Month is celebrated by many people around the world. Furthermore, Black History Month not only benefits Black people, but can benefit other races, ethnic groups and nationalities as well. Moreover, SVG has been in the consciousness of Americans as far back as the early 19th Century.

Black History Month was preceded by the Negro History Week, which was started in 1926 by noted historian Dr. Carter. G. Woodson. 50 years laterin 1976, it was changed to Black History Month. The aim was to counter the ideology of Black inferiority that was promoted by the racist status quo governed by the ideas of white supremacy. To do this, it was important to highlight the great contributions that Black people had been making before, during, and after chattel slavery. Indeed, Black people have been making outstanding contributions to the development of the USA, but much of this history has been silenced.

Why is it important to link the Vincentian Diaspora in the USA to Black History Month?Most Vincentians are people of African Descent, so the Vincentian culture is highly based on African heritage. Also, in the USA, white supremacy does not distinguish among Black people. It does not say:“well you are black and you are from the Caribbean so let me give you more respect”. White supremacy sees all Black people the same way.

Vincentians have made their contributions to Black History in the USA. For example,Hugh Mulzac, from the Grenadines Island of Union Island, is one of the first Vincentians to make a tremendous contribution to positive race relations in the USA. He was the first Black man to ever achieve a Master’s seaman license in the USA. He was the first Black seaman in Baltimore to pass the exams for a master’s license. When he renewed his master’s license in Tampa Florida, he was the first Blackman to do so. The inspector who renewed his license said to him: “I don’t mind telling you that you’re the first Negro in history to have his master’s license renewed in the port of Tampa”.

He also represented the working class quite well as an outstanding trade union leader. Moreover, he was an integral part of the greatPan-African leader Marcus Garvey’s movement for Black people’s independence and liberation. Garvey was so impressed by Mulzac that he made Mulzac a captain on one of the Black Star Line ships named the Yarmouth.

Young Vincentians in the Diaspora and in SVG can benefit from learning more about the life and times of this great Vincentian. Not only young people can benefit, but people of all ages can benefit from Mulzac’s experiences and triumphs, which are chronicled in his autobiography “A Star to Steer By”.

Another example of the Vincentian culture in the USA was through “The Drama of Chief Shotoway”. This play was done in the USA in 1823 to reflect the struggles of Chief Joseph Chatoyer and the indigenous people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was written by William A. Brown,who is believed to be from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and was noted as the first full-length play staged by ablack person in the USA. The play was produced by the African Grove Theatre in New York City. Certainly, SVG was already in the consciousness of Americans as far back as the early 19th Century.

An additional example is the collective contributions of the Vincentian Diaspora in States like New York.Vincentians in the diaspora in the USA continue to make outstanding contributions to the development of the USA. They have done so in all major spheres of life such as academia, business, cultural arts, sports, health care, and many more.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc. is proud to celebrate Black History Month in the USA and we stand proud of the contributions that Vincentians have been making to the development of the USA. In the years to come, we are confident that more contributions will continue to be made by Vincentians in the diaspora.