In honor of Internationally Ladies Time and you can VI Background Day, we are showing around three fearless women so you can which brand new Region owes a good great obligations. There clearly was still work become over, this is exactly why we look back attain inspiration and you will support throughout the Virgin Islanders that have gone ahead of united states.
Queen Mary
Mary Thomas, called Queen Mary, (ca. 1848–1905) was among frontrunners of your own 1878 “Fireburn” work riot, or uprising, into the area from St. Croix.
Mary Thomas is off Antigua and you will found its way to St. Croix regarding the 1860s when planning on taking work at the ranches from inside the the newest area. Following 1848 emancipation of enslaved Africans throughout the Danish West Indies, an 1849 labor law repaired salaries and you may work conditions for all plantation workers and you can banned negotiating to have ideal wages otherwise performs requirements. Which made plantation really works unattractive and several specialists registered to exit the fresh ranches and the countries, to find best requirements elsewhere. The government reacted into the work lack by making they much harder to help you to own workers to leave the hawaiian islands, demanding health licenses and asking fees for passports. Whenever earnings would be to feel discussed in the slide out-of 1878, brand new workers’ demands was in fact rejected, and you will the harsh conditions for take a trip was indeed enforced. Which stimulated the latest therefore-called Fireburn riots, that have been known as largest work riot in Danish record, and you can when over fifty plantations was burned.
On account of their particular part as a frontrunner in the uprising age to get also known as “King Mary”. The staff selected their and two other women, “King Agnes” and “Queen Matilda”, since “queens” to perform routine and you will celebratory features when you look at the uprising. Queen Mary was detained and you will tried along with other leadership of one’s work uprising. At demonstration of your own work leaders Thomas try sentenced in order to demise to possess arson and looting however, got their own sentence commuted in order to life imprisonment, and you may is actually transferred to Copenhagen and set during the Ladies’ Prison, Christianshavn into the 1882, in 1887 is sent back to help you Christiansted, St. Croix in order to suffice the remainder of their unique phrase.
Anna Heegaard
Anna Heegaard remains a fascinating shape for the Virgin Isles records. The woman is paid that have boosting conditions into the enslaved African and “Totally free Colored” people of the Danish West Indies on 19th century since the a result of their unique 20 seasons reference to the fresh islands’ Governor General, Peter von Scholten.
With respect to the Encyclopedia from Antislavery & Abolition, “Heegard undoubtedly influenced this new course getting legal ancient beautiful burmese women and you can social equality to own 100 % free black someone in the Danish West Indies.” Heegaard grew up in St. Croix inside the January out-of 1790 in order to unmarried parents described as a good “100 % free mulatto woman” and you can a great Danish Bodies clerk. She grew up with her mother and you may half sisters for the Christiansted. Heegard relied on their particular wits and attraction to make liaisons having St. Croix’s richest and you will effective guys, sooner or later crossing routes towards the Governor-Standard soon immediately following his coming when you look at the 1827. By the that point, she had by herself be a somewhat successful woman.
Heegard in addition to Governor-Standard first started meeting continuously to discuss this new plight of the Totally free Coloured population and you may she is considered have aided him prepare a list of societal reforms that he presented to brand new Danish King, just who appointed a fee to analyze and you will manage the new statutes to own societal fairness having low-whites on D.W.I. . Reforms to your “unfree” sooner or later incorporated – a regulated period of workday, curtail out-of corporal abuse, banning from social slave auctions, a beneficial reprieve to own women that are pregnant, establishment from colleges and homes advancements. Von Scholten along with worked so you can elevator traps 100% free black and you may colored anyone – setting all of them in public areas positions and holding racially incorporated social services, to incorporate his very own dining functions presided more by Heegard. They resided because people and you may partner for the majority of out-of several ily within the Denmark, and in the end the pair compensated in the Bulows Minde Estate Home beyond Christiansted.
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