The Dollar fo’ Dollar Culture and History Tour: A Remembrance of the Coal Workers of the Virgin Islands invites the community to come out and participate in its annual event on Saturday, from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rothschild Francis (Market) Square to honor and highlight the historic strikes of 1892 and 1916.
This year is the 19th year that the event has occurred and it happens to coincide with Virgin Islands Freedom Fighters Day. It is done to pay homage to the legacy left behind by Queen Coziah and other coal workers from 1892. It also highlights the 1916 labor strike. It will begin at the market and end at Emancipation Garden. Participants are asked to wear white in solidarity with the coal workers.
“It is important to tell our stories, to remember our journey, and celebrate our triumphs over adversities. This event provides an opportunity for those of us living today to connect with all of that while reflecting on the legacy of the thousands of 19th and 20th-century coal carriers of the Virgin Islands who for nearly a hundred years did the back-breaking work of toting tons of coal on their heads, basket by basket, to the bunkers of steamships that came into the St. Thomas harbor bringing passengers, goods, mail, and commerce, and ultimately helped to also fuel our economy,” said Ayesha Morris, co-founder of the annual event.
According to Morris, the coal laborers united and faced off against big corporations that were becoming enriched off of their labor, such as agents, banks, merchants, and even the government, demanding fair pay and an end to their exploitation.
“They wanted to be paid in ‘dollar for dollar’ in Danish silver and not the devalued Mexican tokens circulating at the time,” said Morris. After a few hours of protesting in the streets in September 1892, the coal workers’ demands were met.
“What’s also remarkable,” said Morris, “is that they expressed themselves by bringing the richness of their cultural expressions through the bamboula dance and songs that were also suppressed in so many ways throughout history.”
According to Morris, this year’s event will commemorate the tail end of the 175th anniversary of Emancipation and highlight the theme of freedom.
“We’re delving a little into the time period when coaling and slavery overlapped by looking into the history of the Royal Mail Steamship Packet Company of Britain, which was one of the first steamship companies to set up operations on St. Thomas. We’re also excited about a new partnership we have with The Postal Museum based in London, who we are working with to uncover that history,” Morris said.
She added that several new groups are expected to join this year, including moko jumbies by Shaka Jumbies and Eccentric Mocko Encounters, traditional clowns masquerading by Tropical Masqueraders, steelpan by Pan in Motion, conch shell blowers by Emmanuel “Mano” Boyd and the Meade Family, and the Traditional Indians. Appearances by the Zulus and Gypsies Carnival Troupe are also anticipated. New re-enactments of the 1892 strike will also occur along with storytelling by Nadine Marchena Kean and Ruby Simmonds-Esannason, and the event’s traditional bamboula drummers by the Echo People and Malachi Thomas, dancers by Lioness Gomez Bamboula Dancers (led by Leniese Mercer and others), The Coziah Dancers, and the Caribbean Ritual Dancers.
Morris said that the event is a tour and an opportunity to relive history, in which participants become the coal workers of the day. Typically, between 50 and 100 participate yearly, but in 2018, over 200 persons participated in a boat tour aboard the Kon Tiki.
“The senses are captivated with the sounds of historic songs you don’t hear every day, drums that reverberate in your soul, and cause you to dance along to the energetic movements, while the actors are also there to pull you into the moment,” said Morris as she describes the feeling participants experience. “Being able to see the community come out, year after year and to see their expressions is exciting. We have our die-hards who come no matter the weather. To see people enjoying themselves and to hear the commentary afterwards that shows the experience made a big impression on them is amazing.”
Morris added that after the hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic, participant numbers did fluctuate. However, about 200 coal workers protested in 1892 and the ultimate goal for the Dollar fo’ Dollar Tour is to have at least one person to represent each of them.
“We chose to hold this event on VI Freedom Fighters Day and received a blessing to do so from organizers of the annual 1733 St. John African Revolution commemoration,” said Morris. “Their event will be held the following Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving. The public is encouraged to support their 40th-anniversary tour too, by visiting www.fortsberg1733.org.”
Morris wanted to give special thanks to the event’s sponsors- the V.I. Council on the Arts, the V.I. Lottery, The Postal Museum, the Meder Mogzit Family Farm, Wenner Hill Community Gardens, and Conch Shell Media.
“We hope the experience lights a spark to feel proud of the simple acts that contribute a great deal to humanity. Love and strength to Co-founders Jahweh David, who is away for medical reasons, and DaraMonifah Cooper. Thanks to all who have supported the tour and our nonprofit over the years. You do not have to be a history buff, but just a little bit curious to come out and join us this year and for our 20th-anniversary milestone next year.”
For more information, email dollarfodollar@gmail.com.
