During Virgin Islands History Month, we pause to reflect on the people, struggles, and
sacrifices that have shaped who we are as a people. It is a time to honor those who came before us, to teach those who come after us, and to remind ourselves that our story did
not begin today — it was built over generations.
That is why the growing willingness today to remove, rename, rewrite, or erase history in
the name of convenience, politics, or discomfort is so troubling. A people who erase their
history do not become stronger. They become unanchored.
History is not meant to make us comfortable.
History is meant to make us aware.
Our past includes triumph and tragedy, courage and failure, justice and injustice. We
honor our ancestors not by pretending the difficult parts never happened, but by
confronting them honestly and learning from them.
The Virgin Islands has a history unlike any other — a history forged through resistance,
resilience, faith, and determination. From emancipation to labor struggles, from the fight
for civil rights to the pursuit of self-government, every generation has added a chapter to
the story we now call our own.
That story is not perfect. But it is real. And because it is real, it must be protected. History
is not a weapon to be used against one another. It is a guide meant to move us forward.
Removing history does not heal division. Understanding history does.
Progress does not come from pretending the past did not exist. Progress comes from
learning, growing, and doing better because we know what came before.
We must teach our children the full story — not a polished version, not a rewritten
version, but the honest version. Because only an honest history can produce a wise future.
And this is where leadership carries its greatest responsibility.
Leaders are not simply managers of the present — they are keepers of the flame of
memory. They are entrusted with protecting the stories, the names, the landmarks, and
the sacrifices that define a people. When leaders decide what to name, what to preserve,
or what to remove, they are shaping what future generations will remember — and what
they may never know. Our parks, schools, streets, and public buildings are not just places.
They are markers of our journey.
They are reminders of those who struggled, served, and sacrificed.
True leadership requires courage to face history honestly, to preserve it faithfully, and to
pass it forward responsibly.
Because we are not the owners of history.
We are its stewards.
We are its witnesses.
And for a brief moment in time, we are its guardians.
During Virgin Islands History Month, let us remember that protecting history is not about
holding on to the past — it is about giving the future a foundation strong enough to stand
on.
We do not move forward by erasing history.
We move forward by remembering it, learning from it, and protecting it — so the flame of who we are never goes out.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
