David Hamilton Jackson

David Hamilton Jackson – born 1884, died 1946.

David Hamilton Jackson was an enterprising pioneer fighting for better conditions for workers in the West Indies. He founded a newspaper and a trade union and had considerable influence. He came from humble circumstances in a family of teachers and former slaves.

The abolition of slavery in the Danish colony in the West Indies provided the population with formal freedom, but it made very little difference to their wretched conditions. One of the most important promoters of reform, David Hamilton Jackson, visited Denmark in 1915 to demand better conditions. He met with understanding from many people but received only non-binding undertakings from the authorities.

David Hamilton Jackson fought for better conditions for the workers on the three West Indian islands. Many regarded him as a hero. The descriptions of his homecoming after a stay in Denmark illustrate the population’s huge expectations of him.

David Hamilton Jackson was one of the pioneers in the struggle for better working conditions in the Danish colony in the West Indies. One of his most important initiatives was the newspaper The Herald, which he created in 1915. The newspaper was the voice of the workers' struggle and published sharp criticism of the situation in the islands.

The population of the Danish colony in the West Indies lived in miserable conditions for a long time after slavery was abolished. David Hamilton Jackson was a pioneer in the struggle for reforms. He played a part in establishing the Labour Union, which became the single most influential organisation in the struggle for better conditions on the islands.

Inspired by the success on the neighbouring island, on 25 November 1916 George A. Moorhead called the workers on St. Thomas out on strike. These were the workers in the town of Charlotte Amalie and in the town’s important harbour. A role was played not least by the famous – and infamous – women who carried coals on board the steamers. The strike on St. Thomas also resulted in victory for the workers, who achieved higher wages and better working conditions.

In 1916, during the struggle for better conditions for workers on the islands, headed by David Hamilton Jackson, the Labour Union organized a general strike, which ended in victory for the workers. The great costs involved bear witness to strong leadership, which succeeded in maintaining the strike despite hardships.