In her biweekly column, “State of the Territory,” former Sen. Janelle K. Sarauw delves deeper into issues of concern for V.I. residents.
Each year on March 31, the people of the Virgin Islands pause to reflect on Transfer Day – a pivotal moment in our history when Denmark officially transferred sovereignty of the Danish West Indies to the United States in 1917. This day is often commemorated with ceremonies, speeches, and solemn acknowledgment of the historical weight it carries. Yet, beyond the pageantry lies a deeper reality, one that underscores the complexities of our political identity and the unfinished journey toward true self-determination.
As a Virgin Islander, I view Transfer Day not merely as a historical event but as a lived experience, an ever-present reminder of our ambiguous colonial status. More than a century after the Stars and Stripes replaced the Dannebrog over our islands, we remain politically disenfranchised, unable to vote for the president who governs us and lacking full representation in the Congress that legislates our fate. We are American, but not fully. Citizens, but second-class. A territory, but not a state. This duality – this paradox – is the enduring legacy of Transfer Day.
The History Behind Transfer Day
To understand the significance of this day, one must revisit the conditions that led to the 1917 transfer. The Virgin Islands, under Danish rule, were an economy built on the brutal institution of slavery. Even after emancipation in 1848, Black Virgin Islanders continued to endure economic and social oppression, struggling under colonial policies that favored European settlers and stifled local self-governance.
Denmark, eager to rid itself of its Caribbean holdings after years of declining economic viability, negotiated the sale of the islands to the United States for $25 million in gold. America’s interest was strategic, fueled by concerns over German expansion in the Caribbean during World War I. For the U.S., acquiring the Virgin Islands was a military maneuver; for the people of the Virgin Islands, it was an exchange in which they had no say.
This was not a transfer of power to the people but rather a change in colonial rulers. For decades following the transfer, Virgin Islanders remained under the control of naval governors, denied basic civil rights, and treated as subjects rather than full participants in American democracy. It was not until 1936 that we received our first Organic Act, and not until 1954 that a revised version established a more representative form of local government. Yet, even these legal structures fell short of full self-governance, leaving our political future perpetually uncertain.
The Modern Colonial Reality
Today, Transfer Day forces us to confront the unresolved questions of our political existence. The U.S. Virgin Islands remains an unincorporated territory, governed by federal laws without meaningful input from its people. Our delegate to Congress can propose legislation but lacks the ability to vote on final bills. We serve in the military, pledge allegiance to the flag, and contribute to the cultural fabric of the nation, yet we remain on the periphery of American democracy.
Despite over a century under the U.S. flag, we have never been granted the right to determine our own future. Every attempt at drafting a local constitution has been stymied by federal concerns, particularly over the preservation of ancestral land rights for native Virgin Islanders. The issue is not simply one of political status but of identity, survival, and the right to shape our destiny without external imposition.
Moving Forward: A Call for Change
The echoes of Transfer Day should not be confined to annual reflections; they should be a call to action. If we are to honor the struggles of those who came before us, we must be unrelenting in our pursuit of political equity. Whether through statehood, free association, or full independence, the conversation about self-determination must be led by Virgin Islanders, for Virgin Islanders.
Economic sustainability, educational empowerment, and political engagement must be our pillars moving forward. We cannot afford to remain passive in the face of systemic disenfranchisement. If the past 107 years have taught us anything, it is that colonialism does not simply disappear with time – it must be actively dismantled through advocacy, legislation, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
A Reflection, A Responsibility
Transfer Day is more than a ceremonial observance; it is a stark reminder of the unfinished business of our political identity. As we stand at this juncture in history, we must ask ourselves: How long will we allow our status to be dictated by forces beyond our control? The spirit of resilience that carried us through slavery, colonial rule, and disenfranchisement must now propel us toward full autonomy.
On this Transfer Day, let us honor our past, but more importantly, let us commit to shaping our future. Let us engage in the hard, necessary conversations about our political fate. Let us demand the right to self-governance and refuse to accept second-class citizenship as our permanent reality.
The fight for self-determination is not a relic of the past – it is the unfinished work of our present, and the promise of our future. Have a reflective Transfer Day.
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.
