Crucian confusion: memory-making on the island of St. Croix

Abstract

In determining historic sites’ merit for preservation on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), discomfort frequently arises between preservationists, historians and local communities. Experts' scholarly experience often comes in tension with the lived experiences of those who reside on the island. Differences of opinion about cultural heritage become even more fraught when relationships between interest groups mimic the power dynamics of colonialism. Black Crucian communities are often disenfranchised from their own local history in favor of that produced and directed by white foreigners. Sugar plantations, rum factories, and even natural landmarks like trees can easily become disassociated with their complicated colonial pasts. This thesis explores these tensions on the island of St. Croix by studying the history of imperialism, preservation, and material culture on the island. Through the use of case studies this thesis explores how and why Crucians prioritize certain histories and historic sites that support Crucian values and needs. Rather than being unattuned to cultural heritage, as some have suggested, Crucians advocate in multiple ways for preservation choices and techniques that more closely align with local knowledge of land, people, and material culture. Drawing on scholarship related to Black ecologies and the concept of rememory, this thesis highlights the importance of collaborative work between community members and preservationists to achieve local cultural sovereignty.