With an emphasis on providing a more in-depth understanding of the relationship between the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands – Puerto Rico Friendship Committee of St. Thomas – St. John adopted the theme of "Puerto Rican Influences on Virgin Islands Music and Culture" for the annual Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship celebration events.
While the Virgin Islands – Puerto Rico relationship is important, Friendship Committee member Glen "Kwabena" Davis said that understanding all ethnic groups that call the Virgin Islands home is equally important.
"If we want to move toward a melting pot, people can learn from each other," he said.
This year’s celebration starts with a student forum based on last year’s theme, "Living in Two Cultures," at 6 p.m. Oct. 7 at the V.I. Council on the Arts Gallery. It’s located at just north of Fort Christian and east of the Grand Hotel on Norre Gade in downtown Charlotte Amalie. The gallery is on the second floor above a photography studio.
Public school students will have an opportunity to share with the audience what it is like to live and adjust to a new way of life. They will share their challenges and discuss how they’ve been able to overcome them. The audience will also have an opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
At 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Council on the Arts Gallery an adult forum will focus on this year’s theme, “Puerto Rican Influences on Virgin Islands Music and Culture.” The panelists will include radio personality, drummer and percussionist Irvin “Brownie” Brown as well as Sergio Feliciano, a trumpet player, keyboardist, band leader, and recording artist.
Additionally, Dr. Olaf Hendricks, a psychiatrist and radio personality who plays the saxophone, Ira “Dr. Sax” Meyers, a saxophonist, band leader and tradition bearer pianist, Louis Taylor, a music teacher and band leader, and LeRoy V. Trotman, trombonist, choir director and recording artist, will serve on the panel.
At 5:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Reichhold Center for the Arts the documentary “Sugar Pathways" will be shown. The film traces the migration, challenges, accomplishments, and successes of people from Vieques and other areas of Puerto Rico who moved to St. Croix to work, primarily in the sugar industry. The producer, Johanna Bermudez-Ruiz, will be there to discuss and field questions regarding the documentary.
All events are free and open to the public.
The events are sponsored by the Council on the Arts, the V.I. Humanities Council, the Education Department’s division of Cultural Education, and the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute.