David Hamilton Jackson was born on September 28, 1884, on St. Croix, Danish West Indies. He was a teacher, the owner and editor of a newspaper, and a judge. During his life he spoke publicly about wanting better living and working conditions for the Black working-class people in the islands. In 1915 David Hamilton Jackson traveled from St. Croix, Danish West Indies to Denmark. In Denmark he spoke to politicians, the king, the press, laborers of the largest labor union in Copenhagen, and other members of the community that came out to hear what he had to say. Some of the topics he spoke about were the living and working conditions back in St. Croix, freedom of expression and freedom of the press. When he returned to St. Croix from Denmark, he started a newspaper for the people called “The Herald”. David Hamilton Jackson used his newspaper to write about what was happening on St. Croix and the conditions of the working people. He used the newspaper to educate the working people of the island. The first edition of “The Herald” was released on October 29th, 1915. It included thank you messages to all the people that helped get the newspaper published. The edition released on November 1, 1915, was the first edition for general distribution to the community. In the US Virgin Islands we celebrate November 1st as Liberty Day and D. Hamilton Jackson Day.
In this activity, students will use questions from an Analyze a Photograph worksheet to examine a photograph of David Hamilton Jackson addressing a crowd in Denmark, in the year 1915. Students will learn more about David Hamilton Jackson. They will also learn the term active citizenship and consider the importance of being engaged citizens.
About
Primary Sources in this Activity
Suggested Teaching Instructions
Before beginning this activity, help students to understand what a primary source is, have students provide examples of primary sources, help them with examples as needed, discuss why a photograph is a primary source, and discuss the difference between primary sources and secondary sources.
Ask students what they know about David Hamilton Jackson.
Load the photograph onto an interactive smart board and have students make observations together. If there is not a smart board, students can work in small groups at computers.
Also load the Analyze Photograph worksheet on the smart board or on computers so that you can lead students through discussing their answers to questions on the worksheet.
