Commemorating the Transfer Day Centennial will be a climax to one of the great discoveries in my relatively long life, as I celebrate my seventh year as a resident of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, of the United States.

I first learn about Transfer Day in 2009 after relocating from New York City to St. Croix, the birthplace of my beloved father Leando James in 1922. I began researching my family roots at the WHIM Great House Museum, and became overwhelmed with the wealth and bounty of the personal and historical information I was discovering. Transfer Day among other colorful and rich history of the former Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands of the United States; coupled with the discovery of my deep family roots on the big island were profound revelations to me. Having reached middle age, born and formally educated in New York City, and fairly well read, I was confounded by what I was learning for the first about “New World” history, the United States of America, as well as my ancestry.

My studies didn’t cover the transfer/sale of the formerly known Danish West Indies, now known as the Virgin Islands to the United States of America. I had no knowledge of the fact that for the first ten years of rule by the United States, that the Virgin Islands was under a military government, vis-à-vis, the Navy and Marines. It was interesting to learn that the United States Congress conferred statutory citizenship to inhabitants in 1927, and statutory limitations of statutory citizenship remain to this current day.

I was equally amazed to learn that my great, great grandfather Johannes James was born into slavery in 1825, lived and worked as a cooper on Estate Heritage. And the records point out that his parents Adam and Helena, lived on the Estate as well. Johannes would have been 23 years old and his parent’s perhaps in their 40’s on what I learned was Emancipation Day, July 3, 1848. And they may have been around during the “fireburn” and Contract Day 1878…

I had no idea that a great migration from the Virgin Islands to the states began in the 1920s, particularly to New York City. I was surprised to learn that Virgin Islanders were in the vanguard of the famous Harlem renascence, and many played roles of great consequence in politics, labor movements, literary and culture contributions are enormous.

Casper Holstein a migrant to New York City, from St. Croix, is credited with perfecting, if not inventing “the numbers gambling game.” He amassed millions of dollars, and lived a high profile lifestyle in New York City as well as in the Virgin Islands. Holstein is also credited helping to finance his brother-in-law David Hamilton Jackson’s undertakings with the St. Croix Labor Union and land deals.

Until this day the “numbers” remains as it was then in terms of 6X1 payout and it continues to be a job opportunity in the informal economy that plays a consequential role in the underground economy in many cities and urban centers. That fact that Holstein was kidnapped by the mob and returned after the delivery of a handsome ransom ads intrigue and gangster flare to the story…

My grandparents Theophilus and Beatrice Phillipus-James, my father and aunt migrated to NYC in 1925, never to return. Theophilus was the youngest of five siblings born in 1900, Adam and Fancisca (Frankie) James were his parents, Annie, Arabella, Patrick, Charles and Theophilus their five children.

Information was intense and abounding which inspired me to consolidate the work it into a book and try and make it a coherent read that I might understand and enjoy, as well as family and others. TRANSFER DAY was released in 2014 and it was a great personal relief and release to finally like it, like me go…

In flection, this cursory exposure to the New World and America’s history has embroidered my world view by way of offering a coherent yet complicated account of the African Diaspora, in the context of the colorful historical variations of African descendants coming from respective European colonial histories and ending up on the American mainland… A very enriching experience, and highly recommended.

With the United States of America being a general finial destination in the western hemisphere for many, it is not easy to appreciate or discern the respective secondary historical roots, vis-à-vis, European Caribbean colonial masters for friends and neighbors… In New York City for example “Black” Americans are generalized as a whole, but there are many significant nuances by way of history, tradition and culture that are over looked, or will continue to be unknown…

The rich variety that comprises the African Diaspora becomes vivid and graphic by way of a Caribbean historical lens is indeed recommended by this writer/explorer. And many Americans have roots in the Caribbean that will remain unknown, unless you (first parson singular) dig-up your roots and embellish your world view.

I remain inspired as my research and writing continues, along with learning…

TRANSFER DAY is available in the printed as well as ebook versions are available @ www.sbpra.com/GaryJames TRANSFER DAY is also available along with other books at Amazon…