ACRRA Goals:
- Acknowledgment of Harms: Demand formal acknowledgment of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation by Denmark and the United States.
- Concrete Measures: Secure reparative policies in healthcare, education, housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and economic equity.
- Integrating Justice: Ensure reparations are built into U.S. and local policymaking frameworks with transparent milestones and oversight.
The challenges we face today—from health disparities to economic inequality and educational gaps—are not accidents. They are the direct, lingering consequences of slavery, colonialism, and structural exploitation by both Denmark and the United States. True progress is impossible without a formal acknowledgment of these historical harms and a commitment to reparative justice.
ACRCCA demands that both the U.S. and Danish governments formally acknowledge the lasting harms of their historical actions. This is not about guilt; it is about accountability. The next step is to secure concrete reparative measures. This means securing federal investment that is not just aid, but restitution. These funds must be targeted to address the generational inequities in healthcare, education, housing, and infrastructure. Reparative justice is not an abstract concept; it must be a tangible part of the policy frameworks, with clear milestones and transparent oversight to ensure that the resources are directed to the communities that need them most.
This is Fort Christian in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is one of the most historically important surviving structures in the Virgin Islands because it was not simply a military fort: for centuries it functioned as a central institution of Danish colonial government and authority.
Why the date “1671” appears on the building
The 1671 displayed prominently above the entrance refers to the beginning of the successful Danish colonial enterprise. On March 11, 1671, King Christian V granted a charter to the Danish West India Company authorizing it to establish commerce and possession on St. Thomas. Danish colonists arrived the following year, in 1672.