Sir Hilary honoured by Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival

Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, was honoured by the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival (BCLF) on September 5.

The award was presented by New York Mayor Eric Adams, who praised Professor Sir Hilary for his “outstanding contributions to the dynamic cultural landscape through his accomplishments as an author, educator, and historian”.

Mayor Adams expressed that as one of the most influential scholars in the Caribbean today, Sir Hilary has “engaged and inspired diverse people in New York and beyond”.

He continued,“I look forward to the many ways you will continue to make a positive difference and strengthen our vibrant Caribbean American community as we take bold steps to #getstuffdone to forge a brighter, more equitable and prosperous future for our global city.”

In his response, Vice-Chancellor Beckles highlighted The UWI’s role in tackling the region’s challenges, saying, “The UWI has an eternal duty to provide literary and intellectual responses to the challenges we face. As a member of the community, I am committed to the agenda. We are always honoured when our stakeholders recognise the value of our contributions. I am grateful to Mayor Adams and the city.”

As part of his BCLF itinerary, Vice-Chancellor Beckles took centre stage during the ‘Rebel Islands’ segment on Friday, September 6 at the Weeksville Heritage Centre. The conversation, hosted by Dr Richard George, provided an engaging forum for Professor Beckles to share his insights on Caribbean history and culture, underscoring his long-standing commitment to education and intellectual empowerment.According to a release, the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival, which was established in 2019, “has quickly evolved into a leading platform for celebrating the richness of Caribbean literature and the region’s vibrant history of storytelling. By spotlighting both emerging and established writers of Caribbean heritage, the festival not only showcases the works of these writers, but also empowers the Caribbean community to share their stories on their own terms”.

It continued, “BCLF’s capstone event offers the unique platform where the literary contributions of Caribbean writers are celebrated and amplified to a global audience. Consequently, this event has become an invaluable space for Caribbean authors to gain the recognition they deserve, while preserving the region’s cultural and historical legacy through literature.”