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Hilary Beckles

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Sir Hilary Beckles
Beckles in 2022
Born(1955-08-11)11 August 1955(age 69)
Barbados
Alma materUniversity of Hull(BA,PhD)
AwardsKnight of St. Andrew(2007)
Honorary degreesfrom theUniversity of Hull(2004),KNUST(2009),and theUniversity of Glasgow(2011)
Scientific career
FieldsAfro-Caribbean history,Barbadian history
InstitutionsUniversity of the West Indies(1980–)

Sir Hilary McDonald BecklesKA(born 11 August 1955) is aBarbadianhistorian. He is the currentvice-chancellorof theUniversity of the West Indies(UWI) and chairman of theCARICOM Reparations Commission.

Educated at theUniversity of Hullin England, Beckles began his academic career at UWI, and was granted a personal professorship at the age of 37, becoming the youngest in the university's history. He was named pro-vice-chancellor and chairman of UWI's Board for Undergraduate Studies in 1998, and in 2002 was namedprincipalof the university'sCave Hillcampus. Although his focus has mainly been onAfro-Caribbean history,especially the economic and social impacts ofcolonialismand theAtlantic slave trade,Beckles has also had a longstanding involvement withWest Indian cricket,and has previously served on the board of theWest Indies Cricket Board(WICB).

Biography

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Early life

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Beckles was born in Barbados, and began his secondary education at Coleridge and Parry Secondary School inSpeightstown,Saint Peter, Barbados.He was sent to England to complete his schooling, attending Pitmaston Secondary School and theBournville College of Further EducationinBirmingham.Beckles went on to theUniversity of Hull,completing aBA (Hons)andPhDwith the university's Department of Economic and Social History.[1]

Academic career

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Beckles joined theUniversity of the West Indies(UWI) as a history lecturer at its campus inMona,Jamaica,in 1979, but transferred to itsCave Hill campusin 1984.[2]Having been named a senior research fellow at theLondon-basedInstitute of Commonwealth Studiesin 1986, he was named Chairman of the History Department at UWI in 1992, a role he served in until 1996, and he subsequently served as dean of the Faculty of Humanities from 1994 to 1998.[1]Beckles received a personal professorship in 1993, the university's youngest appointment to the position.[2]His work has covered a variety of areas within the broader topic ofAfro-Caribbean history,with works covering early slave rebellions in Barbados, the role of women in the slave trade, and the greater effects ofcolonialismon present Barbadian society. Other works have focused more specifically onBarbadian history,including education, telecommunications, the labour movement, and sporting culture.[1]

Involvement with cricket

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Having authored several papers and essays on the role of cricket in British West Indian culture, Beckles was the driving force behind the establishment of the Centre for Cricket Research at the Cave Hill campus in 1994, which resulted in the refurbishment of the on-campus3Ws Oval.Two years later, in 1996, he convinced theWest Indies Cricket Board(WICB) to organise a match between the touring New Zealanders and a team selected by the university's vice-chancellor.[3]Matches between touring sides and the Vice Chancellor's XI have since become a regular, almost annual, event.[4][5]In 1999, Beckles published a two-volume series on the history of cricket in the Caribbean, entitledThe Development of West Indies Cricket.[1]Three years later, prior to start of the 2002–03 cricket season, the WICB announced that the expandedRed Stripe Bowl,the premierlimited-overscompetition in the West Indies, would feature theuniversity's cricket team.UWI's two-season stint in the tournament was largely a result of the efforts of Beckles' efforts.[6]He remains a director of what is now the C. L. R. James Centre for Cricket Research (named in honour ofC. L. R. James), and is also overall sports coordinator for the university.[2]

Other positions

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Beckles serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals, includingWilliam and Mary Quarterly,Journal of Caribbean History,andSports in Society,and is an international editor for theJournal of American History.[2]Outside of academia, he has filled the following positions:

Awards and honours

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Beckles was named "Author of the Year" in 1991 by Barbados Cultural Promotions, andWe Now Have a Country,a documentary that he wrote, narrated, and co-directed, was named "Documentary of the Year" in 1993 by the Barbados Association of Journalists. The following year, he was named the inaugural winner of the UWI Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in the Field of Research.[1]In 2004, Beckles was awarded an honoraryDoctor of Lettersdegree by hisalma mater,the University of Hull.[9]He has since received equivalent honorary degrees from theKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana,in November 2009,[10]and from theUniversity of Glasgow,Scotland,in June 2011.[11]In November 2007, Beckles was made aKnight of St. Andrew,the highest honour possible in theOrder of Barbados.[12]

In December 2021, Beckles was awarded theGovernor-General of Antigua and Barbuda'sFaithful and Meritorious Award's highest honour, the Cross and Plaque. The award recognises Beckle's "distinguished service to UWI and the Caribbean".[13]

Criticism

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Some of Beckles' actions, regarding his role in both sports and academics at the university, have been controversial. One commentator has accused him of engaging in the "exploitation of the nation's traditional love of education and qualifications", referring to Beckles' role in the university's development as "empire-building";[14]another commentator[who?]has criticised his decisions made while on the board of the WICB.[15]In May 2011, Beckles made a statement suggesting thatChris Gaylewas the "don"of West Indian cricket, comparing him to Jamaican drug lordChristopher Coke(otherwise known as "Dudus" ).[16][17]TheWest Indies Players' Association(WIPA) subsequently wrote to the WICB and UWI asking for Beckles' dismissal from the board, which did not eventuate.[18]

Selected bibliography

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  • Cricket without a Cause: Fall and Rise of the Mighty West Indian Test Cricketers,Jamaica:Ian Randle Publishers,2017.ISBN978-9766379605
  • Britain's Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide,University of the West Indies Press,2012.ISBN978-9766402686
  • A History of Barbados: From Amerindian Settlement to Caribbean Single Market,Cambridge University Press,2006.ISBN978-0521678490
  • Liberties Lost: The Indigenous Caribbean and Slave Systems,withVerene A. Shepherd,Cambridge University Press, 2004.ISBN978-0521435444
  • The Development of West Indies Cricket: The Age of Nationalism,vol. 1,Pluto Press,1999.ISBN978-0745314624
  • The Development of West Indies Cricket: The Age of Globalization,vol. 2, Pluto Press, 1999. 978-0745314723
  • Afro-Caribbean Women and Resistance to Slavery in Barbados,Karnak House,1988.ISBN978-0907015260

References

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  1. ^abcdefCurriculum vitae of Hilary Beckles– Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  2. ^abcdeOffice of the Principal: Biography– University of the West Indies. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  3. ^VC Viewpoint: Symbols of the West Indian Spirit–The Pelican.Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  4. ^Other matches played by University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XIArchived15 December 2018 at theWayback Machine– CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  5. ^Buchanan-Hind, Elizabeth.Tracing the Journey: The Vice Chancellor's XI cricket match–The Pelican.Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  6. ^Popplewell, Georgia (2004)."Who's Really Who In West Indies Cricket"Archived14 January 2013 at theWayback Machine–Caribbean Beat.Issue 66 (March/April 2004). Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  7. ^abExecutive Profile: Hilary McD Beckles B.A. (Hons.) Ph.D.[dead link]–Bloomberg Businessweek.Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  8. ^"Past Officers".ASWAD.Retrieved20 April2016.
  9. ^Honorary Graduates: A to E– University of Hull. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  10. ^"KNUST Crop and Soil Sciences Dept to run PhD programme"– GhanaWeb, 27 November 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  11. ^Honorary Degrees 2011– University of Glasgow. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  12. ^"Two new knights for Barbados",Nation News,30 November 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  13. ^"Beckles receives Antigua and Barbuda's governor general's highest honour".jamaica-gleaner.7 December 2021.Retrieved20 December2021.
  14. ^Austin, Hal (31 May 2012),"From a Native Son: Economic Prosperity is Tied up with Improved Education",Barbados Underground.Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  15. ^Campbell, Junior (2011)."Male bashing in Barbados (#4): Sir Hilary Beckles' 'bashment'",All Voices,25 September 2011.Archived12 May 2013 at theWayback Machine.Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  16. ^Cooper, Carolyn(22 May 2011),"Beckles Caught In The Slips",The Gleaner.Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  17. ^UWI Cave Hill Director Sir Hilary Beckles Under Fire for Calling Cricket Captain Chris Gayle a "Don" Like "Dudus"– Zimbio. Published 14 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  18. ^WIPA condemns Beckles for Comparing Chris Gayle with Dudus Coke–Jamaica Observer,10 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
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