Hilary Beckles: Difference between revisions

==Academic career and involvement in cricket==▼

Born in Barbados, and initially educated at Coleridge and Parry Secondary School in [[Bridgetown]], Beckles completed his secondary education at Pitmaston Secondary School and the [[Bournville College|Bournville College of Further Education]] in [[Birmingham]], [[England]]. He subsequently progressed to the [[University of Hull]], eventually completing a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA (Hons)]] and [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] with the university's Department of Economic and Social History.<ref name="cv">[http://www.aswadiaspora.org/candidates09/Beckles.pdf Curriculum vitae of Hilary Beckles] – Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> Beckles joined the [[University of West Indies]] as a history lecturer at its campus in [[Mona, Jamaica|Mona]], [[Jamaica]], in 1979, but transferred to its [[Cave Hill campus]] in 1984.<ref name="bio">[http://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/principal/biography.asp Office of the Principal: Biography] – University of the West Indies. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> Having been named a senior research fellow at the [[London]]-based [[Institute of Commonwealth Studies]] in 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.<ref name="cv"/> Beckles received a personal professorship in 1993, the university's youngest appointment to the position.<ref name="bio"/> His work has covered a variety of areas within the broader topic of [[Afro-Caribbean history]], with works covering early slave rebellions in Barbados, the role of women in the slave trade, and the greater effects of [[colonialism]] on present Barbadian society. Other works have focused more specifically on [[History of Barbados|Barbadian history]], including education, telecommunications, the labour movement, and sporting culture.<ref name="cv"/>▼

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-campus [[3Ws Oval]]. Two years later, in 1996, he convinced the [[West Indies Cricket Board]] (WICB) to organise a match between the touring New Zealanders and a team selected by the university's vice-chancellor.<ref name="pelican">[http://sta.uwi.edu/pelican/archives/jj07/vcvpoint.asp VC Viewpoint: Symbols of the West Indian Spirit] – ''The Pelican''. Retrieved 2 January 2013.</ref> Matches between touring sides and the Vice Chancellor's XI have since become a regular, almost annual, event.<ref>[http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/1/1335/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 January 2012.</ref><ref>Buchanan-Hind, Elizabeth. [http://sta.uwi.edu/pelican/archives/jj07/article2.asp Tracing the Journey: The Vice Chancellor's XI cricket match] – ''The Pelican''. Retrieved 2 January 2013.</ref> In 1999, Beckles published a two-volume series on the history of cricket in the Caribbean, entitled ''The Development of West Indies Cricket''.<ref name="cv"/> Three years later, prior to start of the 2002–03 cricket season, the WICB announced that the expanded [[WICB Cup|Red Stripe Bowl]], the premier [[List A cricket|limited-overs]] competition in the West Indies, would feature the [[University of the West Indies cricket team|university's cricket team]]. UWI's two-season stint in the tournament was largely a result of the efforts of Beckles' efforts.<ref>Popplewell, Georgia (2004). [http://caribbean-beat.com/issue-66/who%E2%80%99s-really-who-west-indies-cricket Who's Really Who In West Indies Cricket] – ''Caribbean Beat''. Issue 66 (March/April 2004). Retrieved 2 January 2013.</ref> He remains a director of what is now the [[C. L. R. James]] Centre for Cricket Research, and is also overall sports coordinator for the university.<ref name="bio"/>▼

==Awards and reputation==▼

Beckles was named "Author of the Year" in 1991 by Barbados Cultural Promotions, and ''We 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.<ref name="cv"/> In 2004, Beckles was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] degree by his ''alma mater'', the University of Hull.<ref>[http://www2.hull.ac.uk/theuniversity/honorarygraduates.aspx?theme=print Honorary Graduates: A to E] – University of Hull. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> He has since received equivalent honorary degrees from the [[Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology]], [[Ghana]], in November 2009,<ref>[http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=172595 KNUST Crop and Soil Sciences Dept to run PhD programme] – GhanaWeb. Published 27 November 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> and from the [[University of Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], in June 2011.<ref>[http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_196339_en.pdf Honorary Degrees 2011] – University of Glasgow. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> In November 2007, Beckles was made a [[Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)|Knight of St. Andrew]], the highest honour possible in the [[Order of Barbados]].<ref>[http://cheese-on-bread.blogspot.com.au/2007_11_01_archive.html Two new knights for Barbados] – ''Nation News''. Published 30 November 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref>▼

Some of Beckles' actions, regarding his role in both sports and academics at the university, have been controversial. In particular, one commentator has described his "exploitation of the nation's traditional love of education and qualifications", referring to his role in the university's development as "empire-building";<ref>[https://bajan.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/from-a-native-son-economic-prosperity-is-tied-up-with-improved-education/#more-21442 From a Native Son: Economic Prosperity is Tied up with Improved Education] – Barbados Underground. Published 31 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> another commentator has criticised his decisions made while on the board of the WICB.<ref>Campbell, Junior (2011). [http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10438186-male-bashing-barbados-in-barbados-4-sir-hilary-beckles-bashment Male bashing in Barbados (#4): Sir Hilary Beckles' "bashment"] – All Voices. Published 25 September 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref> In May 2011, Beckles made a statement suggesting that [[Chris Gayle]] was the "[[Boss (crime)|don]]" of West Indian cricket, comparing him to Jamaican drug lord [[Christopher Coke]] (otherwise known as "Dudus").<ref>[http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110522/cleisure/cleisure3.html Beckles Caught In The Slips] – ''[[Gleaner Company|The Gleaner]]''. Published 22 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.zimbio.com/ICC+Cricket+World+Cup+2011/articles/Gs401kBkbEJ/UWI+Cave+Hill+Director+Sir+Hilary+Beckles 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.</ref> The [[West Indies Players' Association]] (WIPA) subsequently wrote to the WICB and UWI asking for Beckles' dismissal from the board, which did not eventuate.<ref>[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/WIPA-condemns-Beckles-for-comparing-Gayle-to--Dudus- WIPA condemns Beckles for Comparing Chris Gayle with Dudus Coke] – ''[[Jamaica Observer]]''. Published 10 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2013.</ref>▼

==Selected bibliography==▼

* ''Britain's Black Debt: Reparations for Caribbean Slavery and Native Genocide'', University of the West Indies Press, 2012. ISBN 978-9766402686▼

* ''A History of Barbados: From Amerindian Settlement to Caribbean Single Market'', Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0521678490▼

* ''Liberties Lost: The Indigenous Caribbean and Slave Systems'', with Verene A. Shepherd, Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0521435444▼

* ''The Development of West Indies Cricket: The Age of Nationalism'', vol. 1, Pluto Press, 1999. ISBN 978-0745314624▼