Producer Statement
“I grew up on the island of St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands, hearing stories about Queen Mary and the Fireburn. It was a part of our island's history and there were often commemorative programs dedicated to this pivotal event in the island's history.
Fast forward many years, I’m no longer living in the Caribbean and I’m a member of an international speaking club called “Toastmasters.” I needed a story for one of the assignments and the story needed to be true and it needed to take the listener on a rollercoaster of emotions. That weekend I went to a party and sat at the dining room table with two of my aunts. They reminisced and told stories, and before you know it, I’m listening to this fascinating story about my great-great-great-grandmother, Moriah, who was a teenager at the Fireburn. I had never heard this story before and I was hooked. Moriah’s job was to take care of her younger brother and sister while her parents fought in the Fireburn. She covered herself and her siblings with garbage, leaves and dirt, while they hid in a ditch and listened to the horrific battle.
When I learned that my ancestors were participants in the Fireburn the event took on a new meaning for me. It was now family history. I shared the story at my speakers’ club and won an award. The word spread quickly and other clubs asked me to share the story. I soon realized that the story of the Fireburn is hugely relatable because it is a tale of our humanity. It is a tale that shows us what happens when our basic human rights are suppressed. One does not have to be of any particular race, sex or religious affiliation to understand what fair treatment looks like.
Although the Fireburn occurred on a small island in the Caribbean, in the 1800s, it is still relevant today. It is my hope that this documentary will serve as a tool for cultural preservation for the people of the Virgin Islands, and that it educates those unfamiliar with our history.”