Tag Archives: Culture Matters

What Is Carnival Supposed to Protect?

The post discusses the significance of cultural celebrations like Carnival in the Caribbean, particularly addressing the risk of forgetting their historical roots, such as emancipation. While evolving traditions are inevitable, it emphasizes the need for understanding the stories behind these events to ensure future generations grasp their importance, thus maintaining the connection to their history.

St. Croix Just Landed on a Rooftop in D.C. — And Reminded Me Where My Real Education Began

My first classroom didn’t have desks. It had a kitchen, a dining room, tourists looking for an experience, and locals looking for community. From 1986 to 1991, my family owned and operated The Old Gallery Restaurant & Bar on St. John, Virgin Islands. At the time, I didn’t think of it as an education. ItContinueContinue reading “St. Croix Just Landed on a Rooftop in D.C. — And Reminded Me Where My Real Education Began”

From the Virgin Islands to the Top: USVI Women Win the 2026 Nike RBI Championship

The U.S. Virgin Islands women’s softball team didn’t just show up on the national stage. They left as champions. The USVI captured the 2026 Nike RBI Softball World Series Championship, defeating Houston Astros Nike RBI, 3–1, in the championship game at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Florida. For the young women wearingContinueContinue reading “From the Virgin Islands to the Top: USVI Women Win the 2026 Nike RBI Championship”

Companies Design the Product. The Street Names It.

There’s a new Air Force 1 dropping this holiday season. Nike’s internal name for it is something like “College Grey/Pink Glaze.” Somewhere in a design studio, a team spent months getting the shaggy suede texture right, the pink outsole just muted enough, the little MetroCard-style hangtag perfectly dialed in, right down to swapping the MTA’sContinueContinue reading “Companies Design the Product. The Street Names It.”

The Ferry Was Never Just Transportation

Reflections on being featured in Growing Up in the Caribbean There are moments in life that make you pause and look back at your journey with a new appreciation. Recently, I had the honor of being interviewed by Keshia Prince-Anderson for her Growing Up in the Caribbean series. Her article, The Infrastructure of Love City:ContinueContinue reading “The Ferry Was Never Just Transportation”

Somebody Had to Fight for the Square-Toed AF1. This is the Real Story.

Nike’s square-toed Air Force 1 debuted at Paris Fashion Week, splitting fans over its boxy new shape ahead of a 2027 release. But cultural educator Dee Wells argues the real story isn’t the toe — it’s the fight designers and color & materials managers had to win to convince Nike’s executives these were the sneakers worth making. A look at creativity, conviction, and the careers hidden inside a single shoe.

The Game Isn’t Just Being Played. It’s Being Sold to the Whole World.

A 22-year-old from France is about to walk into the NBA Finals as the face of the San Antonio Spurs. This lets us know everything about where the league is in 2026. Spurs vs. Knicks. Game 1, June 3, in San Antonio. On paper, it’s a rematch of 1999 — Tim Duncan’s first crown, theContinueContinue reading “The Game Isn’t Just Being Played. It’s Being Sold to the Whole World.”