On 14 October 1897, worker organiser and anti-colonial activist Elma Francois was born in Overland, St Vincent. As a child she worked alongside her mother picking cotton, then began organising amongst her fellow workers at the Mt Bentinck sugar factory until she was fired. Moving to Trinidad, she helped found the Negro Welfare Cultural and Social Association (NWCSA), a socialist organisation which included Indian and Chinese members, and put women at the centre of its organising work. The NWCSA organised hunger marches, opposition to the invasion of Ethiopia and formed trade unions. Elma herself was arrested by British authorities and was the first woman to be tried for sedition. She defended herself and was found not guilty. In 1987, she was declared a national heroine of Trinidad and Tobago. More information about struggles in the Caribbean here: https://libcom.org/library/labour-rebellions-1930s-british-caribbean-region-colonies-richard-hart
Elma Francois - WCH | Stories
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