22 Oct The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders added to classes at the University of Delaware

After garnering critical-acclaim worldwide and recently winning best documentary feature at Toronto’s Caribbean Tales International Film Festival, “Paradise Discovered: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders” now heads to higher education where the film will be taught at the University of Delaware this fall semester.

Unbreakable, based on Peter Bailey’s now infamous New York Times Op Ed “Has America Forgotten the Virgin Islands”, has been officially added to the syllabus of two classes taught by Professor Kendell Daughtry who also says he plans to use the film for his dissertation.

“I’m excited to finally see this [Unbreakable] and use it,” said Daughtry, whose wife hails from St. Thomas.

The classes – HDFS202 Diversity and Families and HDFS267 Diversity Self-Awarness – examines diverse families in the United States with a focus on issues of race, ethnicity, social class, and gender with an emphasis on the accelerating effects of of globalization and social change.

The courses satisfies the University of Delaware multicultural requirement.

Bailey, one of the most prolific journalists to graduate from the university’s journalism program, says it’s a dream come true to have his alma mater incorporate his work into the curriculum.

“It’s been a lifelong dream to have my work taught in schools, but to have my alma mater be the institution that made this happen with a project that celebrates my Virgin Islands community’s story is surreal,” says Bailey. “I remember being a freshman at UD and the culture shock I faced being from St. Thomas. Now my work will be used to help promote diversity, thus preparing students to embrace a world that’s multicultural.”

The film made its East Coast debut at a screening held at the University of Delaware back on Nov. 13 as part of the university’s Front Page Cafe speaker series.

In Unbreakable Bailey reflects on surviving both Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Mr. Bailey’s native St. Thomas alongside a cross-section of voices across the Virgin Islands. From his 76 year-old mother’s defiant prayers, to former USVI Governor Kenneth Mapp advocating to President Trump and high schooler Indira’s compassion for her classmates alongside Olympic boxer Julius Jackson cooking up dishes to serve the community, Unbreakable celebrates the unconquerable spirit of the Virgin Islands community. The story of Anique Thomas-Harrigan who lost her husband Ishmael “Tarik” Harrigan is heart wrenching yet her strength is inspiring. Mr. Bailey has dedicated the film to his father Joseph Bailey who died on September 3^rd, 2019.

Other universities that have expressed interest in having the film added to their curriculum include the University of Houston, University of South Florida and the College of Charleston.