Casimir, J. R. Ralph

Poet; editor; founding member and secretary of the Roseau, Dominica Division of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA); organizer of the Dominica Taxpayers Reform Association.

Casimir was born in St. Joseph, Dominica, West Indies on September 26, 1898. He taught school for several years before resigning to pursue other interests. In 1919 he helped found a Division of the UNIA in Roseau and travelled throughout the island to organize other branches; he served as secretary of the Roseau branch until its dissolution in 1923. Casimir also acted as the Dominican agent for the "Negro World" the official organ of the UNIA, as well as for other black periodicals published in the United States.

Casimir's interest in politics continued long after his UNIA activities. He was organizer and Assistant Secretary of the Dominica Taxpayers Reform Association and was Assistant Secretary of the Dominica Conference of 1932, a forerunner of the Federation of the West Indies which advocated democratization of the English-speaking colonies as a first step towards self-government. He was also active in politics at the local community level.

His interest in writing, especially in poetry resulted in the publication of several booklets of his verse and four anthologies of Dominican verse. Over the years he contributed articles and poems to African, American and Caribbean magazines and newspapers and was a correspondent for the "Pittsburgh Courier" (New York Edition) from 1950-1952. Casimir resides in Roseau, Dominica where he is engaged in the bookbinding business.

From the description of J. R. Casimir papers, 1919-1981. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122531845

Poet; editor; founding member and secretary of the Roseau, Dominica Division of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA); organizer of the Dominica Taxpayers Reform Association. Casimir was born in St. Joseph, Dominica, West Indies on September 26, 1898. He taught school for several years before resigning to pursue other interests. In 1919 he helped found a Division of the UNIA in Roseau and travelled throughout the island to organize other branches; he served as secretary of the Roseau branch until its dissolution in 1923. Casimir also acted as the Dominican agent for the "Negro World" the official organ of the UNIA, as well as for other black periodicals published in the United States.

Casimir's interest in politics continued long after his UNIA activities. He was organizer and Assistant Secretary of the Dominica Taxpayers Reform Association and was Assistant Secretary of the Dominica Conference of 1932, a forerunner of the Federation of the West Indies which advocated democratization of the English-speaking colonies as a first step towards self-government. He was also active in politics at the local community level.

His interest in writing, especially in poetry resulted in the publication of several booklets of his verse and four anthologies of Dominican verse. Over the years he contributed articles and poems to African, American and Caribbean magazines and newspapers and was a correspondent for the "Pittsburgh Courier" (New York Edition) from 1950-1952. Casimir resides in Roseau, Dominica where he is engaged in the bookbinding business.

From the guide to the J. R. Casimir papers, 1919-1981, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)