Ambassador Professor Shamir Ally has commemorated the 2026 centennial of Black History Month in the United States with a sweeping tribute to distinguished Guyanese and American leaders whose lives and work, he said, reflect a century of resilience, scholarship and transformative leadership.
In his op-ed, Ally noted that February 2026 marks “exactly 100 years of national Black history commemorations in the United States,” tracing the observance to 1926 when historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASALH) launched the first Negro History Week.
Woodson selected February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass — dates already deeply rooted in Black community observances. The celebration expanded to a full month in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial under President Gerald Ford. The national theme for 2026 is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
While the 100-year milestone applies specifically to the United States, Ally acknowledged that Black History Month is also observed internationally. Canada formally recognised it in 1995, while the United Kingdom has marked the observance each October since 1987.
Ally’s reflection highlighted several prominent Guyanese figures, including Guyana’s first Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, and First Lady Viola Burnham; former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte and First Lady Joyce Hoyte; and former U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. He also noted that individuals holding a Juris Doctor (JD) degree may be addressed as “Doctor” in professional settings.
The op-ed paid special attention to the contributions of Chancellor Professor Dr. John Edward Greene, CCH, who served as the 10th Chancellor of the University of Guyana from 2019 to 2025. Ally wrote that Dr. Greene emphasised “ACCOUNTABILITY, CREATIVITY, and RELEVANCE in EDUCATION,” encouraging graduates to be “VOICES of TRANSFORMATION.” Under his tenure, the University achieved institutional accreditation in 2025 and awarded more than 40 PhDs through the Staff Improvement Scheme led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin.
Ally also recognised the service of His Justice Donald Trotman, CCH, former High Court Judge and diplomat, known for leading the Commission of Inquiry into the 2008 Lindo Creek massacre and for serving under seven Guyanese presidents. His legal and diplomatic career spans national and international roles.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly and Minister for Natural Resources Raphael Trotman was commended for his political career and academic scholarship, including his publication “From Destiny to Prosperity” and his doctoral research titled “Accomplishing a Fait Accompli Through Hybrid Warfare: An Analysis of Venezuela’s Territorial Claim and Actions Against Guyana.”
Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), was described as “A Relentless Voice for Workers’ Justice in Guyana,” with more than four decades of advocacy in labour rights and constitutional governance. Ally noted that 2026 also marks the 100th anniversary of the trade union movement in Guyana.
Among American leaders acknowledged were U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Brooklyn-based Guyanese activist Rickford Burke. Ally also paid tribute to pioneering American mathematician Dr. Gladys West, who died on January 17, 2026, at age 95. Quoting accounts of her career, he highlighted that “Without her work, and updates that came later, the intricately accurate navigation and timing of GPS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE,” underscoring her foundational contributions to global positioning technology.
Ally drew inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., quoting, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” He also cited King’s reminder that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of COMFORT and CONVENIENCE, but where he stands at times of CHALLENGE and CONTROVERSEY.”
The reflection further acknowledged prominent Guyanese scholars including Professors Euclid Asquith Rose, Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, Jacob Opadeyi, Lawrence Carrington and James Rose for their academic leadership and scholarship spanning international relations, Caribbean security, linguistics, governance and cultural preservation.
Concluding his centennial message, Ally urged readers to “HONOUR their stories and continue to push forward,” reminding them that “EQUITY is not a DESTINATION; it is a continuous JOURNEY we must ALL undertake.” He encouraged learning and sharing stories of resilience, promoting fairness and inclusion, supporting initiatives that address systemic inequalities, celebrating Black achievement and amplifying marginalised voices.
“We are the dream and hope of our ancestors – let us rise, let us shine, and let us create a brighter future for all,” Ally wrote.
