1962: Jamaica’s Norman Manley Passes, Leaving a Legacy of Reform

On May 31, 1962, Norman Manley, one of Jamaica’s founding statesmen, passed away just months before the island gained full independence. As the founder of the People’s National Party (PNP), Manley was instrumental in securing universal adult suffrage in 1944 and pushing constitutional reforms that set the stage for decolonization. Although he never served as Prime Minister of an independent Jamaica, his policies on labor rights, education, and social equity had a lasting impact. Manley’s death on May 31 occurred during a pivotal year for the Caribbean and is remembered as a moment of transition and mourning. His life symbolizes the intellectual and strategic leadership that shaped modern Black political thought. Commemorating this date honors a man who fused nationalism with democratic ideals and helped carve a path for Black self-governance in the Caribbean, leaving a legacy of reform and justice in the face of colonial inertia.