1963: West Indies Federation Formally Dissolves

On May 31, 1963, the final dissolution of the West Indies Federation was confirmed, ending a short-lived political union of Caribbean territories under British colonial rule. Formed in 1958, the Federation aimed to unite ten English-speaking Caribbean islands into a single independent state. However, internal disagreements, especially between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, led to its collapse. Jamaica withdrew after a 1961 referendum, and Trinidad followed, opting for separate independence. The dissolution underscored the complexities of Caribbean unity and the lingering effects of colonial divisions. While the Federation failed, its legacy lives on in organizations like CARICOM, which continue to pursue regional integration. May 31 represents a pivotal date in Black international history when postcolonial dreams of unity clashed with national interests, shaping the path of Caribbean independence movements and influencing how diaspora nations build cooperative futures today.