LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Professor Rex Nettleford,
Jamaican scholar, social critic, and choreographer

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay proper tribute
to individuals of great character whose lives exemplify the highest
ideals of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Professor Rex Nettleford died on February 2, 2010, at the age
of 76, one day short of his birthday; and
WHEREAS, Professor Rex Nettleford distinguished himself in his profes-
sion and by his sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the
welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, Rex Nettleford was a leading
Caribbean intellectual and visionary; he was often referred to as a
Third World Scholar; during his life, he nurtured his sensibilities into
being more creative and his vivid imagination urged him to become more
interested in the daily workings of the Caribbean country lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, Rex Nettleford attended Cornwall College in Montego Bay, and
earned a degree in History at the prestigious University of the West
Indies in London, and he later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford Univer-
sity; he used his vast education to help promote Jamaican culture and
social mores; and
WHEREAS, Rex Nettleford continued his commitment by working closely
with Caribbeans to explore the realities of their cultural development
in daily living; his art, such as writings and choreographies, unleashed
his creative power by expressing the struggles of people in the Caribbe-
an region; and
WHEREAS, Rex Nettleford became an advocate of higher education which
prompted him to become Founder of the Trade Union Education Institute,
an organization which allowed factory and farm workers to unite with
scholars to help bridge the education gap between the classes; and
WHEREAS, In 1963, Rex Nettleford became the Co-Founder, Artistic
Director, Choreographer and Lead Dancer, for the National Dance Theatre
Company of Jamaica; he used this forum to showcase Jamaican traditions
and several Jamaican religions such as Kumina and Pocomania; and
WHEREAS, The stage became the arena where Rex Nettleford debuted these
movements and practices; he believed that the Arts fostered cultural
survival, awareness of self and social change; and
WHEREAS, For over 20 years, Rex Nettleford had also been the artistic
director for the University Singers of the University of the West
Indies, Mona campus, in Jamaica; the combination of Professor Nettleford
as artistic director and Noel Dexter as musical director with the
University Singers has seen the creation of what is referred to as
"choral theatre"; and
WHEREAS, Professor Nettleford received several awards during the
course of his career; in 1975, he received the National Honor of Order
of Merit (O.M.), the Gold Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica
and the Living Legend Award from the Black Arts Festival in Atlanta; in
1994, he received the Zora Neale Hurston-Paul Robeson Award for
Outstanding Scholarly Achievement from the National Council for Black
Studies; his career can be summed up by saying that he is a pioneer who
sought Cultural Definition and Artistic Discoveries; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by loving family and friends, Rex Nettleford
leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and
will remain as a comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Professor Rex Nettleford, Jamaican scholar, social
critic, and choreographer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Professor Rex Nettleford.