Caribbean philosopher and sociologist Dr. Padgett Henry was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of the West Indies (UWI) during its 2025 graduation ceremony at the House of Restoration Ministries in Antigua on Saturday.
The Montserrat-born academic, celebrated for his pioneering work in Africana philosophy and Caribbean political thought, accepted the award virtually, describing it as one of the highest honors of his life.
“There is no other university that I wanted an honorary doctorate from than the University of the West Indies,” Henry said. “This is the real deal. This is the best.”
Henry, professor emeritus of sociology and Africana studies at Brown University, was recognized for his decades of scholarship examining the Caribbean’s intellectual independence and the philosophical richness of its culture. The university’s public orator described him as “an intellectual anchor in Africana philosophy” whose work bridges “history and hope, memory and freedom, culture, theory and practice.”
Born to Antiguan parents and educated in Antigua and abroad, Henry’s contributions include founding the Antigua and Barbuda Review of Books and co-founding the Antigua and Barbuda Studies Association. His landmark book Caliban’s Reason established Caribbean philosophy as a distinct and globally recognized tradition.
In his address, Henry reflected on the changing global order and urged the graduating class to confront the challenges of a “major transition in human history,” marked by climate change, inequality, and the decline of old world systems.
“My generation is now exiting the stage of history to make room for you,” he told graduates. “You must ensure that as the world changes, the Caribbean does not fall through the cracks.”
He called for “excellence in both scholarship and citizenship,” emphasizing the need for collaboration across generations to preserve the intellectual and social gains achieved by earlier Caribbean thinkers.
“We must work together to make this transition one in which the Caribbean does not lose what it has inherited from the modern world, but instead advances,” Henry said.
Henry also cautioned against the rise of authoritarianism globally, urging Caribbean societies to stay rooted in democratic traditions and critical thought.
“The future will test your ideals,” he warned. “But do not lose your hope — it is your fire, your fuel, the light that will guide you when the path is unclear.”
Henry joins a distinguished list of UWI honorary graduates whose work has shaped regional identity and scholarship. The ceremony also celebrated a record 195 graduates from the UWI Five Islands Campus — the largest cohort in its history.
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