Hail Mi Irieites,
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born this day in 1887. Here’s a short clip from our upcoming documentary that’s relevant today:
Garvey was unique in advancing a Pan-African philosophy to inspire a global mass movement and economic empowerment focusing on Africa known as Garveyism. Promoted by the UNIA as a movement of African Redemption, Garveyism would eventually inspire others, including the Nation of Islam. In fact, some Rastas even view Garvey as a prophet. The intent of the movement was for those of African ancestry to “redeem” Africa and for the European colonial powers to leave it. His essential ideas about Africa were stated in an editorial in the Negro World entitled “African Fundamentalism”, where he wrote: “Our union must know no clime, boundary, or nationality… to let us hold together under all climes and in every country.”
Although Garvey promoted Pan Africanism and the Back to Africa movement, one point does need clarification. It was Reverend James Morris Web, a clergyman from Chicago and an associate of Garvey who said “look to Africa where a Black king shall be crowned he shall be the redeemer.” This prediction of H.I.M. Haile Selassie’s ascent to the throne of Ethiopia is often wrongfully attributed to Marcus Garvey.
In 1965, during a trip to Jamaica, Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King laid a wreath at Garvey’s shrine. It was MLK who said that Garvey “was the first man of color to lead and develop a mass movement. He was the first man on a mass scale and level to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny. And make the Negro feel he was somebody.”
Two other interesting historical points:
Malcolm X‘s parents, Earl and Louise Little, met at a UNIA convention in Montreal. Earl was the president of the UNIA division in Omaha, Nebraska and sold the Negro World newspaper, for which Louise covered UNIA activities.
Kwame Nkrumah named the national shipping line of Ghana the Black Star Line in honor of Garvey and the UNIA. Nkrumah also named the national soccer team the Black Stars as well. The black star at the center of Ghana’s flag is also inspired by the Black Star.
The UNIA red, black, and green flag has also been adopted as the universal Black Liberation Flag.
Garvey’s message of unity lives on:
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
“Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.”
“There shall be no solution to this race problem until you, yourselves, strike the blow for liberty.”
“I know no national boundary where the Negro is concerned. The whole world is my province until Africa is free.”
“The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.”
“Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden.”
“If you haven’t confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.”
“The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.”
As Marcus Say: “Rally Round the Flag!” Check the opening song at 2:09 >>