Marcus Garvey Research Paper
How can Marcus Garvey be given more prominence in Jamaican context other than at National Heroes Day?
Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940)
Marcus Garvey was born on 17th August 1887 in the small rural town of St. Ann’s Bay. He was from a large, poor family of which he was the last of eleven children. His father worked as a stone mason and his mother baked and sold cakes. His parents were devout Christians and encouraged their children along the path of the Christian religion. They also encouraged them to read. He was christened Malcus Mosiah Garvey but later assumed the name Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He spent his early years under the influence of two self educated men. The first one was his father, Malcus Mosiah Garvey, and his Godfather …show more content…
Alfred E. Borrowes. From these two men Marcus learnt many positive values which helped to shape the man he became.
Leaving school at fourteen years old, he went to work in his Godfather’s printery. Attending school in Jamaica taught Garvey that colonial Jamaica’s education system was weighted against black children. During his years as a printer’s apprentice he learnt many skills but the most important lesson Garvey learnt was the power of the press and would later use the press to mobilize people of African decent to a clearer understanding of their black heritage.
Garvey traveled to many places including Central America, Bocas del Toro, Nicaragua, Honduras and London. During his travel Garvey saw the injustice that was practiced towards people of colour. A lot of people inspired and mentored Garvey, one such man was Robert Love. Love taught Garvey the art of speaking fluently and also shared his views about pride in his race and challenged colonialist prejudices. During his stay in
Britain Garvey developed the idea of one great international organization of black people, educated, financially independent, having pride in themselves and as black people would take their rightful place in society. These were the words he spoke to explain his vision.
“I saw before me even as I do now, a new world of black men, not peons, serfs, dogs and slaves, but a nation of sturdy men making their impress upon civilization and causing a new light to dawn upon the human race”.
Garvey returned to Jamaica in 1914 and in August which was emancipation day, he launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The aim of this organization was to campaign for equal rights and economic independence for black people and to create a united Africa to which one day they might one day return. Garvey’s slogan was, “Up! Up! You mighty people, you can accomplish what you will”. The U.N.I.A. flag was of red, black and green. Each colour had a significant meaning; red represented the blood of the race nobly shed in the past and dedicated to the future; black for pride and colour of the skin; green for a promise of a better life in Africa. He started a newspaper called the Negro World which was first published on 17th August 1918. The Negro World was also used to garner support for the movement, and so theUNIA grew rapidly and by 1920 when the first international convention was held at Madison Square Garden, over 25,000 people attented. Garvey gained a lot of enemies because of his ideas of repatriation back to Africa which was known as the “Back to Africa Movement”. Slogans were use such as ‘Africa for Africans” and “African Redemption”. These ideas were considered to be revolutionary in the 1920s and a war was beginning to brew against Garvey’s ideas. The Negro World was banned as subversive, and followers of Garvey were denies entry into several Caribbean territories. Some critics even criticized him on the basis that he was encouraging a personality cult and that the movement was based on his personal persuit for power.
One of Garvey’s most ambitious dreams was the formation of a steamship company called the Black Star Line.
This company was to be owned by black people, in the same way that a white steamship company was owned and managed by white persons. The Black Star Line was also supposed to be backed by several black owned businesses that would use the steamships to transport their cargo. The company was financed by US $5.00 shares, sold only to black persons. This amounted to US $750.000. No one was permitted to purchase more than 200 shares. Unfortunately, neither Garvey nor his associates knew much about the shipping business and persons who they trusted were not trustworthy. Proper records were not always kept and official procedures were often ignored. The first three vessles bought were very old and ended up as being liabilities to the company and sank the company into debt amounting to US$476,000. By 1922 the Black Star Line Shipping Company was bankrupt. Garvey got into further trouble when the warning from the United States attorney general’s office was ignored. The warning stated that it was illegal to sell shares by post for a company that had not properly been incorporated. In January 1922 Garvey and three other of his officials were indicted on charges of commercial fraud. Garvey was indited on 12 counts, fined US$1,000, held without bail for three months and after an unsuccessful appeal, was sentence to a term of five years in an Atlanta jail. The other …show more content…
three men were not charged. Garvey appealed again but lost and was imprisoned in an Atlanta jail on February 3rd 1925.
Although Garvey was imprisoned he did not lose hope of establishing a black shipping company and so in 1924 while his appeal was pending, Garvey became involved in another shipping company named the Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company.
A ship, which was in a much better physical shape than the others of the Black Star Liner, was purchased. Garvey’s supporters were enthusiastic to discover that the movement was not dead. This dream was not to be, because after a few voyages the shipping company declared bankruptcy.
Marcus Garvey’s prison term was decreased to two and a half years as a result of an appeal that was made on his behalf. He was released in December, 1927 and later deported to Jamaica. On his return to Jamaica he was given a hero’s welcome. During his time in Jamaica, he got involved in politics and formed the People’s Political Party. He won a seat on kingston’s Parish Council which he was prevented by higher authorities to take up. This was because they thought he would bring trouble to the Council.
Although the politician saw Garvey’s input as trouble, some persons in the poor areas of Kingston saw Garvey as a form of black Moses. The Rastafarian Movement was born in the late 1920s and grew. Marcus Garvey began to express their dislike of the ruling authorities and it was the first expression of Black Power. Many people were opposed to the movement but over the years the Rastafarian religion has taken root all over the
world.
One of Marcus Garvey’s dreams was also to develop a black university. This dream was realized if only for a short time. The Liberty University was opened in the state of Virginia on September, 1926. It too was badly affected by the problems of the U.N.I.A. and after three years it was closed because of lack of financial support.
How do we celebrate the life and work of Marcus Garvey today?
We celebrate Marcus Gavey’s life and his beliefs mainly on Heroes day. This is most times inadequately done and Marcus Garvey’s teachings, accomplishments and beliefs get watered down and must be crammed into a day or two leading up to Heroes Day. He does not even get this time in the spotlight alone because other Heroes and Heroine are to be highlighted in this time period.
This watered down and condensing has contributed to our children not really knowing who they are. Most of them know nothing of Marcus Garvey, other than he was a national Hero. It is evident in our society that the black population has definitely lost its identity. Most of our younger generation still sees the Caucasian features as the ideal beauty. To this end, some persons of Negro origins try most desperately to “bleach” off their blackness with dangerous chemicals. According to Marcus Garvey’s teaching this would be the worse kind of “self hate”.
The Rastafarians, on the other hand, never allow the rest of us to forget about Marcus Garvey. His words and his beliefs are most times used in Rastararian music. Music is a powerful instrument and has managed to give Garvey a voice from beyond the grave to reach a new generation of persons who are getting more and more attracted to the Rastafarian faith and teachings.
How can Marcus Garvey be given More Prominence in our Society? 1. At least a week to celebrate the life and work of Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey managed to break down a lot of barriers, mobilize black people into seeing themselves as someone, and not just slaves, start movements toward black power and freedom, got into politics and human rights issues among other things. During this time schools and other institutions such as the media houses, and the whole country should be involved. We should see this as a time when we highlight the positives of being black in an effort to decrease the negatives. 2. Garvey’s teachings could be incorporated into the education of inmates in prison as part of their rehabilitation programme. This would be in an effort to help decrease the violent behavior and try to instill brotherly love in inmates. 3. He should be formalized in the school system by integrating his teachings in the curriculum. This should be done at all levels of the education system so that students get refresher and deeper knowledge of Marcus Garvey as they go through the school system. This will help them to understand that as children of black Africans they have a duty to do the best they can so as to uplift the race. This may also help in boosting their self esteem in that they will understand how special they are that this man went to so much trouble to ensure that we can have a better life and freedom to do things that we take for granted today. Garvey’s teacher may also help in persons recognizing that violence against each other is steeped in colonial thinking and only helps to weaken the black race. This teaching will help to “emancipate persons’ minds from mental slavery.” 4. On black history month more prominence should be given to Garvey as a motivator and innovator of projects and ideologies that were geared towards the betterment of the Black race. Other powerful civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King emulated and made reference to Marcus Garvey in his teachings. In the current economic crisis, Garvey’s teachings on self reliance could be used to encourage persons to help themselves out of this economic depression and become a stronger more self sufficient people. 5. Marcus Garvey was a religious person and as such integrated religion in hi teachings. The religious communuity (excluding the Rastafarians) are missing the essences of the religious aspect of Marcus Garvey. I guess this may be as a result of the negative views that most denominations have of Rastafarianism, and as this movement was based on Garvey’s teaching, then Garvey’s whole ideas on religion is overlooked in churches. In the words of Marcus Garvey, “Our cause is based upon righteousness… God almighty is our leader and Jesus Christ our standard bearer”. He went on to say that, “God made us all to dwell on the face of the earth… we are all children of one common father”. I think if the leaders of religion incorporate Marcus Garvey’s teaching in their sermons and further in their church then this will not only serve to educate the congregation but also to attract a new and increasing set of “free thinkers” who find the teachings of the church too European or too white. The teachings of Garvey will also point person more towards self reliance while trusting in the Lord. “We must give up the silly idea of waiting upon God to do everything for us. If God intended that he would never have given us a mind…Whatsoever you want in life you must accomplish it for yourself”, said Marcus Garvey.
COURSE: Biblical and Theological Perspective of Counselling
LECTURER: Mrs Pansie Porteous
NAME OF STUDENT: Cynthia Fletcher-Landell
DATE: March 10, 2009
[pic]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Sherlock Philip The Story of the Jamaican People (Ian Randle Publishers Limited 1998)
2. Keene Michael New Steps in Religious Education (Nelson Thornes Limites 2003)
3. Jones Ken Marcus Garvey Said (United Cooperative Printers 2002)
4. Lewis Rupert Marcus Garvey: Anti-Colonial Champion, (London: Karia Publishing 1987)
Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940)
Marcus Garvey was born on 17th August 1887 in the small rural town of St. Ann’s Bay. He was from a large, poor family of which he was the last of eleven children. His father worked as a stone mason and his mother baked and sold cakes. His parents were devout Christians and encouraged their children along the path of the Christian religion. They also encouraged them to read. He was christened Malcus Mosiah Garvey but later assumed the name Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He spent his early years under the influence of two self educated men. The first one was his father, Malcus Mosiah Garvey, and his Godfather …show more content…
Alfred E. Borrowes. From these two men Marcus learnt many positive values which helped to shape the man he became.
Leaving school at fourteen years old, he went to work in his Godfather’s printery. Attending school in Jamaica taught Garvey that colonial Jamaica’s education system was weighted against black children. During his years as a printer’s apprentice he learnt many skills but the most important lesson Garvey learnt was the power of the press and would later use the press to mobilize people of African decent to a clearer understanding of their black heritage.
Garvey traveled to many places including Central America, Bocas del Toro, Nicaragua, Honduras and London. During his travel Garvey saw the injustice that was practiced towards people of colour. A lot of people inspired and mentored Garvey, one such man was Robert Love. Love taught Garvey the art of speaking fluently and also shared his views about pride in his race and challenged colonialist prejudices. During his stay in
Britain Garvey developed the idea of one great international organization of black people, educated, financially independent, having pride in themselves and as black people would take their rightful place in society. These were the words he spoke to explain his vision.
“I saw before me even as I do now, a new world of black men, not peons, serfs, dogs and slaves, but a nation of sturdy men making their impress upon civilization and causing a new light to dawn upon the human race”.
Garvey returned to Jamaica in 1914 and in August which was emancipation day, he launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). The aim of this organization was to campaign for equal rights and economic independence for black people and to create a united Africa to which one day they might one day return. Garvey’s slogan was, “Up! Up! You mighty people, you can accomplish what you will”. The U.N.I.A. flag was of red, black and green. Each colour had a significant meaning; red represented the blood of the race nobly shed in the past and dedicated to the future; black for pride and colour of the skin; green for a promise of a better life in Africa. He started a newspaper called the Negro World which was first published on 17th August 1918. The Negro World was also used to garner support for the movement, and so theUNIA grew rapidly and by 1920 when the first international convention was held at Madison Square Garden, over 25,000 people attented. Garvey gained a lot of enemies because of his ideas of repatriation back to Africa which was known as the “Back to Africa Movement”. Slogans were use such as ‘Africa for Africans” and “African Redemption”. These ideas were considered to be revolutionary in the 1920s and a war was beginning to brew against Garvey’s ideas. The Negro World was banned as subversive, and followers of Garvey were denies entry into several Caribbean territories. Some critics even criticized him on the basis that he was encouraging a personality cult and that the movement was based on his personal persuit for power.
One of Garvey’s most ambitious dreams was the formation of a steamship company called the Black Star Line.
This company was to be owned by black people, in the same way that a white steamship company was owned and managed by white persons. The Black Star Line was also supposed to be backed by several black owned businesses that would use the steamships to transport their cargo. The company was financed by US $5.00 shares, sold only to black persons. This amounted to US $750.000. No one was permitted to purchase more than 200 shares. Unfortunately, neither Garvey nor his associates knew much about the shipping business and persons who they trusted were not trustworthy. Proper records were not always kept and official procedures were often ignored. The first three vessles bought were very old and ended up as being liabilities to the company and sank the company into debt amounting to US$476,000. By 1922 the Black Star Line Shipping Company was bankrupt. Garvey got into further trouble when the warning from the United States attorney general’s office was ignored. The warning stated that it was illegal to sell shares by post for a company that had not properly been incorporated. In January 1922 Garvey and three other of his officials were indicted on charges of commercial fraud. Garvey was indited on 12 counts, fined US$1,000, held without bail for three months and after an unsuccessful appeal, was sentence to a term of five years in an Atlanta jail. The other …show more content…
three men were not charged. Garvey appealed again but lost and was imprisoned in an Atlanta jail on February 3rd 1925.
Although Garvey was imprisoned he did not lose hope of establishing a black shipping company and so in 1924 while his appeal was pending, Garvey became involved in another shipping company named the Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company.
A ship, which was in a much better physical shape than the others of the Black Star Liner, was purchased. Garvey’s supporters were enthusiastic to discover that the movement was not dead. This dream was not to be, because after a few voyages the shipping company declared bankruptcy.
Marcus Garvey’s prison term was decreased to two and a half years as a result of an appeal that was made on his behalf. He was released in December, 1927 and later deported to Jamaica. On his return to Jamaica he was given a hero’s welcome. During his time in Jamaica, he got involved in politics and formed the People’s Political Party. He won a seat on kingston’s Parish Council which he was prevented by higher authorities to take up. This was because they thought he would bring trouble to the Council.
Although the politician saw Garvey’s input as trouble, some persons in the poor areas of Kingston saw Garvey as a form of black Moses. The Rastafarian Movement was born in the late 1920s and grew. Marcus Garvey began to express their dislike of the ruling authorities and it was the first expression of Black Power. Many people were opposed to the movement but over the years the Rastafarian religion has taken root all over the
world.
One of Marcus Garvey’s dreams was also to develop a black university. This dream was realized if only for a short time. The Liberty University was opened in the state of Virginia on September, 1926. It too was badly affected by the problems of the U.N.I.A. and after three years it was closed because of lack of financial support.
How do we celebrate the life and work of Marcus Garvey today?
We celebrate Marcus Gavey’s life and his beliefs mainly on Heroes day. This is most times inadequately done and Marcus Garvey’s teachings, accomplishments and beliefs get watered down and must be crammed into a day or two leading up to Heroes Day. He does not even get this time in the spotlight alone because other Heroes and Heroine are to be highlighted in this time period.
This watered down and condensing has contributed to our children not really knowing who they are. Most of them know nothing of Marcus Garvey, other than he was a national Hero. It is evident in our society that the black population has definitely lost its identity. Most of our younger generation still sees the Caucasian features as the ideal beauty. To this end, some persons of Negro origins try most desperately to “bleach” off their blackness with dangerous chemicals. According to Marcus Garvey’s teaching this would be the worse kind of “self hate”.
The Rastafarians, on the other hand, never allow the rest of us to forget about Marcus Garvey. His words and his beliefs are most times used in Rastararian music. Music is a powerful instrument and has managed to give Garvey a voice from beyond the grave to reach a new generation of persons who are getting more and more attracted to the Rastafarian faith and teachings.
How can Marcus Garvey be given More Prominence in our Society? 1. At least a week to celebrate the life and work of Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey managed to break down a lot of barriers, mobilize black people into seeing themselves as someone, and not just slaves, start movements toward black power and freedom, got into politics and human rights issues among other things. During this time schools and other institutions such as the media houses, and the whole country should be involved. We should see this as a time when we highlight the positives of being black in an effort to decrease the negatives. 2. Garvey’s teachings could be incorporated into the education of inmates in prison as part of their rehabilitation programme. This would be in an effort to help decrease the violent behavior and try to instill brotherly love in inmates. 3. He should be formalized in the school system by integrating his teachings in the curriculum. This should be done at all levels of the education system so that students get refresher and deeper knowledge of Marcus Garvey as they go through the school system. This will help them to understand that as children of black Africans they have a duty to do the best they can so as to uplift the race. This may also help in boosting their self esteem in that they will understand how special they are that this man went to so much trouble to ensure that we can have a better life and freedom to do things that we take for granted today. Garvey’s teacher may also help in persons recognizing that violence against each other is steeped in colonial thinking and only helps to weaken the black race. This teaching will help to “emancipate persons’ minds from mental slavery.” 4. On black history month more prominence should be given to Garvey as a motivator and innovator of projects and ideologies that were geared towards the betterment of the Black race. Other powerful civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King emulated and made reference to Marcus Garvey in his teachings. In the current economic crisis, Garvey’s teachings on self reliance could be used to encourage persons to help themselves out of this economic depression and become a stronger more self sufficient people. 5. Marcus Garvey was a religious person and as such integrated religion in hi teachings. The religious communuity (excluding the Rastafarians) are missing the essences of the religious aspect of Marcus Garvey. I guess this may be as a result of the negative views that most denominations have of Rastafarianism, and as this movement was based on Garvey’s teaching, then Garvey’s whole ideas on religion is overlooked in churches. In the words of Marcus Garvey, “Our cause is based upon righteousness… God almighty is our leader and Jesus Christ our standard bearer”. He went on to say that, “God made us all to dwell on the face of the earth… we are all children of one common father”. I think if the leaders of religion incorporate Marcus Garvey’s teaching in their sermons and further in their church then this will not only serve to educate the congregation but also to attract a new and increasing set of “free thinkers” who find the teachings of the church too European or too white. The teachings of Garvey will also point person more towards self reliance while trusting in the Lord. “We must give up the silly idea of waiting upon God to do everything for us. If God intended that he would never have given us a mind…Whatsoever you want in life you must accomplish it for yourself”, said Marcus Garvey.
COURSE: Biblical and Theological Perspective of Counselling
LECTURER: Mrs Pansie Porteous
NAME OF STUDENT: Cynthia Fletcher-Landell
DATE: March 10, 2009
[pic]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Sherlock Philip The Story of the Jamaican People (Ian Randle Publishers Limited 1998)
2. Keene Michael New Steps in Religious Education (Nelson Thornes Limites 2003)
3. Jones Ken Marcus Garvey Said (United Cooperative Printers 2002)
4. Lewis Rupert Marcus Garvey: Anti-Colonial Champion, (London: Karia Publishing 1987)