Remembering the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s birthday is August 17th, a powerful man who taught Black people to be independent in business, education, and community. He was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann’s Bay Jamaica. As a teenager he was apprenticed into the print business. In 1914 he found ed the UNIA, the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Jamaica. He moved to Harlem, New York and founded several branches there. He married Amy Ashwood and launched the Black Star Line.
As African Americans we must remember leaders such as Marcus Garvey. For many years I have written about him in my column and taught students about the many accomplishments he made to call attention to the solutions to the problem of Black people. I wrote a children’s book entitled: “Marcus Garvey, Read, Learn, and Remember.” During this time of banning books and information about our history, we must make a special effort in doing these things to make sure our history is not forgotten. Marcus Garvey wrote many books and articles about his movement.
One that I would like to suggest for everyone to read is called, “Message to the People.” It is a book that should be read today because it calls attention to the issues facing African Americans. It describes the problems, but also the solutions that will help us progress as a people. Another book that you should read is called “Black Moses: The Story of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association by E. David Cronon. The Honorable Marcus Garvey was a visionary. He was a proud and serious Black man who cared about his peo ple. His goal was to raise up a nation of Black people before the world and he always carried these words with him: “Up You Mighty Race, You can Accomplish What You Will.”
Young people need to know about Marcus Garvey, and they need to be introduced to his ideas on eco nomic development, solid education, and commitment to the community with positive deeds. They need to know that he gave us the Red, Black, and Green flag. They need to know that he had a shipping company called the Black Star Line.
The Black Star Line consisted of three ships – the Yarmouth, the Sha dyside, and the Kanawha. He renamed the Yarmouth the S.S. Frederick Dou glass. He also proposed to rename the Kanawha after Antonio Maceo, the Black patriot of the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain. Marcus Garvey also established the Negro Factories Corporation. The purpose of this company was to build and operate factories in major industrial areas of the United States, Central America, the West Indies, and Africa.
Millions of people joined the UNIA. Marcus Garvey called for an international convention to be held in Harlem in 1920. There is so much more that I can add to this article. It would take days to complete it. We need a course of action to tell the history and legacy of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Garvey said these words: “When I am dead, wrap the mantle of the Red, Black, and Green around me. Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm. Look for me all around you, for with God’s grace, I shall return and bring with me count less millions of Blacks who have died in America in the fight of liberty, free dom, and life.”