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August 17, 2007
Special Tribute To Marcus Garvey
By: Olimatta Taal
 Marcus Garvey, father of panafricanism, is being honored throughout the world, celebrating his 120th birthday. In 1962, Jamaica gave him the distinction of being a National Hero in conjunction with world wide acknowledgement of his accomplishments through the work done under the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
The impact of Garvey's work laid the foundation for leadership throughout the world which gave birth to greats like Kwame N'krumah, Malcolm X, Kwame Toure, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King, Connie Tucker, Mukasa Dada, Rose Sanders and others.
Garvey's unique ability to build an organization on every continent with millions of people has been difficult to duplicate by other leaders. He instilled values and principles that taught African people that they are powerless until they identify and empower themselves in Africa and where ever African people may be, at home and abroad.
According to Garvey, "If 400,000,000 Negroes can only get to know themselves, to know that in them is a sovereign power, is an authority that is absolute, then in the next twenty-four hours we would have a new race, we would have a nation, an empire, - resurrected, not from the will of others to see us rise, - but from our own determination to rise, irrespective of what the world thinks."
Beginning his work as an apprentice in St. Ann, Jamaica, Marcus Garvey worked in a number of Caribbean countries before migrating to the U.S. and building the leadership of the UNIA. He was one of the most
disciplined and organized leaders African people have ever had.
Marcus Garvey developed programs of empowerment that taught
Black people to not only organize themselves but to also become self sufficient by building and owning their own businesses, educational facilities, hospitals and other structures. His continual promotion of repatriation to Africa has built a Back To Africa movement that continues to grow.
One of the most important concepts that Garvey pushed was the idea of African people controlling their own destiny and seeing the concept of spirituality and God in their own image. He also encouraged people of
African descent to love themselves, embrace their culture, and know their history to ensure a secure future.
While organizing in the U.S. Garvey gained the scrutiny of the U.S. Government and was arrested on mail fraud charges while he attempted to organize Black people's return to African on his Black Starliner Ships.
Garvey was deported to Jamaica where his honor and work was questioned. After a lack of support, he moved to England where he died without any acknowledgement of the work he had done which currently has impacted generations of people of color and poor whites internationally.
After his death, Garvey's body was returned to Jamaica and the people restored his honor and respect that was taken away during his propaganda driven deportation to Jamaica.
"That issue of racial pride whereby you are proud to be a black man, that is the overall factor. When you are proud to walk this earth and you realize that black people have given so many great things to this
earth and... you don't start the history from slavery, that would be the first Garvey principle that I would want every black person to embrace," Garvey taught.
The world honors and celebrates the life of a great man who has laid the foundation for generations of African people to come. No longer will his work be in vain as millions of people world wide study his life and philosophies that continue to be relevant as the issues of oppressed people are dealt with today.
Happy Earth Strong Papa Marcus Garvey!
Posted by yardFlex at August 17, 2007 11:01 AM
Comments
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Posted by: Imani McFarlane
on August 17, 2007 11:44 AM
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It is sad to see our race in the state that we are in today. In 2007 most Jamaicans are still bleaching their skin because of there inferior complex and lack of self love.I brown skin women is still worship more than a dark skin African women. We are still respecting every other race than our own. I thank Garvey for his example, because It continues to preserve my dignity.
Love,
Imani
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Posted by: PAYDAY
on August 17, 2007 12:38 PM
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" THERE IS NOTHHING THAT YOU CANNOT ACCOMPLISH WITH THE ACTIVE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUR OWN M-I-N-D" (MARCUS GARVEY)
"THE GREATEST WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF THE OPPRESSORS, IS THE M-I-N-D S OF THE OPPRESSED" (STEVE BIKO)
"EMANCIPATE YOURSELVS FROM MENTAL SLAVERY, NONE BUT OURSELVES CAN FREE OUR M-I-N-D-S" (ROBERT MARLEY)
THE MESSAGE IS STRAIGHT OUR M-I-N-D-S IS THE KEY. ONCE WE REALIZE AND RECOGNIZE THE INFINITE NATURE AND ABILITY OF OUR MINDS TO MANIFEST OUR DESIRES, IT DUNN. DE WORLD WOULD BE A PARADISE ON EARTH!!
LIVE UP ALWAYS NO MATTA DE SIRCUMSTANS, STAND FIRM AND KEEP THE FAITH (MIND/WILLPOWER) FOR IT IS DE TUFF TIMES DAT DETERMINE CHARACTER (BEN OR STRAIT, MEMBA YU HAFFIE LIV WID YU CHICE WHE UY PIK. NO REVERSAL).
LET THE WHOLE EARTH ECHO THE NAME OF MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY THIS DAY, FOR TRULEY "WITHOUT VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH".
NUFF RESPECT AND HONOUR TO OUR MESSANGERS. MUCH RESEPCT AND HONOUR TO THE WOMEN WHO BROUGHT THEM FORTH ON THE EARTH EVERY TYME.
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Posted by: Wade Cameron
on August 17, 2007 12:38 PM
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Mi respeck di works and jouney of dis great revaloutionary. Mi wish more people woulda embrace him message and try to indentify di message weh him a try spread.
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Posted by: andre palmer
on August 17, 2007 01:18 PM
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Much Respect and honor to our first National Hero. This man is a legend worldwide and I am honored to share the same homeland and dreams as him.
Blessed Love.
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Posted by: Incognito
on August 17, 2007 01:42 PM
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FINALLY!!!! Thanks Yawdflex for something uplifitng and different. Thanks Marcus for inspiring us to rely on ourselves as a race and stand tall.
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Posted by: Jermz
on August 17, 2007 05:02 PM
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Big up to Marcus. If we ever accept his vision then the Negro race would truly begin to understand that we are not slaves and therefore should be subservient to no other race.
Alliance Mi Seh
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Posted by: ants man
on August 17, 2007 06:24 PM
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giv thanks and honour to the man who pave the way for us nuff love mr. garvey
Bout time fi real. Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Real hero to all black people. I man do a tune in honor of the man and will soon post to my myspace.com/iahbredahmusic. In the meantime, see if yu feel di lyrics -
Marcus Garvey
Intro…
(artiste interpretation)
Verse 1
In a me pickney days them hoodwink me and
Make movie so me root fi cavalry, not the Indian
A years later find out true crimes a di white man, and
How say a him tief the Indian land
Enslave and rape all we black woman
Me no care what century how can that not be wrong?
Some get pass choo them claim them a father a nation
Now a big complement fi call you ‘Jeffersonian’
But make you be a true born black champion
Dem heng you fi the slightest little indiscretion
Trump up charge, and all throw you in a the can
And hope all black people abandon
You memories, but Iah Bredah fi one
Know Honorable Marcus, a no just picture to look on
So come this call to action fi them member him vision
Real power… fi every African, so me say
Hook
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong, yu hear me song
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong
Verse 2
Black people, all over the world look so lost
Fus sign a worries, hand lock up in a clasp
And then a ben dung, a di foot a the cross
When dem no haffi look back so far in a di past
Garvey say, build we ship, raise we own mast
Taste whe others say, but no swallow so fast
Black people, we need we a inner strength cause
You get knock down, cyan’t tan de sidung pon you ass
This struggle is not for shits, giggles and laughs
People a dead, suffer, trampled, downcast
Fight, fight, fight ‘til we overcome at last
But no just overcome, we haffi over pass
If you shut one eye, you only a see half
No more head in a sand hope hardship wi pass
Longtime backra dead, time we a di boss
Fi get the whole truth, you better take a Garvey class, me say
Hook
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong, yu hear me song
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong
Bridge
Free you mind people, free you mind,
Back to the future is Marcus Garvey time
Free you mind people, free you mind,
Iah say, Marcus Mosiah, every time
Free you mind people, free you mind,
There is not a hill or mountain you can’t climb
Free you mind people, free you mind,
Never known a mortal man, so divine, me say
Hook
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong, yu hear me song
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus
Remind black people say a him bus wi fus, jus
Gi dem the teachings a Marcus,
Garvey words say we must stay strong
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Posted by: babyphat
on August 18, 2007 01:17 PM
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The honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey is truly an inspiration,his philosophies are very empathetic.
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Posted by: chullu ranks
on August 18, 2007 06:52 PM
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Marcus Mosiah Garvey deserve every honor and
respect dat him get. Iah Bredah de lyrics tuff fi true!!Cause some people gwaan like dem no know seh a Garvey and him "international message" fi we love wiself put we pon track.Gwaan Iah bredah!!!Much Honor to de Honorable Marcus.
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Posted by: Pain
on August 18, 2007 07:26 PM
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as a young man i would like acknowledge the great works of mr garvey, he was a great man and one of the reasons why i'm proud to be black. rise up my brothers.
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Posted by: daclansh
on August 19, 2007 08:39 AM
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respect to one of our brightest national hero, i will dedicate more time in learning and practicing his beliefs.
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Posted by: P-Nuts
on August 19, 2007 08:44 AM
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Yes Iah Bredah!! true good lyrics. Keep up the good work bro. Waiting to here your song.
One Love
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Posted by: Moses
on August 19, 2007 07:21 PM
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Marcus Garvey words come to light. Up ye Mighty people. Remember the words of the true Moses. Do not compromise your souls for vanity. Stand together as a strong race. Teach the youth the truth.
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Posted by: petagaue28
on August 20, 2007 08:11 AM
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It never seize to amaze me how quick black people are willing to discredit the greatest and most distinquished among us. It seems as though if Caucasions does not put their stamp of approval on those of us who encourage unity among Blacks, neither do the majority of Black people. I think the greatest weapon the Oppressors have against the oppressed is our lack of unity and self love.
Unfortunately this reality has plagued many great men of colour who had the courage to go against the grain despite death threats, incarceration. I am so grateful that the sacrifice was made so that we can enjoy these freedoms we have today.
It would be great to see the same spirit of unity and love and self respect that was so common place back in the day. Can you imagine how powerful and beautiful and almost perfect Jamaica would be if every gun man, thief, rapist, child molester, corrupt politician(98.99% of them)would choose to walk in a spirit of brotherhood, love and respect, boy oh boy Jamaica would in fact be the paradise in the sun once again.
This is not far fetch when people unite and work in unison anything is possible and only the average Jamaican citizen can make it happen, No politician has a magic wand to make all our problems go away , but if everyone collectively work together for a common cause just imagine how different JA would be.
Peace and love.
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Posted by: supared
on August 21, 2007 10:56 AM
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if only all of us held his views. black people would really be free.
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Posted by: Nicky
on August 31, 2007 11:11 AM
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It's good to know that I also share the same birthday with this great man
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Posted by: Queen B
on September 5, 2007 12:55 PM
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Well, I most say, it's about time we people of color start embracing The Great Marcus Garvey.
I stronly suggest that people of yardflex read the book of Marcus Garvey movement.
It is not only up lifting but also enlightening.
I am loving the comments, keep it positive.
One man can really make a differnce.
One love!
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