Marcus Garvey was a truly formidable and remarkable figure. It’s hard to pay homage to an individual who was able to mobilize masses and millions, who was a giant of Black empowerment during the time he lived but also in the decades since his transition. Garvey died on 10 June 10 1940 but his impact has remained present ever since. As we honor his name on this important anniversary, we should remember the powerful influence he has had on the world and why.
Born in Jamaica in 1887, Garvey was certainly a tireless and fearless advocate for the Afrikan diaspora. His life’s mission centered on uniting people of Afrikan descent. He launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association which morphed into the biggest collective Black movement in Afrikan-American history. At the time he did it, it seemed near impossible.
“He was determined that Black people break free, physically, spiritually, and economically from the shackles and hangovers of colonialism and slavery”
Garvey’s bold vision for the economic and political independence of Black people in international terms is immortalized in his slogan: “Afrika for the Afrikans.”
When we think about the need for Black economic empowerment today, it’s clear that Garvey was lightyears ahead of his time. He was determined that Black people break free, physically, spiritually, and economically from the shackles and hangovers of colonialism and slavery. And these ideas proved contagious to other like-minded revolutionary leaders.
Garvey’s leading thoughts and analysis on Black economic independence are lessons we really ought to draw from today. He pushed for the establishment of Black-owned enterprises, financial institutions, and industries. This is what we need in 2024.
His most pioneering plan was probably and arguably the Black Star Line, a shipping company created with the purpose of encouraging and creating global trade among Afrikan communities and people, and a means for the Afrikan diaspora to return to the motherland.
The very idea of the Black Star Line, the very notion of it, was a danger to the powers that be and ultimately led to its sabotage by the FBI. Despite the Black Star Line facing so many obstacles and ultimately halting operations, it remains a powerful symbol of empowerment for many.
The reach of Marcus Garvey’s influence is huge. Malcolm X, whose parents were followers of Garvey, was inspired by Garvey’s demand for Black self-determination. His ideas filtered through to the Nation of Islam. Whatever your opinion of the NOI, the organization built institutions all over America in a way that no Black movement has done before or since.
Dr Martin Luther King Jr also acknowledged and respected Garvey’s significant contributions to the civil rights movement and the broader struggle for Black liberation. Nelson Mandela, too, drew from Garvey’s vision of Pan-Afrikanism in his own battle against apartheid in South Afrika.
Marcus Garvey’s impact clearly spanned the continents. His views chimed deeply with Kwame Nkrumah, for example, Ghana’s first president who himself was also a key figure in Afrika’s quest and move for independence. Nkrumah identified with Garvey’s Pan-Afrikanist principles as a foundation for dismantling colonialism.
In Jamaica, many in the Rastafarian faith regard Garvey as a prophet, and he is deeply revered. And not just that. Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Vietnamese resistance opposing war from the United States, also drew inspiration from Garvey. His ideas clearly and inarguably had a worldwide mass appeal.
Garvey was inspired by significant historical events including the Haitian Revolution, which concluded successfully in 1804. The spirit and impossibility of the Haitian revolution and colossal victory inspired Garvey and of course many others.
The Haitian Revolution, especially, which led to the establishment of the first independent Black republic in 1804, demonstrated the potential for Black self-governance and resistance to oppression and racist colonialism. Leaders like Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines symbolized the type of courage resilience and resolve that Garvey admired.
“Malcolm X, whose parents were followers of Garvey, was inspired by Garvey’s demand for Black self-determination”
Garvey was ultimately part of a great spirit of resistance that began on the shores of Afrika when the first enslavers and merchants arrived and which continues to this day in every nation in which Black people are oppressed and subjugated.
Part of Garvey’s legacy is surely continuing his work. The upcoming Convention of Afrikan People, organized by Professor Kehinde Andrews in The Gambia which will honor Malcolm X’s 100th birthday, also continues and walks in this great tradition by continuing Garvey’s work in aiming to build unity while celebrating Black heritage and leadership.
Garvey’s influence created a wave, a tsunami, which fired up numerous seminal Black leaders and movements, with his ideals resonating in today’s struggles for racial justice and equality.
Despite facing much opposition and numerous legal battles, Garvey’s message continued to spread. As the saying goes, nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. That time was then and that time is now. Garvey might have left us in 1940, but the time in which he lived was yesterday in historical terms.
We often have a tendency to think of colonialism and slavery as ancient history – in fact this is a staple rebuttal by those who wish to dampen the demands for Black justice. The reality is that these things were recent. Slavery in my own family was 4 people ago. My dad’s grandfather’s grandmother was a Black woman likely born as someone else’s property, in Guyana in 1832. I have a photo of her, a Black woman with a Scottish name, Chesney, who was a leading slave owner in Guyana. A village named Chesney exists to this day.
And it’s not just that slavery was not so long ago, The effects are still with us, primarily economic. This is why Garvey was so important. Black economic independence is the only way forward and the only real means of self-determination. The political and economic systems and world institutions that govern us are not broken. They are working as intended. They were never meant for us. They cannot produce justice.
Garvey understood this and had a plan. His relentless dedication to Black liberation and his ability to mobilize millions made him a ray of hope. And he remains a ray of hope. Garvey’s enduring legacy is a testament to his hard work and long-term impact and influence for the fight for justice.
“The political and economic systems and world institutions that govern us are not broken. They are working as intended. They were never meant for us. They cannot produce justice”
As we honor Marcus Garvey today, we should be inspired by the power and foresight of his vision and the necessity of continuing his work. His call for unity, pride, and self-reliance remains as relevant today as it was during his lifetime. In celebrating his legacy, there has to also be a call to action and a commitment to the ongoing struggle for Black economic empowerment and liberation.
Marcus Garvey’s message continues to inspire many new generations after him, to march and carry forward the fight. The very fact we still talk about him decades after his transitioning reminds us of how impactful and important real work and ideas can be.
Marcus Garvey changed the world we live in and changed the way we think. He did it with none of the tech we have today. Just determination and a genuine love for his people and universal freedom for all. Garvey was the very definition of a pioneer and leader. The ideas he championed will never die and will only gain momentum.