Though he seldom receives credit for it, Marcus Garvey organized the largest mass movement of Black people in the world. One hundred years later, no one else has been able to match that feat. This is the perfect time to remind everyone Marcus Garvey’s accomplishments, primarily because there is a significant opportunity once again for Black people in America, the Caribbean and in Africa to unite around issues concerning economic development and self-sufficiency as a result of Pan African consciousness. The strategic international emergence of the African Union in Africa that recognizes the inclusion of Black American leaders is an important advance.
In addition, Congressman Charles H. Rangel, D-N.Y., plans to reintroduce a bill to officially restore the good name of Marcus Garvey in the United States. We should support Rangel’s legislative initiative to clear Marcus Garvey of the framed-up charges that led President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 to order Garvey to be deported and permanently banned from the U.S.
In fact all of us should contact members of Congress, especially member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and let them know of our support of the Rangel ill. Beyond that, our young people should be encouraged to study the organizational methods of Garveyism. There are so many young leaders in our communities who could be inspired by tenacious views of Garvey.
I was fortunate recently to spend some time with the son of Marcus Garvey, Dr. Julius Garvey, recently at the 9th annual Caribbean Business Conference in Nassau, Bahamas. The younger Garvey is an accomplished surgeon and leading medical scientist who now resides in New York. We discussed the public and legislative campaign to render justice to the name and legacy of his father. We do not have to repeat the past. But we should certainly learn from our past so that we can change the future to help transform our world into a better place for all.
(Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the NNPA and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: https://drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc.)
About Post Author
