Written by Marcus Mosiah Garvey is aptly considered one of the greatest and most influential Black=Afrikan organizers and leaders of the 21st century. From his humble beginnings in St. Ann’s Bay in Jamaica on August 17, 1887, to his public debating on the streets of Kingston, Jamaica as a young man, and his world travels as an adolescent, he went on to become a prolific writer, speaker, and advocate for the global Black=Afrikan cause.
In his travels throughout the world, he recognized that everywhere the Black=Afrikan man/woman was, we were relegated to the lowest levels of that society. He noticed that everyone treated the Black=Afrikan with disdain and disrespect. Not liking what he saw, and understanding that the Black=Afrikan man/woman are the most highly evolved human on the planet, he sought to do something about the mistreatment and make a difference for his people.
On August 1, 1914, he created two organizations, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the Afrikan Communities League (ACL). He also created a newspaper publication called the Negro World in 1918. It was through these organizations, and the complementary newspaper publication, that he accomplished a truly remarkable feat that has not been duplicated to this day, 100 years later. He was able to galvanize and inspire millions of people throughout the Afrikan diaspora.
At its height, the UNIA had a global membership of over 6 million people. In 1920, the first of six international conventions was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. There were 25,000 delegates present with lines of people spilling into the streets.
He taught us, Afrikan people, about our true greatness, worth, and value. He encouraged Afrikan people the world over to have pride in our race and in our ancestral home, Afrika. He taught that as Afrikans, we are second to no one. It is from his words that we draw inspiration from today, understanding that we have not made any progress in our cause for Afrikan independence and Afrikan liberation. As you read the words below, reflect on the fact that his assessment of our condition, in the article he penned 100 years ago, is just as true today as it was back then.
“Now, there is no use being sentimental; there is no use being visionary; we live in a practical time and we are practical people and we have got to face facts; and the fact of the matter is that there is not a Negro in the united states of america today that is free; not one!
The war did not make you free, and constitutional amendments did not make you free and the N.A.A.C.P. has not made you free. Why aren’t you free? Let us go right down to the rock bottom of it. Why aren’t you free? You have got magnificent people here in this country – people of learning, people of intelligence, people of culture, people of courage; yes. We are the first people to proclaim it to the world. Why is it that you are not free? What I am going to say to you is nothing new to you.
YOU ARE NOT FREE BECAUSE THE CIVILIZATION THAT YOU ARE LIVING UNDER IS NOT YOUR OWN!! That man would indeed be bold, who would deny to the Negro the possibility of development of a higher order of civilization. Perhaps the Chinese may do it. YOUR CIVILIZATION GOES BACK 6,000 YEARS. That white man (whose ancestors were going either naked or clad in skins through the jungles three thousand years ago) would indeed be bold who would assert that it was impossible for the Negro to develop his own civilization and his own culture.
BUT IT IS PERFECTLY SURE THAT YOU WILL NEVER DO THAT IN AMERICA!! In American you have the position of intellectual and cultural parasites.NO RACE CAN DEVELOP, NO RACE CAN EVOLVE UNLESS IT IS STANDING ON ITS OWN FEET, AND IS SUPPORTED BY ITS OWN BACKBONE! ”
Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, pg,. 346