I enjoy reading inspirational quotes by brave black people and the man I am about to do my next piece on has given me so much knowledge and wisdom just through his quotes.. It is only right that I started with a couple before I get to writing about his life. I'll try and pick about 6 of my favourite because I feel I need to inspire you as well.
'A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots'
'If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came, we would less likely disrespect ourselves'
' A race that is solely dependent upon another for economic existence sooner or later dies. As we have in the past been living upon the mercies shown by others and by the chances obtainable and have suffered therefrom, so we will in the future suffer if an effort is not made now to adjust our own affairs.'
'The white man has succeeded in subduing the world by forcing everybody to think his way..the white man propaganda has made him the master of the world and all those who have come in contact with it and ACCEPTED IT, have become his slaves'
'The thing to do is to get organised, keep separated and you will be exploited, you will be robbed, you will be killed. Get organised and you will compel the world to respect you.'
'We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it yourself.'
By now, some of you know this great man that Tarrus Riley made a song about (one of my fav in the Mecoustic album)
MARCUS GARVEY
Born on 17th August 1887 in Jamaica in a family of 11, he lost all of his siblings at a young age and was left with his eldest sister. He travelled to England in 1912 where he worked at the offices of the African Times under Duse Mohammed Ali. In 1914, he went back home to create the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Within a month of a branch of this association being formed in New York, he had managed to get 2 million members. In a few years, he had built the largest black organisation in history. For him, unity was so important. Unity of minds and spirit.
An African perspective.
Unity is so important, especially for us Africans. Imagine if we put aside politricks, tribalism and whatever form of hatred we have been taught?..if we combined our wealth to make sure that we grow each other's businesses and talents..there would be no need for foreign aid, for foreign debt, for politics. This is the greatest tool they use in Africa..to turn us against each other. Divide and conquer has been one of their most successful tactics and the generations before us not only bought into the lie but passed it down generations sadly. I believe it is our duty to get rid of this weak mentality of hate and focus on growing ourselves as Africans.
Marcus Garvey believed in unity and he used his oratory skills to fuel the Pan-Africanism movement.
He was not all talk and this was seen by his great move to launch a shipping company that would see trade growth through transactions between Africans in America, in the Caribbean, South and Central America, Canada and Africa.
He also started the Negros factories Association, a series of companies to benefit Africans.
By now he was facing a lot of criticism from the White man..there was one man especially concerned about the strides Marcus had made. FBI Director J Edgar Hoover who was fixated on him. He claimed that Marcus was uniting Africans to stand up in militant defiance.
In 1922, Marcus and other officials in the Universal Negro Improvement Association were charged with mail fraud. They also made claims that the shipping books contained numerous accounting irregularities.
In 1923, Marcus Garvey was convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. His appeal was denied and on his release in 1927, he was deported to Jamaica.
He suffered several strokes in the years after and his health deteriorated. He rested in power in 1940.
His is an inspirational story and one that encourages us as black people to strive to stay awake and empower ourselves so that we can be independent as a people and thrive! His quotes and how he lived his life makes him a true legend!
