Marcus Garvey
As cliche as the title of this blog is, it is ever appropriate. The night was balmy as most Florida summer nights. The place, Joseph C. Carter Park in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It was said that Carter Park, is the oldest park in an African neighborhood in Broward. It was my first time visiting the park and none other than The Rt. Hon. Marcus Garvey could have brought me out. In fact, the crowd was so diverse that I know in my heart, that while many people do not hold Garvey to the pedestal that many Rastafari and Garveyites do, there is strong national and race pride that we have gained as a Nation from Him.
Why had we gathered? It was in celebration, continued celebration, of Garvey's 124th Earthday anniversary. There was a mobile book bus out front that was an experience all to itself. Pictures and descriptions of famous, more to the point important, Africans throughout history. Names including Shaka, Malcolm, Nkrumah, Chisholm, and of course Garvey filled the bus from floor to ceiling. The next time my children are in town, I must take them to check it out.
Upon reaching inside, the already electric atmosphere of the night seemed to intensify as the faces of ones young and old delightfully awaited the keynote speaker, Dr. Julius Garvey, son of the great late Garvey. Indeed the room was decorated with just about every image known to me of Garvey. Every combination of red, black and green, the signature colours of the UNIA banner, the Universal Negro Improvement Association that Garvey began in August 1914, was splashed all about. In fact, the patrons themselves were as highly colourful, wearing the colours of Garvey and indeed the Pan-African Nationalist movement that so many of us recognize quite readily. It was a feast for the eyes. Soon enough would begin the feast for the other senses.
I made sure I had arrived as early as possibly because I was determined not to miss Dr. Garvey speaking. I had not realized that there were also to be awards given in recognition to members of the community. Community members, many of whom were Rastafari, in their hearts if not also in appearance, who are doctors, lawyers, authors, scholars and activists who in their own ways live up to the highest ideals of what Marcus Garvey stood for and instilled in us. Some of them I know, others I have seen on occasion outside of their respective endeavors, all of whom made me proud to also rise the banner of African Unity and Love. It does feel good to be sitting in a sea of African Pride, with all of the pageantry, ambiance and live hard love reminiscent of pictures from Garvey's heyday. I am blessed all the more for the insperience. Yes, INSPERIENCE, for it was certainly inspiring.
So as not to forget the reason for the gathering, let me get to the meat of the meet. The speakers were to include both Dr. Julius Garvey and Dr. Umar Abdullah Johnson, himself an ascendant of Frederick Douglass. Dr. Umar, a friend who I also know is my Brother, is a man I have heard speak before and anxiously awaited hearing him once more. The man is simply amazing, as an orator, an intellectual, freedom fighter and also to his calling as a school psychologist. Dr. Julius, a medical doctor not a words doctor, as he jokes, is no less impressive as a surgeon, intellectual and freedom fighter. It was Garvey who spoke first.
Dr. Garvey, a cardiothoracic and general surgeon based in Long Island, NY, looked every bit the son of the late Garvey. He spoke of his father's spirituality, an African centric spirituality that delves into the oneness of mind, body and soul that is unique to Africa in its anciency. In fact, archives would show that it was this spirituality that gave birth to the worlds religions, however much watered down or distant they have strayed. Garvey showed us last night, that it was both spirit and love of Africa, that grew the voice of a conscious man to the roar of the celebrated Black Tiger.
The depth of African Pride resonated in his words. Truly it was that same love and pride that even made the night a success. You see, Dr. Garvey had been traveling from late Friday evening and after a series of connecting flights had not arrived in Florida til late Saturday afternoon. So in a sense, we were truly blessed that he was even able to appear. It was mentioned more than once that it would have been understood had he decided to return home. Unfortunate, understood and respected. I'm not going to bore you with every detail of his speech, but believe me I know that it was something I needed to hear. Maybe even something I had hoped to hear many years ago, at earlier stages of my own development.
Dr. Umar is a "whirlwind" in his own right. He lives up to his kinship and UNIA affiliation. I mentioned previously that he is a powerful orator. I'm not sure if the sound technician was ready for that power; he had to several times, turn down Johnson's mic, as the sound seemed determined to blow out the speakers. That is one part I have always enjoyed about Brother Umar. Johnson has a way of breaking things down to such easily relatable terms. So much so, that I was impressed and inspired to see the young ones who, without much prodding from parents like me who only want the best for them, reach out to Umar afterwards to take pictures and get a little personal inspiration. My children missed out on a very valuable insperience for sure.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, The Right Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, was the Man of the hour. We all came out last night to honour a Man whom we revere dearly. Pride was the message, race pride. African race pride that is as strong as it has ever been in a people who by all accounts, could be expected to have little, given the myriad of steps constructed to insure otherwise. The mantra, "One God, One Aim, One Destiny, One Love," is as real and alive today as ever. Still there is much work to be done. Much work and it falls upon us, the generations after Garvey who still keep the fire burning. A million hands doing the work makes the whole load lighter.
"Up up you mighty race. Ye can accomplish what you will." Marcus Garvey
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| Dr. Julius Garvey and Dr. Umar Abdullah Johnson flanked by E.A.B.I.C. Delegates |
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