The
principal aim of Marcus Garvey's foundation, The Universal Negro Improvement
Association, was Black upliftment through education. In his travels through
North, Central, and South America, Garvey witnessed the effects on his people,
who had accepted the racist meme that Black people were "lazy, ignorant,
and shiftless." In his lectures, he had to remind his audiences about the
great civilizations of Africa that had excelled in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM).
Seventy-three
years after Garvey's death, the effects of those crippling, racist ideas have
not been eradicated. Many of our young people still believe that they are
genetically incapable of excelling in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Mathematics (STEAM).
But Garvey
knew better. Here are a few selected quotes from his writings:
"Africa
was peopled with a race of cultured black men, who were masters in art, science
and literature; men who were cultured and refined; men who, it was said, were
like the gods. Even the great poets of old sang in beautiful sonnets of the
delight it afforded the gods to be in companionship with the Ethiopians."
"This
race of ours gave civilization, gave art, gave science; gave literature to the
world. But it has been the way with races and nations. The one race stands out
prominently in the one century or in the one age; and in another century or age
it passes off the stage of action, and another race takes its place. The Negro
once occupied a high position in the world, scientifically, artistically and
commercially, but in the balancing of the great scale of evolution, we lost our
place and someone, other than ourselves occupies the stand we once held."
"The
power and sway we once held passed away, but now in the twentieth century we
are about to see a return of it in the rebuilding of Africa; yes, a new
civilization, a new culture, shall spring up from among our people, and the
Nile shall once more flow through the land of science, of art, and of
literature, wherein will live black men of the highest learning and the highest
accomplishments."
"3,000
years ago black men excelled in government and were the founders and teachers
of art, science and literature. The power and sway we once held passed away,
but now in the twentieth century we are about to see a return of it in the
rebuilding of Africa; yes, a new civilization, a new culture, shall spring up
from among our people, and the Nile shall once more flow through the land of
science, of art, and of literature, wherein will live black men of the highest
learning and the highest accomplishments."
"No
Negro, let him be American, European, West Indian or African, shall be truly
respected until the race as a whole has emancipated itself, through
self-achievement and progress, from universal prejudice. The Negro will have to
build his own government, industry, art, science, literature and culture,
before the world will stop to consider him. Until then, we are but wards of a
superior race and civilization, and the outcasts of a standard social
system."
The race
needs workers at this time, not plagiarists, copyists and mere imitators; but
men and women who are able to create, to originate and improve, and thus make
an independent racial contribution to the world and civilization."
"During
the last century, a mighty revolution of mind has been made in the civilized
world. Its effects are gradually disclosing themselves, and gradually improving
the condition of the human race. The eyes of all nations are turned on these
United States, for here that great movement was commenced. Africa, like a
bereaved mother, holds out her hands to America, and implores you to send back
her exiled children. Does not Africa merit much at the hands of other nations?
Almost 4,000 years ago, she, from the then rich store house of her genius and
labor, sent out to them science, and arts and letters, laws and
civilization."
"The
hope of the Black race lies in our new blood -- the New Negro -- who is already
rising to the heights of nationhood. He is the man of the future. By science,
art, history, politics, industry and religion, he will rise above his
environments and in another hundred years shall have laid the pillars of the greatest
civilization the world ever saw."
"Every
student of Political Science, every student of Economics knows, that the race
can only be saved through a solid industrial foundation. That the race can only
be saved through political independence. Take away industry from a race; take
away political freedom from a race, and you have a group of slaves."
"It is
the commercial and financial power of the United States of America that makes
her the greatest banker in the world. Hence it is advisable for the Negro to
get power of every kind. POWER in education, science, industry, politics and
higher government."
Garvey, Amy
J., ed. The Philosophy and Opinions of
Marcus Garvey. Dover: The Majority Press, 1986. Print.
"When
I undertook the responsibility of projecting big commercial corporations the
same Negroes used the force of government to smash me. They could not
understand that the future, which is part of today, calls for the preparation
of the race to meet scientific competition whether on the battlefield, in the
laboratory or other walks of life"
Clarke,
John H., ed. Marcus Garvey and the Vision
of Africa. Baltimore: Black Classic Press, 1974. Print.
Let's remind
our children each day about the work of Marcus Garvey, a visionary leader and
educator, who appreciated the value of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Mathematics (STEAM) and urged his people to excel in these disciplines.
***
The Coalition for the Exoneration of Marcus Garvey is petitioning Frederica Wilson, Congressional Representative and the Congress of the United States of America for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey:
We are also petitioning President Barack Obama to exonerate Marcus Garvey:
Thank you for your support.
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