Marcus Garvey’s latest biography appeals to general audiences

[Suzanne Francis-Brown and Jean-Jacques Vayssières, Marcus Garvey, Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers, 2007.  64p]

“Marcus Garvey is arguably the most influential black figure of the twentieth century. That influence is still powerful today”. That is how Ian Randle Publishers describe Garvey (1887-1940) who was declared Jamaica’s first National Hero in 1962. Indeed, that influence has been internationally felt and its impact was strongest in the USA, the Caribbean and Africa, as well as in England and Canada.

In one of the latest biographies of The Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the introductory description goes on to underline what is already well known. “His name is a legend from the Americas to Zanzibar. Garvey’s powerful message of Black pride remains as relevant today as it was almost 100 years ago. Across generations and continents, leaders like Malcolm X; Kwame Nkrumah; Jomo Kenyatta and musical icon Bob Marley readily acknowledge the influence of Garvey’s philosophy on their lives, thoughts and actions”.   

This great visionary is celebrated for his founding and determined propagation of the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Associa-tion) across the USA, UK, Canada, Jamaica and a number of other Caribbean territories that he visited. The accounts of these visits, including his grand arrival in British Guiana, where he was accorded royal welcome and ceremony befitting a head of state, have passed into heroic legend. Local branches of the UNIA were established in these countries following those in Jamaica, North America and England.