The Great Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was one of the greatest Black leaders of the twentieth century. His story is that of a man who launced an idea on the tide and created a flood in the worldwide development of Black political consciousness. He wasa man of extraodinary intellectual and organisational abilities who brought millions od peoples from the African diaspora together in an attempt at self-liberation.

as the leader of America's firstmass political movement of Black people, Garvey's achievements were both enormous in their scale and long lasting in their effects. Hisideas spread to Europe, Africa and the Caribbean - to every place where Black people lived under thousands to his call for a "universal confraternity of the race".

In spite of harassment and eventual imprisonment, Garvey was able to instil a sense of pride, discipline and resolve in his followers. Although he did not live to see theindepence of Africa and the Caribbean, the efforts made during his lifetime were a major contribution to such independence.

These were few figures of the twentieth century who can be said to have envisaged so much, completed so little, and inspired so many as Marcus Garvey. Today, he is rightly honoured as a Jamaican National Hero, but his significance is felt worldwide.