In a statement to Jamaicas Parliament, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites announced that the legendary philosophies and opinions of Jamaica's first national hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, are to be introduced in Jamaican schools for the first time.
This decision which some have criticised for coming too late is designed to coincide with Jamaica's 50th year of being In-dependence.
Earlier this year Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, leader of the People's National Party, attracted huge support when she stated her intention to complete the final leg of Jamaica’s independence journey by dropping the British Queen as the nations constitutional head of state.
Writing on the topic of her continuing reign over Jamaica, the official website of the British monarch reads; “[Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg-Gotha] acts as Queen of Jamaica, quite distinct from her role in the United Kingdom or any of her other realms. Over the course of her reign, The Queen has visited Jamaica six times to date,”
Earlier in the year the discredited historian, David Starkey blamed crime amongst Britain’s disaffected youth on a “Jamaican patois that has been intruded in England, and that is why so many of us have this sense of literally a foreign country”.
His comments claiming that european people had become ‘black’ and adopted an a “particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic, gangster culture” was widely condemned.
Garvey’s legacy remains substantial despite attempts by anti-African antagonists to devalue them. In particular his desire for African people to educate themselves in order to liberate themselves is particular poignant message for all in today’s media saturated world.
“A reading man and woman is a ready man and woman, but a writing man and woman is exact.” - Marcus Garvey
External Links
Professor ready to draft Garvey school textsComment is free Its time for Jamaica to say goodbye to the QueenThe British MonarchyMarcus Garveys legacy in UK to be honouredMarcus Garvey with contribution by Dr. Tony Martin
This decision which some have criticised for coming too late is designed to coincide with Jamaica's 50th year of being In-dependence.
Earlier this year Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, leader of the People's National Party, attracted huge support when she stated her intention to complete the final leg of Jamaica’s independence journey by dropping the British Queen as the nations constitutional head of state.
Writing on the topic of her continuing reign over Jamaica, the official website of the British monarch reads; “[Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg-Gotha] acts as Queen of Jamaica, quite distinct from her role in the United Kingdom or any of her other realms. Over the course of her reign, The Queen has visited Jamaica six times to date,”
Marcus Garvey
The Power of Education
Earlier in the year the discredited historian, David Starkey blamed crime amongst Britain’s disaffected youth on a “Jamaican patois that has been intruded in England, and that is why so many of us have this sense of literally a foreign country”.His comments claiming that european people had become ‘black’ and adopted an a “particular sort of violent, destructive, nihilistic, gangster culture” was widely condemned.
Garvey’s legacy remains substantial despite attempts by anti-African antagonists to devalue them. In particular his desire for African people to educate themselves in order to liberate themselves is particular poignant message for all in today’s media saturated world.
“A reading man and woman is a ready man and woman, but a writing man and woman is exact.” - Marcus Garvey
Portia Simpson (Left): Restoring sovereignty and pride in Jamaica / The British Queen (Right): Clinging onto illicit gains from African enslavement
External Links
Professor ready to draft Garvey school textsComment is free Its time for Jamaica to say goodbye to the QueenThe British MonarchyMarcus Garveys legacy in UK to be honouredMarcus Garvey with contribution by Dr. Tony Martin
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Garvey or Churchill? Nkrumah or Blair? Whose philosophies would best serve African students across the world? Is Jamaica right to include Garveys ideas of self reliance, empowerment and enterprise in the school curriculum?Click here to speak out or read (4) comments about this article
God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.
Marus Mosiah Garvey
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