Garvey would be unhappy today

Charlene Stuart, News Coordinator

A professor of Social History at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies believes National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey would be unhappy with what she describes as discrimination in Jamaica’s education system.

Professor Verene Shepherd says in order to honour Garvey Jamaica must adopt his philosophies year round and internalise them.

Today is Garvey’s birthday and starting this year, August 17 will be observed as Marcus Garvey Day.

But Professor Shepherd says more must be done to teach students about Jamaica’s first national hero.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of Garvey.

As part of activities to mark the occasion the Keys to the City of Kingston have been presented posthumously to Marcus Garvey.

His son, Dr. Julius Garvey accepted the key on his father’s behalf at a civic ceremony this afternoon.

And Dr. Garvey is expected to deliver a lecture at the University of the West Indies, Mona, tomorrow evening on “The Relevance of Garveyism in Jamaica Today: Fifty Years After Political Independence”.

charlene.stuart@gleanerjm.com