Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey editedbyAmyJacques-Garvey 1 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Dedicatedtothetrueand loyal membersof theUniversal Negro ImprovementAssociation inthecauseof Africanredemption. Preface This volumeis compiled fromthespeechesandarticlesdelivered andwrittenbyMarcusGarvey fromtimetotime. My purpose for compiling same primarily, was not for publication, but rather to keep as a personal record of the opinions and sayings of my husband during his career as the leader of that portion of the human family known as the Negro race. However, on second thought, Idecided to publish this volume in order to give to the public an opportunity of studying and forming an opinion of him; not from inflated and misleading newspaper and magazine articles, but from expressions of thoughts enunciated by him in defense of his oppressed and struggling race; so that by his own words he may be judged, and Negroes the world over may be informed and inspired, for truth, brought to light, forces conviction, and a state of conviction inspires action. The history of contact between the white and Black races for the last three hundred years or more, records only a series of pillages, wholesale murders, atrocious brutalities, industrial exploitation, disfranchisement oftheone on the other;thestrong against theweak; but thesun of evolution is graduallyrising, sheddingits lightbetween the clouds of miseryand oppression, and quickeningand animatingto racialconsciousness and eventualnational independence Black men andwomentheworldover. Itishuman,therefore,thatfewofus withintheNegroracecancomprehend thistranscendent period. We allsufferin amoreorlessdegree;weallfeelthisawakenedspiritoftruemanhood andwomanhood;butitis giventofewthevisionofleadership;itisaninspiration;itis aquality borninman.Thereforeinthecourseofleadershipitisnaturalthatoneshouldmeetopposition becauseofignorance,lackofknowledgeandsympathyoftheoppositioninunderstandingfully thespiritofleadership. 2 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook With the dawn of this new era, which precedes the day of national independence for Negroes, it is well for all members of the race to understand their leadership; know what its essentials, its principles are, and help it to attain its goal and liberate a race in the truest sense of the word. In Chapter 1 of this volume I have endeavored to place before my reader’s gems of expression convincing in their truths. Chapter 2 deals with definitions and expositions of various interesting themes. Chapters 3 and 4 contain a collection of brief essays on subjects affecting world conditions generally and Negroes in particular. In Chapter 5 I have reproduced what I consider two of the best speeches of my husband. It is my sincere hope and desire that this small volume will help to disseminate among the members of my race everywhere the true knowledge of their past history, the struggles and strivings of the present leadership, and the glorious future of national independence in a free and redeemed Africa, achieved through organized purpose and organized action. AmyJacques-Garvey NewYorkCity February,23,1923 3 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Chapter I Historyisthelandmarkbywhich wearedirectedintothetruecourseoflife. Thehistoryofa movement,thehistoryof anation,thehistoryofaraceisthe guide-postofthat movement’s destiny,thatnation's destiny,thatrace'sdestiny. What youdotodaythatisworthwhile,inspires otherstoactatsomefuturetime. Chancehasnever yetsatisfiedthehopeofasufferingpeople. Action,self-reliance,thevisionof selfandthefuturehavebeentheonlymeansbywhichtheoppressedhaveseenandrealizedthe lightoftheirownfreedom. Lifeis thatexistencethatis giventomantoliveforapurpose,tolivetohis ownsatisfactionand pleasure,providinghe forgets nottheGodwhocreatedhimandwho expectsaspiritual obedience andobservationofthemorallaws that Hehasinspired. Thereis nothingintheworldcommon to man,thatmancannotdo. Theends youservethatareselfishwilltake younofurtherthan yourself;buttheends youserve thatareforall,incommon,willtake you eveninto eternity. Itisonlythebeliefandtheconfidencewehavein aGodwhymanisabletounderstandhisown socialinstitutions,andmoveandlivelikearationalhumanbeing.Takeawaythehighestideal: faithandconfidencein aGod,andmankindatlargeis reducedtosavageryandtherace destroyed. Aracewithoutauthorityandpower,isaracewithoutrespect. Criticismisanopinionforgoodorill, generallyindulgedinbythefellow whoknows morethan anyoneelse, yetthebiggestfool.Thereisnocriticismthatcallsnotforth yetanother.The last criticisthebiggestfoolofall,fortheworldstartsandendswithhim.Heisthesourceof all knowledge, yetknowsnothing,forthereis notawordonefindstousethatthereisnotanother thathaththesamemeaning,thenwhereforedowecriticize? 4 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Fearis astateofnervousness fitforchildren and notmen. When manfearsacreaturelike himselfheoffends God,inwhoseimageandlikenessheiscreated. Manbeingcreated equal fearsnotmanbutGod.Tofearistolosecontrolofone'snerves;one's will,toflutter,likeadying fowl,losingconsciousness, yetalive. Ambitionisthedesiretogoforwardandimproveone's condition.Itisaburningflamethatlights upthelifeoftheindividualandmakeshimseehimselfinanotherstate.To beambitiousis tobe greatinmind andsoul;towantthatwhichisworthwhileandstriveforit;andto goonwithout lookingback, reachingtothatwhich givessatisfaction.Tobehumanlyambitious istotakeinthe worldwhichis theprovinceof man;tobedivinelyambitiousis tooffend Godbyrivalinghimin His infinitemajesty. Admirationis aformofappreciationthatissometimes mistakenforsomethingelse.Theremay besomethingabout youthatsuggests goodfellowshipwhenkeptatadistance,butincloser contactwouldnotbetolerated,otherwiseitwouldbelove. Religionisone'sopinionandbeliefinsomeethicaltruth.TobeaChristianistohavethereligion ofChrist,andsotobeabelieverof MohammedistobeaMohammedanbuttherearesomany religionsthateveryman seemstobeareligionuntohimself.Notwopersonsthinkalike, evenif theyoutwardlyprofessthesamefaith,sowehaveasmanyreligions inChristianityas wehave believers. Deathistheendofalllifeintheindividualorthething;ifphysical,thecrumblingofthebody intodustfromwhenceitcame.He,who livesnotuprightly,diescompletelyinthecrumblingof thephysicalbody,buthe wholives well,transforms himselffromthatwhichismortal,to immortal. Faithfulnessis actuatedbyastateofheartand mindintheindividualthatchangesnot.Nooneis whollyfaithfultoacauseoranobject,excepthis heartand mindremainfirmwithoutchangeor doubt.Ifone'sattitudeor conductchangestoward anobject,thenonehaslostinone's faithfulness.Itis awholenessofbeliefovershadowingallsuspicion,alldoubt,admittingofno question;toservewithoutregretordisgust,toobligateone'sselftothatwhichispromised Or expected,tokeeptoour wordanddoourdutywell.Therearebutfewfaithfulpeoplenow-a- days. 5 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Prohibitionis toabstainfromintoxicatingliquor,asitmakesus morbidand sometimesdrunk. Butwegetdrunkeveryday,nevertheless,notsomuchbythestrengthof whatwesipfromthe cup,butthatwhichweeat,thewaterwedrink,and theairweinhale,which at fermentation conspireateventidetomakeussodrunkandtired thatwelosecontrolofourselves andfall asleep.Everybodyisadrunkard,andifwewereto enforcerealprohibitionweshouldallbe dead. Thereis nostrengthbutthatwhichis destructive, because manhaslosthis virtues,andonly respectsforce, whichhe himselfcannotcounteract.Thisisthedayofracial activity,wheneach andeverygroupofthis greathumanfamilymustexerciseits owninitiativeandinfluenceinits ownprotection,therefore,Negroesshouldbemoredeterminedto-daythan theyhaveeverbeen, becausethemightyforces oftheworldareoperatingagainstnon-organized groupsofpeoples, whoarenotambitious enoughtoprotecttheirown interests. WakeupEthiopia! Wake upAfrica! Letusworktowardstheonegloriousendofafree, redeemedandmightynation.LetAfricabeabrightstaramongtheconstellationofnations. Aman's bread andbutter isonlyinsuredwhenheworksforit. Theworldhasnow reachedthestagewhenhumanityisreallyatthepartingof" theways. Itisa questionof"Man Mind Thyself." Thepoliticalreadjustmentoftheworldmeansthat thosewhoarenotsufficientlyable,not sufficientlyprepared,willbeatthemercyoftheorganized classes foranotheroneortwo hundred years. Theonlyprotectionagainstinjusticeinmanispower:physical,financialandscientific. Themasses makethenationandtherace. Ifthemasses areilliterate,thatisthejudgmentpassed ontheracebythosewho arecriticalofits existence. ThefunctionofthePress ispublicservicewithoutprejudiceorpartiality,to conveythetruthas it is seenandunderstoodwithoutfavoritismorbias. 6 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Educationisthemedium bywhich apeopleareprepared forthecreationof theirownparticular civilization,andtheadvancementand gloryoftheirownrace. Nationhoodistheonlymeans bywhich moderncivilizationcancompletelyprotectitself. Independenceofnationality,independenceof government,isthemeans of protectingnotonly theindividual,butthegroup.Nationhoodis thehighestidealofallpeoples. Theevolutionaryscalethatweighsnationsandraces,balances alikeforall peoples;hencewe feelsurethatsomedaythebalancewillregisterachangefortheNegro. Ifwearetobelievethedivineinjunction,wemust realizethatthetimeis comingwhen every man andeveryrace must returntoits own"vineandfigtree." LetAfricabeourguidingstar:ourstarofdestiny. Somanyofusfind excusesto getoutoftheNegro race,becauseweareled tobelievethatthe raceis unworthy,andthatithasnotaccomplished anything.Cowardsthatweare! Itiswewho areunworthy,becausewearenot contributingtotheupliftandup-buildingofthisnoblerace. HowdareanyonetellusthatAfricacannotberedeemed,whenwehave400,000,000men and women withwarmblood coursingthroughtheirveins?ThepowerthatholdsAfricais notdivine. Thepowerthatholds Africaishuman,anditisrecognizedthatwhatsoevermanhasdone,man cando. WeoftheNegroracearemovingfromonestateoforganizationtoanother, andweshallso continueuntilwehavethoroughlyliftedourselves intotheorganizationofgovernment. Beas proudof yourracetodayas ourfatherswere inthedaysof yore. We haveabeautiful history,andweshallcreateanotherinthefuturethatwillastonishtheworld. 7 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Woman What thenightistotheday,iswomantoman. Theperiodofchangethatbringsuslightoutof darkness,darknessoutoflight,andsemi-lightoutofdarkness arelikethechangeswefindin womandaybyday.Shemakesonehappy,then miserable.You aretoherkind,thenunkind. Constant yetinconstant. Thus wehave woman.Norealmancandowithouther. Love Ahappybutmiserablestateinwhich manfindshimselffromtimetotime; sometimes he believes heishappybyloving,thensuddenlyhe finds howmiserableheis. Itisalljoy,it sweetens life,butitdoes notlast.Itcomes and goes,butwhenitisactive,thereisno greater virtue,becauseitmakes onesupremelyhappy. Wecannotholdourlove,butthereisonelove thatneverchangeorismistaken,andthatis God's.Thelongerweholdourlove,thenearerwe approachlikeuntoourCreator. Thewholeworldis runonbluff.Norace,nonation,nomanhasanydivinerighttotake advantageofothers. Whyallowtheotherfellowtobluffyou? Everystudentofpolitical science,everystudentof economics knows thattheracecanonlybe savedthroughasolidindustrialfoundation;andthattheracecanonlybesavedthroughpolitical independence.Takeawayindustryfromarace;takeawaypolitical freedomfrom arace,and you haveagroup ofslaves. Peopleseverywherearetravellingtowardindustrialopportunitiesand greaterpoliticalfreedom.As araceoppressed,itisforustoprepareourselvesthatatanytime thegreatchangeinindustrialfreedomandpoliticallibertycomes about,wemaybeabletoenter intotheneweraaspartakersofthejoystobeinherited. Laggingbehindinthevanofcivilizationwillnotproveourhigherabilities.Beingsubservientto thewillandcapriceofprogressiveraceswillnotproveanythingsuperiorin us.Beingsatisfiedto drinkofthedregs fromthecupofhumanprogress willnotdemonstrateourfitnessasapeopleto existalongsideofothers, butwhenofourowninitiativewestrikeouttobuildindustries, governments,andultimatelyempires,thenandonlythenwillweasaraceprovetoourCreator andtomanin generalthatwearefittosurviveand capableofshapingourowndestiny. 8 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Theworldoughttoknowthatitcouldnotkeep400,000,000Negroes down forever. Thereis always aturningpointinthedestinyofeveryrace, everynation,ofallpeoples,andwe havecomenow totheturningpointoftheNegro, wherewehavechangedfromtheoldcringing weakling,andtransformedintofull-grown men,demandingourportionas men. IamnotoneofthoseChristianswhobelievethattheBiblecansolvealltheproblemsof humanity. TheBibleis goodinitsplace,butwearemen. WearethecreaturesofGod. Wehave sinnedagainstHim;thereforeittakesmorethantheBibletokeepusinourplaces. Manisbecomingsovilethatto-daywecannotaffordtoconverthimwithmoral, ethical, physicaltruths alone,butwiththatwhichismoreeffective—implements ofdestruction. Leadershipmeanseverything:pain,blood,death. Tobeprosperousinwhateverwedoisthesignof truewealth. We maybewealthyinnotonly havingmoney,butinspiritandhealth.Itisthemosthelpfulagencytowardaself-satisfyinglife. Onelives,inanagelikethis,nearerperfectionbybeingwealthythanbybeingpoor. Tothe contendedsoul,wealthisthesteppingstonetoperfection;tothemiseritis thenearestavenueto hell.Iwouldprefertobehonestlywealthy,thanmiserablypoor. Tobefreefromtemptationofotherpeople'spropertyistoreflectthe honestyofourownsouls. Therearebutfewreallyhonestpeople,inthatbetweenthethoughtandthe deedwemake ourselvesdishonest.Thefellowwhosteals,actsdishonestly. Wecanstealinthoughtaswellas indeed,thereforetobehonestis avirtuethatbutfewindulge.Tobehonest istobesatisfied, havingall,wantingnothing.If youfind yourselfinsuchastatethen you arehonest,ifnotthe temptationof yoursoulisboundtomake youdishonest.Thisapplies tothekingandthepeasant alike. Allpeoplesarestrugglingtoblastawaythroughtheindustrialmonopolyofracesandnations, buttheNegroas awholehas failedto graspitstruesignificanceandseems todelightinfilling onlythatplacecreated forhimbythewhiteman. TheNegro wholivesonthepatronage ofphilanthropistsis themostdangerousmemberofour society,becauseheiswillingtoturnbacktheclockofprogresswhenhis benefactors askhimso todo. 9 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook Noraceintheworldissojustas to giveothers,fortheasking,asquaredealinthingseconomic, politicalandsocial. Menwhoareinearnestarenotafraidofconsequences. Noone knowswhenthe hourofAfrica'sredemptioncometh.Itisinthewind.Itiscoming.One day,likeastorm,itwillbehere. WhenthatdaycomesallAfricawillstandtogether. Anysaneman,raceornationthatdesiresfreedommustfirstofallthinkintermsofblood. Why, eventheHeavenlyFathertellsusthat"withoutthesheddingofbloodtherecanbenoremission ofsins?"ThenhowinthenameofGod,withhistorybeforeus,doweexpecttoredeemAfrica withoutpreparingourselves,someofus todie. IprayGodthatweshall neveruseourphysicalprowess tooppressthehumanrace,butwewill useourstrength,physically,morallyandotherwisetopreservehumanityandcivilization. Foroverthreehundred years thewhitemanhas beenour oppressor,andhenaturallyis not going toliberateus tothehigherfreedom,thetruerliberty,andthetruerdemocracy. Wehaveto liberateourselves. Everymanhas arighttohisownopinion.Everyracehasarighttoitsownaction;thereforelet nomanpersuade youagainstyourwill,letnootherraceinfluence youagainst yourown. ThegreatestweaponusedagainsttheNegrois disorganization. If youhaveno confidenceinself youaretwicedefeatedintheraceoflife. Withconfidence you havewonevenbefore youhavestarted. 10 PhilosophyandOpinionsofMarcus Garveyedited byAmyJacques-Garvey TheJournalofPanAfricanStudies2009eBook