Liberation and Education: Marcus Garvey Reflection

“Education is the medium by which a people are prepared for the creation of their own particular civilization, and the advancement and glory of their own race.”- Marcus Garvey. We often talk about education as a right; however, there are many barriers to access and this is problematic. The result is quality education is often linked to one’s wealth. Today, August 17 is the 139th anniversary of the birth of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Each year a number of events are held to commemorate Garvey’s birth. One of the most noticeable events is that of the annual lecture. This year’s lecture was given by Professor Donna Hope and held at Liberty Hall in Kingston. Even while we sat and listened attentively to the professor there are a number of questions we must ask ourselves such as the impact of the structural inequalities of the current education system which provides different outcomes to different students based on social indicators. Disappointment set in as we listened attentively. The majority in attendance were middle aged and a few university students. Where were the youths? As we reflect on Garvey’s legacy on this his birth anniversary we ponder what have we learnt as a society from Garvey. Marcus Garvey was an advocate for liberation of the mind. In many of Garvey’s writings and theories Garvey expounded how important it is for our minds to be liberated with knowledge. However, liberation of the mind is both intentional and strategic. Yet, we have been deliberate in not having the teaching of history education in all our secondary schools. This therefore means, students can complete 5 to 7 years of secondary school without being exposed to Jamaican history. The society is already beset by a number of social ills such as a lack of self confidence especially those of darker skin hues. The Jamaican society is also grappling with the issue of identity. The youth are directionless. Our students have no historical reference for many of the socio-cultural issues of the present time. The pervasiveness of skin bleaching among the populace is a clear indicator that many of us are not pleased with our skin tone. The policing of black hair is another issues that the teachings of Marcus Garvey can assist us to understand. Garvey believed people of African descent could establish a great independent nation in their ancient homeland of Africa. Garvey was an advocate for racial pride by celebrating the African past and encouraging African Americans to be proud of their heritage and proud of the way they looked. Garvey proclaimed "black is beautiful" long before it became popular in the 1960s. He wanted African Americans to see themselves as members of a mighty race. "We must canonize our own saints, create our own martyrs, and elevate to positions of fame and honor black men and women who have made their distinct contributions to our racial history." He encouraged parents to give their children "dolls that look like them to play with and cuddle," and he did not want black people thinking of themselves in a defeatist way. "I am the equal of any white man; I want you to feel the same way." At the end of primary education our students sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination. Students are then placed at high schools based primarily on their scores. These scores at the end of primary education are them mapped onto one of three pathways. Disappointedly, none of these pathways have a strong history/civics based for community engagement. The rowdy and sometimes vulgar manner of some of our students as well as how the populace behaves in the public space speaks to a sense of self and of identity. We must ask ourselves what type of Jamaican citizens do we wish to have? To what extent is the Jamaican education system preparing our students for this ideal citizen? As we reflect on this important day, let us make a collective and conscious effort to continue the legacy of Garvey. Such a powerful and enduring legacy is one of fostering hope, pride and black consciousness and awareness of self. Let us use Garvey’s work to scaffold our sense of personhood and charity. Garvey was not a selfish man. He shared his knowledge and wisdom with all who were willing to hear. Undoubtedly, the teachings of Garvey would certainly make a difference in these contexts. The ball is now in the court of the government to revisit the National Standards Curriculum (NSC) and infuse the teachings of Garvey. Let us be calculated in utilizing education for the liberation of our minds. One example of this is using the Public Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in showcasing more of Garvey’s work and life. Let us bring back Civics in our schools. We owe it our children. In the words of Marcus Garvey, a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©