Title
Supporting Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) in his House Congressional Resolution recognizing the contributions of Marcus Garvey.
Body
WHEREAS, On February 14, 2005, Congressman Charles B. Rangel introduced H.Con.Res. 57 which urges the United States to recognize the life and contributions of Marcus Garvey; and
WHEREAS, H.Con.Res. 57 recognizes Marcus Garvey as a national hero in his native Jamaica and a towering figure in nations around the world; and
WHEREAS, H.Con.Res. 57 recognizes that Marcus Garvey lead the largest African-American movement for human rights and economic self-sufficiency by attracting millions of followers throughout the world including the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Europe; and
WHEREAS, Marcus Garvey was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, August 17, 1887. Garvey epitomized the strength and pride of the people of the Caribbean. Garvey was virtually self-taught, reading voraciously from his father's extensive library. By 1910, then residing in Kingston, he quickly established himself as a spellbinding orator and political organizer; and
WHEREAS, Garvey's philosophy and accomplishments challenged the myths of inferiority that demeaned people of African heritage in the 1920's. When lynching of Black men was commonplace, when house burning by Southern Klansmen and Northern rioters were routine, when theories of white supremacy were acceptable and notions of equality subversive, Marcus Garvey preached racial pride and economic independence; and
WHEREAS, Garvey raised more than one million dollars from thousands of investors in the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe to establish the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and his well-known Black Star Line steamship company. The Black Star Line was established to purchase ships to initiate trade with and eventually carry New World Blacks to Africa; and
WHEREAS, Garv...
Click here for full text