Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey

1887 was the new beginning of what seemed to be a born leader. Every day he grew up he became stronger. In the early 1900's he was brought up always trying to be better. But as the days became years he had to overcome many situations in life when coming from Jamaica to the United States. Different rules held him back from accomplishing some of his early life goals. After all he became a successful leader known as Marcus Garvey. Garvey had a big passion in movements and reaching out to the world, his love in books, and the criticism he got from people. The passion can be overwhelming having followers up to millions, but he changed the world.

Every now and then you get a great leader with passion, determination, and character. Garvey was a kind of guy that touches you with words to sway your mind in thinking against him. Garvey had a positive outlook on life; every day he woke up he wanted to change the world by movements. By reaching out to larger groups he formed many groups, also part of the N.A.A.C.P. (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People). Also Garvey continued to hold UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) and the ACL (African Communities League) conventions and to tour the world making speeches on civil rights and the uplift the African American race. For example, in "1916 Garvey voice thundered in the evenings on the streets of Harlem in New York City, New York. A New York branch of the UNIA was established" this is where is all started. Garvey was well known for leadership to move people with his speeches as Garvey says "Many years ago we fell asleep by the sedative of the superman, but the mystic magic of nature wand says awake and rise again" (Garvey 123). This means the oppression of the African American race and what they had to stand up and face through that time period. Also the fight of war over the years between races and countries in how it took a worldwide effect on the entire world. Even though they had some bad times in the 1800's they had some good times too. As Garvey's leadership and passion to the people his movements got better he began to get more and more followers to help him in his work. Another quote he used in his speeches was "A person without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." This means if you don't know who you are and what you are about you are basically nothing to the world. This all influenced him to reach out amongst his race and make a change. This change was traumatic for many people because every day of his life he wanted to strive for what were wrong and make it right.

Next is his movements and what he said he was going to do. This influenced him as a writer because he talked about how things could be different. Garvey was the first of many to have a nationalist movement in the United States. Speeches were the way of reaching out in those days back when people were treated differently. Differently was a powerful word back in the day because all he wanted was to feel the same as the others. Doing this he had a better chance of getting to that status of others that were either better or in the same predicament as he was. Slavery entitled him to do such actions because they were taken and sold. But Garvey had something going for him when he first picked up a book; it fascinated him and gave him learning about the world and how it was such a terrible and self-deprived.

Whenever you see a book it's there just sitting there with a lot of pages wondering if there is a chance you might pick it up and read it. But once you pick it up you will be enchanted and force to read it because of its knowledge and what you're willing to learn from it. Garvey said, "Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden..." (Garvey 32). This means if you're willing to learn then you rule the world but if you don't want to learn you have an ignorant person which always isn't a true statement. But Garvey's love in books gave him something called power, strength, and heart. Garvey wanted to dictate the action of people with his power in words, strength by the people that was by him, heart to stand up against people bigger than him but didn't have the mind power and leadership he had and started. The love in books came from his father Marcus Mosiah Garvey Sr. because they always had a large library of books for Garvey to read and get more knowledge about the world. This influenced him on many things like a better education which was something for him and all of African Americans gave him knowledge on what people were and what he could do to change that.

Suddenly books became a big thing for young Marcus Garvey. Books changed the prospective of life; it gave it a true meaning what to strive for and what you can learn from them. When he said, "as long as I live, I shall do everything for your advancement" (Garvey 2). This means if you do absolutely everything you can do to for prepare yourself you will be alright in the world. Also meaning if you have the knowledge you will go to college. College where they have more books with more knowledge to greater your abilities for success because no one can take anyway

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