On Thursday, August 17, 2017 Jamaica will celebrate our National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey’s 130th birthday.
A few things will be happening:
As always, there will be an official floral tribute in National Heroes Park by Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Gender Affairs and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange.
Liberty Hall, at 76 King Street in downtown Kingston, will have a full slate of activities on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for young and old(er). These will include the launch of 76 King Street Volume Three; the annual lecture to be delivered by writer and Garveyite Geoffrey Philp; performances by students from Liberty Hall’s Summer Arts Programme; free museum tours (really worth doing); arts, crafts and food for sale. It should be fun and interesting – so if you have never visited Garvey’s former headquarters, this would be a great day to do so! Make it a family outing, if you can.
Carlong Publishers will launch Garvey’s Ghost, by Jamaican author Geoffrey Philp, on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. It is under the local publisher’s new Expressions imprint, aimed at young adults across the Caribbean. We look forward to hearing more about this book, and to seeing more great Caribbean YA titles. I have already reviewed a few on this blog.
“Garvey’s Ghost” will be launched on Wednesday evening at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. It is written by Geoffrey Philp, who will give the annual lecture at Liberty Hall on Garvey’s birthday.
Last (but not least) on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. National Integrity Action (NIA) will hold a Town Hall Meeting at the August Town Multipurpose Court in St. Andrew on the theme Up You Mighty Race: Building Safe and Inclusive Communities – The August Town Experience. NIA hopes the community will come out and let their voices be heard. It’s all about empowerment, community governance, safety and security – and all the principles of strength in unity that Garvey himself held dear. Do go down and listen to the speakers. It will be a powerful discussion, in a community that has had more than its fair share of divisions and disappointments.
Let us celebrate Garvey. Here’s one of his memorable quotes:
We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself…
Teenagers enjoying themselves during Liberty Hall’s Summer Programme 2017. (Photo: Facebook)
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