TODAY marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Jamaica’s first National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey. In commemoration of the event, we publish excerpts from a speech by Garvey which was originally published in his Negro World newspaper on November 8, 1919, celebrating the launch of the first ship, the S S Frederick Douglas in the Black Star Line fleet. The speech was submitted as “Government Exhibit 27” and used against Garvey at his trial on trumped up mail fraud charges in the United States. The Observer publishes these excerpts culled from the Garvey trial notes, courtesy of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust:

“Fellowmen of the Negro Race, greeting. Today I write to you with a heart full of gladness, because we have achieved something for which every Negro should feel glad. We have launched the first ship of the Black Star Line, the S S Frederick Douglas. We have done it through an opposition that has no parallel in race achievements.

When we incorporated the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation, we were told by a few white men, supported by a large number of Negro traitors, that we could not do it; that we could not float a ship. First, they said that we hadn’t the ability to float a ship; next, they said that the people would have no confidence in us to buy shares in our Corporation to make it possible for us to buy a ship. So as to back up their declarations, they organised themselves into groups to oppose us, but with the grim determination of death, we made up our minds that there would be a Black Star Line, even if we had to float it in an ocean of human blood.

Today we are glad because we have floated the S. S. Frederick Douglas, the flagship of our Merchant Marine, but there has been no shedding of blood, so as to make the launching a possibility. On the contrary, some of our bitterest opponents have confessed to their defeat, which confession is good for their souls, because it will, no doubt, make them better men.

On Thursday night, the 30th of October, 15,000 of us assembled in the Madison Square Garden, and thereby demonstrated by our actions that we were ready and willing to back up this great commercial enterprise with our money and with our very lives.

The meeting we held on that night was the largest ever staged by Negroes in any part of the world. We were able to convince the white race that we were in earnest, and apparently for the first time they took us at our word. The big white dailies have paid us glowing compliments in this, our achievement, for which we thank them.”

. The Mission of the Black Star Line

Marcus Garvey appeals to blacks to support commercial enterprise

“FELLOWMEN of the Negro Race, greeting. To you I appeal today for support for the greatest Negro movement in the history of the world. Wherever you are to be found, in America, Canada, South or Central America, the West Indies or Africa, this call is made to you.

Just at this time the Universal Negro Improvement Association of the world, representing 4,000,000 Negroes, is pushing an universal drive to help the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation to put through a line of steamships to trade between American, Canadian, South and Central American, the West Indian and African ports carrying freight and passengers.

This corporation has had a hard fight to defeat the enemies of the race who have endeavoured to crush the rising commercial and independent spirit of our people. It is, therefore, incumbent upon each and every member of the race to do his and her bit in helping to put through this great commercial enterprise, and thereby give the lie to our enemies, who declare that the Negro cannot do anything for himself.

The first ship of the Black Star Line was inspected at 135th street and the North River in New York City, Sunday, September 14, by fully four thousand members of the race. This ship that is to be re-christened the Frederick Douglas, will be ready and will sail from New York on the 31st of October as the property of the Negro people of the world, purchased through the stockholders of the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation.

This corporation needs $80,000 more to make it possible to clear the ship of all encumbrances to sail on the 31st of October, and I am here appealing to every member of the race to do his and her duty now; and right now. Every Negro must buy shares in the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation, of 56 West 135th street, New York City. Any Negro after the 31st of October not a stockholder in the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation will be worse than a traitor to the cause of struggling Ethiopia, for in this effort to free the race economically, our ancient foes are lined up against us, and for any Negro to stand off and allow the few of the race to fight and win out in this great struggle would be action no less than a crime.

The Negro race has served the other races for centuries, and the time is now when we should serve ourselves. The shares in the Black Star Line are sold at $5.00 each, and each person can buy from one to two hundred shares and make money. The capital stock of the corporation will be increased in a very short time, which will mean that the par value of the stock will go up. Buy your shares today and you will make money in the next few months. The Black Star Line Steamship Corporation will own and control steamships to trade to all parts of the world. The corporation will offer employment to thousands of our men and women.

Surely at this crucial time, when the race is on trial, no one will desert the ranks, but all of us will stand together and present to the world a merchant marine fleet owned and controlled by the Negro peoples of the world.

If you have five hundred dollars to invest for profit, then invest it now in the Black Star Line. If you have four hundred, three, two, one or fifty dollars, twenty-five, or ten, call or write to the corporation and send in your application for shares with your money.

A greater and more prosperous day is in store for the Negro, but he himself must so act today, as to assure the good things coming. Fellowmen, I implore that you be true at this time. Remember, the 31st day of October will be the day of triumph or defeat for the Negro, and every man and woman after that date will either hold her head up in pride or hang it in shame.

The call is for action, now or never. Feeling sure that you will answer this call. With best wishes, Yours fraternally, MARCUS GARVEY – Pittsburgh, Sept. 25, 1919.”