Dear Editor,

At a meeting in 1922 at the Brooklyn Division of the United Negro Improvement Association, Marcus Garvey asserted: “You (members present) must advance your own leadership and uphold your own programme. I feel that we are to live out our own programme, and march out and do things.”

This philosophy was not unique to him. Dr Robert Love, who moved to Jamaica from the Bahamas in the late 1800s, and who, more than anyone else, influenced the direction of Garvey, fought for many years to increase black representation in Jamaica’s Legislative Council.

There have been many others in black history (like Booker T Washington), who, with little means and big dreams, rose to relieve themselves of their challenges. These leaders directed their exhortations for human advancement to the hearts and souls of those who listened to them, for victims to act more, do more and complain less. Indian Independence leader Mohandas Gandhi said that we should be the change that we wish to see; action expresses priorities. We must not depend on others to do what we, through godly sacrifice and obligation, can do for ourselves.

Personal responsibility is the truest advocate for change. We complain about our problems in the media every day, but how many of us have put off sending letters to the editor or calling Mutty Perkins about a drain to be cleaned or teaching a shotta to read?

Some of us think that we are safe, but how foolish! Crime is spreading like Dudus’ name, and alas, we might get shot while boarding our flight to Miami! Come on, Jamaicans, stand up!

Craig Dixon

Craig.dixon11@gmail.com