KINGSTON, Jamaica—For many reggae artistes, National Hero Marcus Garvey represents what the music stands for — black pride, anti-colonialism and self-reliance.

His philosophy made an impact on aspiring poet Richie Innocent during the 1990s in St Elizabeth.

Garvey — whose 138th birthday is celebrated today, August 17 — is the inspiration for several of his poems such as Mind, Hills mi Deh and Success.

“For me, Marcus Garvey the man means everything because I was introduced to his teachings through reading. I have been anchored into my identity and acceptance of self in knowing that my creation was never a mistake, hence ‘Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will’ has driven me throughout the years to never give up,” Richie Innocent told Observer Online.

Jamaica’s first National Hero, Garvey was born in the garden parish of St Ann in 1887. His message of black empowerment is the driving force of the Pan African movement he started in 1920 while living in New York, where he was a pillar of the Harlem Renaissance.

Garvey, whose teachings inspired artistes like Bob Marley and Burning Spear, died in London in June 1940 at age 52. In January, United States president Joe Biden pardoned him for mail fraud charges on which he was imprisoned in 1925. Garvey was deported to Jamaica two years later.

Richie Innocent, whose latest song is The Passover, is also touched by an under-stated aspect of the Garvey message.

“The push to make a difference in my community is etched in the words he said, ‘man is not responsible for his colour, but for his conduct’ and when that man thinks and acts that is how you are able to spot the decent citizen,” he said.

Jamaica’s government arranged for the return of Garvey’s body to Kingston in 1965. He is interred at National Heroes Park along with other National Heroes, Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley.