Dear Editor,

August 17, 2025 marked the 138th anniversary of the birth of our first national hero and global icon Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Disturbingly, this milestone passed with muted or even non-existent celebrations for a man whose life and work shaped not only Jamaica but the global black experience.

Garvey reminded us to “Emancipate ourselves from mental slavery” and to “Rise up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will!” These are not relics of history but urgent calls that remain relevant today. Yet, while his timeless vision endures, our national silence on his birthday suggests we are losing sight of our cultural heritage.

Even though the Ministry of Education has introduced Garveyism in some schools through a pilot project, we need to acknowledge him more meaningfully as a nation. This effort, though commendable, cannot substitute for the wider recognition Garvey deserves. Political campaigns may occupy the headlines, but that is no excuse for sidelining the memory of a man who declared that, “A people without the knowledge of their past, history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.”

If we fail to celebrate Garvey with the respect he warrants, we risk weakening the very foundation of our national identity. It is time we restore his legacy with vibrant, consistent, and national acknowledgement.

Mikhail A Graham

mikhailgraham@yahoo.com