Marcus Mosiah Garvey Junior was a Jamaican journalist, political leader, orator, businessman and journalist, who was a key figure of the Pan-Africanism movement. Garvey was interested in creating a greater unity among all people of African origin and in order to facilitate that he established Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. Garvey’s philosophy of uniting all people of African origin was unique in nature due to its global appeal and came to be known as Garveyism. Garvey’s involvement in the movement was showcased in his decision to establish his own shipping line named Black Star Line that was involved in helping people of African origin to get to their original homelands. Other than being the advocate of his Garveyism, it is important to note that Garvey was a hugely gifted orator and was known to deliver rousing speeches regarding the subject that was closest to his heart. He was also a writer and journalist and one of his pieces in the magazine Negro World is particularly well known for the way in which he laid down his thoughts on African unity. Garvey remains an icon of the movement for African identity and his thoughts greatly influenced Africans all over the world. Here is a collection of his quotes and sayings gleamed from his speeches and writings.
The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.
I regard the Klan, the Anglo-Saxon clubs and White American societies, as far as the Negro is concerned, as better friends of the race than all other groups of hypocritical whites put together.
Great principles, great ideals know no nationality.
Marcus Garvey
We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign.
Marcus Garvey
To be once defeated is to find cause for an everlasting struggle to reach the top.
Marcus Garvey
We were like crabs in a barrel, that none would allow the other to climb over, but on any such attempt all would continue to pull back into the barrel the one crab that would make the effort to climb out.
You at this time can only be destroyed by yourselves, from within and not from without. You have reached the point where the victory is to be won from within and can only be lost from within.
Was the crying voice from the grave that said, ‘Garvey, we have suffered for 250 years for your day and for your time; we expect something from you at this hour.’”16
