C. Roy ReynoldsTHE YEAR 1930, as we have seen in earlier instalments, effectively marked the end of Marcus Garvey's active participation in Jamaican competitive politics. His prison sentence in late 1929 and failure in the elections of early 1930 seemed to have torn the very heart out of his reform-oriented movement.
But if we rewind the film a bit we will realise there was a great high for him just before the final convulsions. For on August 1, Emancipation Day 1929 his convention of "Negro Peoples of the World" opened in Kingston with a considerable show of strength. As The Gleaner of Friday, August 2 reported it was something "the like of which has never been seen here before".
Said the report: "The sixth international convention of the Negro Peoples of the World, "organised by Mr. Marcus Garvey, President General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association opened in Kingston yesterday morning with divine services at Edelweis Park followed by a mammoth procession through the streets of Kingston the like of which has never been seen here before... It was truly a red letter day in the history of the UNIA, and the orderliness which characterised these functions was certainly commendable".
Any notion that Garvey was a racial exclusionist seemed to have been given the lie by the list of invited guests for the occasion. Among them The Gleaner listed the Hon. Altamont E. DaCosta M.B.E. Custos and Member of the Legislative Council for Kingston; the Hon. Seymour Seymour, Mayor of Kingston and Legislative Council member for St. Andrew and Mr. W.H. Landale, acting Custos for St. Andrew.
According to the report "from early morning the people began to gather by all possible means of conveyance and by 9 o'clock the stadium was almost full. The spacious area was decorated with flags and the various units of the organisation formed a procession. These included the Black Cross Nurses, the Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and guards in uniform, as well as many prominent delegates wearing robes of many colours, all of which made up a most picturesque and colourful procession."
It recorded that Garvey's first appearance was to announce the arrival of the forenamed dignitaries whom The Gleaner recorded "were heartily cheered as they took the seats reserved for them beside the President General's chair." "The procession was reported to have begun with an opening hymn "Shine on Eternal Light" and "The UNIA band accompanied the singers and it was certainly grand to hear the voices of so many people blending so harmoniously together".
The Gleaner reporter wrote that though the morning was hot and the opening proceedings lasted until nearly midday "no one appeared bored, because of the splendid music and the oratory of the speakers".
Special praise was given to the anthem rendered by the St. Andrew division choir. Lessons were read by Alderman the Rev. McLaughlin and Councillor the Rev. Gordon Hay. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. C.A. Wilson of Mountainside, which the report described as "a masterful discourse and could not have failed to stir his hearers by the appeal he made to them to unite together for the upliftment of their race". Then Mr. Garvey with his accustomed oratory counselled the people to be orderly in the great procession that was to take place in the afternoon.
The Gleaner reported that not only did the representatives of white-based power structure address the gathering following their introduction by Garvey but it listed a whole raft of notable characters as sharing the platform with Garvey. Alderman Dr. E.E. Penso; Councillors J. Coleman Beecher, T.N. Duval, H.L. Harris acting Town Clerk; Dr. R.M. Simpson, Dr. R. Hall, J.B. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Wilson, T. Isaac Gregory, P. McQueen, W.E. Prince, G. Stanley Artherton, Soloman J.E. St. Rose, the Rev. N. Bellamy, and a long list of other well known personalities of the day.
There can be no doubt that The Gleaner's representative covering the event was completely carried away by it as the strong editorialising of his report indicated. Said he: "The Rev. C.A. Wilson of Mountainside in St. Elizabeth... entered the pulpit and delivered an inspirational and eloquent discourse... In the course of his very able thoughtful and impressive address the reverend gentleman said that there were three great thoughts in the text (John Chap. 11 verse 28) that he would like them to carry away". Jesus was the great teacher whose message was carried from generation to generation and His exhortation in a moment of difficulty: "peace, be still!"
Next we shall take a look at the procession.
