Meaning
Marcus Garvey (1887 to 1940) was a Jamaican publisher, speaker, and organiser who campaigned for Black pride, self-reliance, and unity across the African diaspora. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association in Jamaica in 1914, moved to the United States in 1916, and headed the Black Star Line shipping company. He was the first person Jamaica formally named a National Hero. In Jamaican and Rastafari talk, 'Garvey' stands for Black pride, standing on your own two feet, and looking to Africa.
Examples
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Marcus Garvey a one a wi National Heroes.
Marcus Garvey is one of our National Heroes.
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Plenty Rasta seh Garvey a prophet.
Plenty of Rastas say Garvey was a prophet.
Many Rastafari regard him as a prophet who foretold the crowning of Haile Selassie.
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Burning Spear name a whole album Marcus Garvey.
Burning Spear named a whole album Marcus Garvey.
The album came out in 1975.
How it’s used
Usually said with respect. Rastafari do not take up every view Garvey held, but his ideas shaped the movement. He was born in Saint Ann's Bay on 17 August 1887 and died in London on 10 June 1940. His body was returned to Jamaica in 1964 and reburied in National Heroes Park in Kingston, and in 1969 the government conferred the Order of the National Hero on him. See Selassie I, Heroes Day, Bag-o-wire.