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A few years ago we held a Marcus Garvey poetry competition where the poets with the best poems about the prophet was rewarded financially. Below are some of the poems that were chosen as finalists. We hope you enjoy.

Marcus Garvey: The Redeemer

As I position my living towards unity,
I am influenced by a crusader of black power.

He instills in a nation of self-reliance and racial dignity.
The reason for all things black upheld with pride.

I am forced to commit to freedom vigorously in respect
Of a political independence of one color shaded from the sun.

My representation comes from the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
Demanding economic and calculated advancement from a land that

Was stolen from a congregation of misguided traded slaves.
Rise Africa, rise. Set your eyes to Exodus as your map
to a world of sovereignty. Look for me blazing with the wind
as imperial horns will sound this reward.

Let us be at peace with our purity, cultivate our seeds to grow
Into a reincarnation of prophets to look to Africa for they will be crowned.

Beat a steady rhythm to your tongue for liberty’s sake, be radical for the
Strength of our Messiah will grow as we resemble H.I.M.

Let me liberate you from the imprisonment of economic hardship
That comes from corruption of past and present with view of the black image.

Let me liberate you from the imprisonment of economic hardship
That comes from corruption of past and present with view of the black image.

I am the redeemer and you are the redeemed, it was nailed into
the hands of Haile Selassie and advocated through Africa’s seeds
bearing mighty children colored red, black, and green.

Marcus Garvey

A prophet is born underneath the Jamaican sun
Nearly 120 years ago, his impact still resonates
Persisting to enrich millions of souls everyday
Laying the foundation and changing the world

He was a journalist, entrepreneur, and publisher
Reforming his revolutionary might on the side
Witnesses atrocities in West Africa he pondered
Lying flat on his back, feeling his heart bleed

Midnight struck, so did an epiphany inside him
He’d spring UNIA to assist the suffering there
Soon it expanded, spreading across the globe
To unite all people of African ancestry together

A 38 state lecture tour left him restless, weary
Wanting to help his people abroad somehow
A few efforts stalled, never did his resolve
Businesses rose creating jobs for thousands

Liberia wanted to bring many back to Africa
Claiming everyone’s success depended on it
One project loaded up with good intentions
Silenced by opposition from European powers

His last years were spent continuing his efforts
Maintaining high importance until his last days
A stroke hit on the 10th day of June in 1940
Remember that day because it was a tragedy

A Rastafarian prophet, cherished by millions
Legend while he was living, icon in passing
Hear my voice echoing through these words
And never forget the mythic Marcus Garvey

Flowers In The Sand

Digging trenches in the sand
wishing you could make a stand
yearning for your own homeland
you’re flowers in the sand.
Feigned gestures of peace
are all but lies
that caused my lovedone’s quick demise
Chief authority never dies
as flowers in the sand
In the desert dreams will bake
Hopes and memories time will take
Martyred heroes WAR will make
Of flowers in the sand.

I and I only

Back to mother Africa
lets all go home
see the true Messiah
sitting on the throne
rally round the flag
of red green and gold
never let them keep you down always be bold
get up stand up
down to all black and white oppressors
never let them keep you down
never let them keep you down
drown yourself in knowledge
drown yourself in pride
never forget the prophet
within us all he resides
back to Africa
return to whence we came
have pride in Rastafari never be ashamed
now and forever is the time for us
UNITE……..
AND REMEBER RASTA IS REVOLUTION NEVER DIE WITHOUT A FIGHT…

Marcus Garvey

Live through the blood
passed on thru ancestors
touch roots and see
that you are not
what this life claims you as
He knew that the land
that was our home
held memories of burdens untold
of mothers crying
fathers stripped of manhood
intoxicated b y the visions
European placed in their heads
Garvey knew
the way out was back through
to experience that land
to see our ancestors
to know their struggle
he knew it would make us stronger
to see that land
Mama Africa your son knew
so with heavy heart
he returned to you.

Marcus Garvey Innovation Legacy

Trough the dust
you saw the fire
In the dark
your love still desired
work day and night
for our freedom
disclaimed by nation
until
we proclaimed your prophecy
reconsidered your teaching
publisher
journalist
entrepreneur
crusader for black nationalism
You stood
You gave a voice
to a land and our people
That was robed
from nation-ness
and basic human-ness
founder of our self trough education
for you saw deception
anguish
discrimination
against our fellow brothers
You stood tall
built an Africain nation
and gave it’s meaning
Marcus Garvey
your not forgotten
for an innovation of
your legacy still speaks
trough our teaching

Marcus Garvey

far removed from ancestral thought
caught up in society’s temptations
caught up in society’s expectations
caught up in a world of confusion and hate
Garveyism movement echoes
hear a thousand chants in unison rising, rising, rising
strength in souls unified spread like mother moon as she grips the tides
balancing world on axis of beautiful beings

far removed from ancestral thought
caught up in society’s temptations
caught up in society’s expectations
caught up in a world of confusion and hate
rebels against cause, added fuel to the fire
return to primitive an act against god
ignorance dubbed those who practice good ways of Jah
prejudice and hate overshadowed minds of collective
alien thoughts of beauty and being consumed those indigenous
hearts and souls controlled by greed never overstand
he named demagogue by many who feed off pain

return to ancestral thought
free from society’s temptations
free from society’s expectations
free from a world of confusion and hate
weapon his tongue, swords that spread blood no match to his wisdom
return to the primitive, feel drumbeat in your heart
love yourselves, love whats within, love blood that flows
hues of brown, brothers and sisters of land
mother earth calls her children, remember, return, no longer illusions
join together in mind, heart, soul, in all greatness will find past
eyes of innocence consumed by good ways, knowledge of society’s wanton thoughts
no longer know definitions of socially, economically, politically disadvantaged
circle of life continues his essence of teachings beyond measure
through the whirlwind as primitive form of nature
yes, he says, there you will find him

Marcus Garvey Speaks… We Listen

A face frozen with disdain.
Black man.
Cradling a people’s pain.
The pompous pomegranate.
Now speaking above the distortions of history books.
A battle fought.
The purpose?
Reclaim!
Your black bodies, brown bodies, yellow bodies…
Let them ripen, not rot on the vine.
The fruits of African seeds planted in American soil.
Our genetic inheritance of endless toil.
We listen.
Hear the far off drum beats in your blood?
We listen.
Hear the whispers of wise men in your dreams?
Go home, go home to Mother Africa…

Zionite

prophet mosiah ..seal up the trinity/
teach not preach black empowerment with dignity/
back to the land of our forefathers africa for africans what a livity/
arise black man blackness risen/
black starliner marcus self driven/
pride unto the modern day slave leave big corporation slave masters trembling/
through the dark tunnel a bright black light shone brightly/
throughout modern day slavery he resonated fatherly/
whip in hand the slave masters””big corporations”’ left bitterly/
before we was a tree with no roots/
from barren land he taught us how to bear good fruits/
sadly though most of them now are rotten they juss flukes/
no skin lighteneres marcus say be proud of ur look/
changed black man ‘s entry in the history book/
whip in hand no victims to claim the slavemaster ‘ s balance shook/
carry on idrens and istrens to africa we always have to look/

Red Hot Love

Marcus Garvey… father of African nationalism/ born and raised by those who praise those above/
laboring class n social reform essance of Africa in poor mans form/
from country to country to help out not for money were his travles/
imprisoned and deported the pain he reported fell on deaf ears/
orginized the U.N.I. that is why he is spoken of today/
years have gone since hes died but he lives on/strong is his
writings, books in crannys and nooks and so on/
he is
he was
he always will be
the father of African nationalism

Marcus Garvey

Garvey the Prophet
Offered
A question
That begs not forgiveness from the answer;
But asks the answerer to beg for forgiveness and learn

Their lesson:
To claim land as their own
And to govern others as guest or slaves
Is to say their sovereign
Even from Jah
Lay their law
Them naives

His question:
Like romeo:
By any other name does militance smell sweeter
We shouldn’t be frightened by your uniforms?
Your frightened of ours?

Those are not arms!
“Men who are earnest are not afraid of consequences.”
We speak now not for our defenses;
but for our rights

It’s not our own actions that we can’t sleep at night
“I know no national boundary where the Negro is concerned. The whole world is my province until Africa is free.”
And to me
The whole world is Jah province. Jah gave it to the whole world
FREE

Drop Dead Gore-Geous

One god, one aim, one destiny”
for every notion of his life.
Dr. Garvey was a hero
though he lived a life of strife.
Equality he achived
though streets ran not with blood
but with embrace
and equalitiy
for blacks and whites as one.
a prophet he is rendered,
by everyone he is remembered,
may Marcus Garvey rest in peace

Marcus Garvey

M is for
Marcus Garvey and his mass movement.
The largest,
organized
association
in black history
teaching
“Self-Improvement”.

A is for
African Redemption, black people’s liberation.
A fundamental
asset to the Universal
Negro Improvement Association.

R is for
“Racial Inferiority”, of which we were taught
To break free.
no longer being chained down
From Freedom, Justice
And Equality.

C , counts nine (9) countries
Which Marcus
was a citizen to all.
He triumphantly
lead a nation to rise

Vowing it not ever to fall

Uuniversity students
They read and study,
Governed by a system

Called “buddy-buddy”.
But through Jah,
we see clear,
Even though the water’s muddy.

S said and says
“Kowledge is power,”
Anywhere we go.
We should
not ever stop
Learning, so let it be.

G is for God’s Law
Through him
There is no limit.
“Do on to them,
As they
do onto You,
if the world,
So much, as to mimic

A “an Arbiter
of our own minds.”
Marcus calls us.
Appointed to judge
Our own destiny,
In this we
Should all trust.

R is for Revolutionary
a leader in his time.
Establishing
Successful businesses
Such as
Black Star Line.

V is for Vulnerable,
“So don’t be to the world.”
Look to your self
For Diamonds and Pearls.

E “everyday we have
And see changes.”
Marcus say.
So pray, work
Be steadfast
and be not dismayed.

Y is for yes,
Yes to self,
Yes to fair living.
Yes to Marcus Garvey,
And yes to the children.

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