Calls for reparations, Garveyism in schools at Liberty Hall’s 16th Annual Lecture

The Legacy of Marcus Garvey successfully hosted the 16th staging of the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Lecture on Sunday, August 17, bringing together audiences both in person and online. This year’s theme, ‘Beyond Apology: Reimagining Caribbean Identity through Garveyism and Reparatory Justice’, was delivered by cultural scholar Dr Sonjah N. Stanley Niaah, director of the Centre for Reparation Research at The University of the West Indies.

Delivering her first Garvey Lecture on Jamaican soil, Prof Stanley Niaah stressed the urgency of Garvey’s vision. She said it was important to celebrate occasions like this because “Jamaica is still in the making, still struggling with self-determination, economic advancement, and black pride in the wake of Garvey’s own sacrifices for our collective freedom”. She added that she accepted the invitation out of the “high degree of respect and honour” she places on Jamaica’s first national hero.

Representing Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, David Brown, director of culture and entertainment synergies, highlighted the Government’s active pursuit of reparatory justice. He explained that Minister Grange had presented Jamaica’s strategy to Cabinet, including a petition to King Charles III through the Privy Council for chattel enslavement to be recognised as a crime against humanity. Brown noted that “at the same time, the Government continues to make strides with internal reparations, including the allocation of land to the Rastafarian community in Albion, St James”.

Building on that message of continuity and growth, Oliver Fagan, chairman of Liberty Hall, described this year’s staging as the strongest to date. “This is easily the best of the lecture series so far,” he said, pointing to the full seats inside the Garvey Great Hall and the strong online presence. He added that Liberty Hall is committed to expanding its reach and getting more people engaged with Garvey’s philosophy and legacy. The lecture attracted nearly 80 attendees in the Garvey Great Hall and an impressive 1,911 viewers online, streamed live on PBCJ’s YouTube channel and Liberty Hall’s official channel, @Garveylh. For those who missed it, the full recording remains available on both platforms.

SIGNATURE EVENT

The event was also complemented by powerful cultural performances, which set the tone for reflection and celebration, adding depth to the day’s proceedings.

Michele Creed-Nelson, executive director of the Institute of Jamaica, reflected on the importance of the lecture series. She said, “True honour does not lie in tribute alone, but in transformation. It is with this in mind that Liberty Hall continues to diversify its offerings.” She added that the annual lecture ensures Garvey’s convictions are “mined for their use as guideposts along our nation’s journey,” supported by in-person and online resources, particularly the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Multimedia Museum, the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The lecture concluded with a lively discussion segment, where participants pressed for Garveyism to be formally taught in schools, emphasised the urgency of moving beyond symbolic apologies to achieve tangible reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans, and called for Garvey’s birthday to be recognised as a national holiday in honour of Jamaica’s first national hero.

Now in its 16th staging, the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Lecture has become a signature event for Liberty Hall, one that will continue for years to come as part of its mission to preserve and promote the philosophy of Jamaica’s first national hero, a release noted.