Supporting Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) in his House Congressional Resolution recognizing the contributions of Marcus Garvey.

WHEREAS, On February 14, 2005, Congressman Charles B. Rangel introduced H.Con.Res. 57 which urges the United States to recognize the life and contributions of Marcus Garvey; and

WHEREAS, H.Con.Res. 57

recognizes Marcus Garvey as a national hero in his native Jamaica and a towering figure in nations around the world; and

WHEREAS, H.Con.Res. 57

recognizes that Marcus Garvey lead the largest African-American movement for human rights and economic self-sufficiency by attracting millions of followers throughout the world including the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Europe; and

WHEREAS, Marcus Garvey was born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, August 17, 1887. Garvey epitomized the strength and pride of the people of the Caribbean. Garvey was virtually self-taught, reading voraciously from his father’s extensive library. By 1910, then residing in Kingston, he quickly established himself as a spellbinding orator and political organizer; and

WHEREAS, Garvey’s philosophy and accomplishments challenged the myths of inferiority that demeaned people of African heritage in the 1920’s. When lynching of Black men was commonplace, when house burning by Southern Klansmen and Northern rioters were routine, when theories of white supremacy were acceptable and notions of equality subversive, Marcus Garvey preached racial pride and economic independence; and

WHEREAS, Garvey raised more than one million dollars from thousands of investors in the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe to establish the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and his well-known Black Star Line steamship company. The Black Star Line was established to purchase ships to initiate trade with and eventually carry New World Blacks to Africa; and

WHEREAS, Garvey’s success inevitably drew the suspicion of an ambitious J. Edgar Hoover, who ordered the surveillance and infiltration of Garvey’s UNIA. When evidence of subversion failed to turn up, Garvey was indicted on mail fraud; and

WHEREAS, In 1923, Garvey was convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to five years in prison. Soon after, he was deported back to Jamaica. His appeals to higher courts were promptly denied. Many believed that this case was politically motivated, inspiring millions of supporters to petition for his exoneration; and

WHEREAS, This Council acknowledges that in 1987, the centenary of Marcus Garvey’s birth, Congressman Rangel first introduced legislation to exonerate the great civil rights leader and should be commended for reintroducing such legislation at every session of congress; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we support Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) in his House Congressional Resolution recognizing the contributions of Marcus Garvey; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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