Queen Sis. Amy Jacques Garvey

[nattyreb]

Giving Honor and Respect!
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via: Strong Bro. Mwariama
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Greetings Fellow Garveyites:

On behalf of the Amy Jacques Garvey Institute, I'd like to pay
tribute Honorable First Lady Amy Euphemia Jacques Garvey, who died
July 25, 1973 after serving her God, her family and her race
faithfully for over 50 years. As we acknowledge her transition from
labor to her reward, we ask that everyone honor her legacy by
continuing the work she readily sacrificed her life to complete.
Mrs. Garvey's contribution to the *Negro World*, *The Philosophy and
Opinions of Marcus Garvey Volumes I - III*, *Memorandum Correlative
of Africa, West Indies and the Americas*, African Study Circle of
the World, 5th Pan African Congress, *Garvey & Garveyism*, *Black
Power In America* and many other works, while raising two children
alone warrants our most solemn gratitude and inestimable appreciation.

We encourage all others to share in the celebration of her life by
reflecting upon her words, works and deeds. Recite *This Flag of
Mine*, the UNIA-ACL's Official Ode to the Red, Black and Green Flag,
penned by Mrs. Garvey. Fast during the day and break fast with the
family at night while rededicating your commitment to practicing the
principles of Universal Afrikan Nationalism.

I've included a brief bio on Mrs. Garvey, the Ode To The Flag and
the opening page of her Memorandum Correlative of Africa, West
Indies and the Americas.
Enjoy
Racially,
*Mwariama Dhoruba Kamau,*
*Deputy Chancellor,*
*Amy Jacques Garvey Institute*
*(202) 256 - 6380*
*“As a stream can rise no higher than its source, a nation can rise
no higher than its women."*
**
*Anna Julia Cooper*
__________________________________________________ __________
Amy Jacques Garvey
(December 31, 1896 - July 25,1973)

Amy Jacques Garvey, wife of Marcus Garvey
, did not derive her
legitimacy from the status of her husband. She was a leading
Pan-Africanist and Black Nationalist in her own right. Standing by
her man through thick and thin, always advancing the cause of black
liberation, she played influential roles in the movement as
journalist, feminist and race activist.

Born in Jamaica, she moved to the USA in 1917 where she encountered
the charismatic Marcus Garvey, who was the driving force for the
movement instilling race pride and seeking race redemption for
people of African descent. The United Negro Improvement Association
(UNIA) galvanized and energized Black people from Harlem, USA, to
Capetown, South Africa. At this time, Marcus Garvey was in his
glory. And after 1922, when he married Amy Jacques, they both
personified the movement.

In 1919, she became the Secretary General of the UNIA, a post she
held for over half a century proselytizing and propagating Garvey's
philosophy of black consciousness, self-help and economic
independence. From 1924 to 1927, she was the associate editor of the
UNIA's newspaper, /The Negro World/, where she advanced her
feminist/nationalist ideas with the inauguration of a new page
entitled "Our Women and What They Think."

Like Yaa Asantewaa
, she chided the
men to assert their manhood or else the women would have to pick up
the struggle. She warned that " ... Negroes everywhere must be
independent, God being our guide. Mr. Black man, watch your step!
Ethiopia's queens will reign again, and her Amazons protect her
shores and people. Strengthen your shaking knees, and move forward,
or we will displace you and lead on to victory and glory."

While her husband was in prison on charges of mail fraud in
connection with Black Star Line (his shipping line), she acted as
his personal representative, rallying to his defense, making
speeches to the branches of the UNIA and lobbying for his release.
In order to raise funds for his defense, she published two volumes
of /Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey/, a collection of his
speeches and writings..

After his release from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, he was
taken to New Orleans and deported from the USA, never to return. She
returned to Jamaica with him and they subsequently toured England,
France and Germany, all the while continuing her writing as
contributing editor of /The Negro World/. When Garvey moved to
England, she remained in Jamaica with their one-year -old and
four-year-old sons.

After Garvey's death in 1940, she continued the struggle for Black
Nationalism, becoming contributing editor to /The African/, a
journal published in Harlem in the 1940s, and founding the African
Study Circle of the World in Jamaica toward the end of the decade.
In 1944, she wrote her outstanding piece, "A Memorandum Correlative
of Africa, West Indies and the Americas", which she sent to
representatives of the UN pressing them to adopt an African Freedom
Charter. In 1963, she published her own book, /Garvey and
Garveyism/, and later published two collections of essays, /Black
Power in America/ and /The Impact of Garvey in Africa and Jamaica/.

On July 25, 1973, Amy Jacques Garvey died as she lived, active in
the struggle for black empowerment and liberation.
Amy Jacques Garvey


*/THIS FLAG OF MINE
/by *

*Amy Jacques Garvey
/
Regardless of what is told of it,
Here's to this flag of mine
The Red, Black and Green
Hopes in its future bright
Africa has seen.
Here's to the Red of it,
Great nations shall know of it
In time to come.
Red blood shall flow of it,
Historians shall write of it,
Great flag of mine.
Here's to the Black of it
Four hundred millions back of it,
Whose destiny depends on it
The RED, BLACK and GREEN of it,
Oh, Flag of Mine.
Here's to the Green of it
Young men shall dream of it,
Face shot and shells of it
Waving so high.
Here's to the whole of it
Colors wrought and pole of it
Pleased is my soul with it
Regardless of what is told of it,
Thanks God for giving it
Great Flag of Mine./*

__________________________________________________ ____

* One God:* Who reigns supreme.*
**One Aim:* To contend for the freedom and equality of every member
of our race with our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.*
One Destiny:* Freedom or Death.