Jamaicans and many other people of colour are still learning about Marcus Garvey and his life in Jamaica.
As we move forward with the Marcus Garvey in Schools Project MGIS, let me share a story with you.
Where did Marcus Garvey Die?
Major Effiom Whyte, author of “Eyes on the Prize” and Initiator of MGIS shared a story with me. It happened when a teacher asked him to clear up the confusion around where Marcus Garvey died. Major Whyte said:
“This morning, I contacted our Professor Rupert Lewis with respect to a teacher’s request to confirm if Rt. Hon. Marcus Garvey was interred in England in 1940 because of WWII, which started in 1939.
Prof. Lewis advised that ‘there was no international travel during the War years’.
‘When the War ended in 1945, there would have frightening adverse economic conditions that would have prevented thoughts of bringing MG’s body home becoming a reality”.
Was he to be buried in London?
Major Whyte continued:
“Professor Lewis pointed out that there were other factors to consider. Marcus Garvey was internationally respected by Black leaders the world over. One important country was Ghana in West Africa.
Ghana 
gained independence in 1957. President Kwame Nkrumah always spoke glowingly of being inspired by Garvey and his philosophies and opinions. To the extent that he desired to have the body of Marcus Garvey exhumed and reburied in Ghana.
However, the late PM, Sir Alexander Bustamante instructed that all means necessary be used to have Garvey’s body returned to Jamaica in 1964, reinterred and named our First National Hero’.”
As the saying goes “For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country” (John 4:44).
We are happy that Marcus Garvey was finally brought home. May his soul continue to rest in eternal peace and light perpetual shine upon him 