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GARVEY SPEAKS Issue #37 December 5th, 2005
THE RESURRECTION OF THE NEGRO
[This Easter] As we celebrate the resurrection of the risen Lord, may we not in all similarity proclaim the resurrection of the Negro- the man who sees life anew through the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Once we were dead, once we were crucified not upon the cross of Calvary, but upon the cross of gold. But we have risen! Our eyes are open, and we see things in a different light, we feel the power of the creator in us; we feel His presence leading us on, to higher and greater achievements. Let us look forward as Christ did to triumph and glory.
Christ indeed was not a Jew, but the embodiment of all humanity. Probably that is why the Jews rejected Him as King of the Jews, and the Saviour of all mankind. They said He was an imposter, and not a Jew. He had as much Negro in Him as Anglo-Saxon, as much European as Ethiopian to be the Son of God- the Father of all mankind, and the Redeemer of all humanity. We have as much right to the redeemership of Christ as any other race in the world. In fact, the Negro has much more claim at this time to Jesus than any other individual or race in the world. Because while originally He came to all mankind, it was not all mankind that accepted Him as their Saviour. They persecuted Him and crucified Him. Simon the Cyrenian helped Him to bear His heavy cross, and the Negro is still bearing the cross. So the Negro has more claim to the belssings and benediction of Jesus Christ than any other race, and that is why the Negro, and the Universal Negro Improvement Association believe that we will triumph because we have accepted this Leader as our Strength and Shield, as our Standard Bearer. Man is grateful, and when service is done to a brother, we regard him as an unkind being if he shows no gratitude... If man is grateful for gifts bestowed by a brother, how much more God must be. And what greater gift can man bestow on his brother than to take his cross and bear it up the heights. The friend who in the time of distress and need will voluntarily come to your rescue and help, is a friend indeed, one whom you should always remember. And how much more will God. When Europe and Asia placed upon the shoulders of Christ the burden He could not bear, when Europe and Asia placed upon His brow the crown of thorns- a crown of mockery and pain; when Europe and Asia trod Christ down to the dust; when He fainted because of their inhumanity, when He cried out, "Abba Father", when there was no sympathy on the part of Europe and Asia, it was a black African, in the person of Simon of Cyrene who came forward and bore the heavy cross up the heights of Calvary. think ye that Christ would go to His crucifixion without thinking of that friendly act? At a time when he neded help, when his disciples denied Him companionship, when Peter denied he knew Him, when all the apostles stood clear, when His own Mother stood at the edge of the crowd, it was Simon, a Black man who bore His heavy burden- the Cross, and who can tell if Simon did not cheer Him as they went along? Can such a Christ forget? Can God forget? And now that the Negro is bearing his own cross, seeing his crucifixion we cry out to the same Saviour- the Power Divine- to render unto us the help that we rendered to Him when He was sore in need. We believe He will help us, as by the prophecy He said- "Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto God, and Princes shall come out of Egypt". The day is near at hand. As so we celebrate the resurrection of the risen Christ- the resurrection that inspires us with new courage and new hope. I want you to realize that all is not lost. Much is gained through the teachings and life of Christ. If Christ is Christ, and He is Christ, you remain befriended today. You have an Advocate of Justice with the Father. And that is the reason why with all that has been done to the Universal Negro Improvement Association, with all the persecutions heaped upon it, and the villainy within and without, the organization has continued from year to year to carry the banner of Freedom for black men the world over, to gain converts, to harness workers to the great cause of "Africa for the Africans", and to preach the doctrine that Africa must be redeemed. It is a spiritual urge, it cannot die, it will work out to its accomplishment, because our faith is built on the faith that knows no defeat, no turning back. We gaze toward the goal, and steadily we move forward and upward toward our racial resurrection that will bring us new life. It is the will of God. Your obedient servant, Marcus Garvey Speech delivered at Eldelweiss Park, Jamaica on Easter Sunday, March 21, 1929. GARVEY SPEAKS Vol.3  
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