The Marcus Garvey Club continues toward making a difference. The club enlightened inductees on its history and mission Thursday.
Marcus Garvey was a political leader and respected journalist who went on to found the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League.
The club emphasizes Garvey’s beliefs and spreads his words throughout the African American community. The executive board members expressed the importance of having a club like this at a historically black college.
“It’s very disheartening to see that we’re a historically black institution, yet there’s very little black and African culture on campus,” said Kenya Strickland, senior psychology student from Orlando, Fla., and president of the Marcus Garvey Club. “I feel like the Marcus Garvey Club is here to serve that purpose.”
Strickland’s African American Studies course made her want to learn more about her ancestry and cultural history. The class opened her eyes to the injustice that the black community endure.
The club has a five point platform of objectives based on Garvey’s beliefs. One of the clubs objectives is to promote political and economic consciousness, independence and strength for people of African descent in America and abroad.
Bryan White, a senior economics student from Philadelphia, Pa., spoke passionately about fiscal responsibility among African Americans.
“As black people we don’t handle money well…My whole motive is to make us wealthy,” White said.
The Marcus Garvey Club plans to host events such as movie night’s, discussions and guest speakers. Last semester the Marcus Garvey Club was able to bring out co-founder of the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale.
Andrew Mitchell, senior broadcast journalism student from Jacksonville, Fla., and secretary of the Marcus Garvey Club, felt witnessing Bobby Seale speak was as viewing one of the last real activist. An activist he felt has kept it “consistent.”
“It’s for one thing to talk about it, but he does it,” Mitchell said. “He really embodies what he’s trying to do.”
The club shared their concerns about the current police brutality to the black community, and the historical aspect that plays a part. Strickland specifically conveyed how this brutality is history repeating itself and how upsetting it is to see black people being gunned down.
“America has always worked against us. Not for us…We need to be vocal and loud but in a manner that is productive,” Strickland said.
The Marcus Garvey club continues to be a positive force in maintaining Garvey’s beliefs and to educate the African American community through the use of films, readings and discussions.
The Marcus Garvey club meets weekly in BL Perry at 7:30 p.m.