Amy Ashwood Garvey's Story Told at Liberty Hall

Summary

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[Tony Martin], in his address, gave a synopsis of [Amy Ashwood Garvey] and [Marcus Garvey]'s relationship, starting with their meeting at a debate in 1914, through to a separation in 1915 and reunion in Harlem, New York, in 1918. However, on their first honeymoon stop in Toronto, Canada, customs officers discovered a bottle of whiskey in her luggage. This was during the days of Prohibition and Marcus Garvey described it as the "most embarrassing day of his life".

"I remember clearly what you said to me on that occasion, "Amy, I will marry you even if the baby is not mine"," Martin quoted.

"She was a woman of great substance nevertheless. She was a significant Pan-Africanist in her own right," Martin said, noting her role in the formation of what became the West African Students Union (WASU) and the who's who of Pan-Africanists who were around or influenced by her, including CLR James and James Padmore. He also pointed out that, although not publishing any of her manuscripts, she was a "serious academic" as well as a pioneer politician in Jamaica, starting the JAG Smith Political Party ahead of the historic 1944 general election.

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Amy Ashwood Garvey's Story Told at Liberty Hall

THE LAST part of the long title of Professor Tony Martin's latest book around Marcus Garvey's life, was underscored on Tuesday evening, May 8, by a mural near the lectern used ...

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