“WOMEN IN THE GARVEY MOVEMENT”

Is a book, which seeks to highlights the contribution of women of Afrikan origin to the liberation battles to reclaim Afrikan sovereignty. The role played by brilliant women such as Madam de Mena, Henrietta Vinton Davis, Lillian Galloway, Amy Ashwood and Amy Jacques Garvey, in the Garvey Movement 1914-1927 is explored and we see the strength, courage and determination of these sisters.

Emphasis is given to the fact that although Afrikan women past and present have made major contributions to race development, their efforts have largely been ignored, this has been experienced by the current author in contemporary society, and serves to highlight the fact that “Women are their own liberators.”

Essays written by Amy Jacques Garvey for the “Women’s Page” of the “Negro World” newspaper, are reproduced in their original format to demonstrate what a powerful writer, organiser and leader Mrs. Garvey was. Her contribution to the Movement should be seen as outstanding and she is certainly one of my favourites amongst our ancestors.

My own person work consists of powerful poetry about women and their work and the essay “Female Oppression” discusses the way that sometimes women are a big part of their own problems, in that some collude and collaborate in their own and other women’s exploitation and oppression. It concludes with pointers about what women should demand from men, from other women and from society to secure equal rights and justice.

The general feedback about the book has been that there is something for everyone and that it is a valuable contribution to Afrikan history. If you would like to purchase a copy please email me.

Sister Nzingha Assata

31/03/08