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Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Mosiah Garvey

“We meet in Liberty Hall, not as cringing sycophants, but as men and women standing erect and demanding our rights from all quarters.” - Garvey, 1920.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, born in St. Ann, Jamaica in 1887 led a life-long crusade against the global oppression of Black people. Liberty Hall is a monument to this leading Pan-Africanist, recognized as one of the most influential persons in history and Jamaica’s First National Hero.

In 1914, Garvey formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) aiming for the self-determination of Africa and people of African descent against colonialism and racial segregation. The UNIA was the largest Black organization in history, with millions of members and over one thousand divisions across the world.

UNIA divisions were required to have Liberty Halls; so in 1923, the Kingston Division established its Liberty Hall at 76 King Street. Liberty Hall, Kingston hosted UNIA meetings and spectacular cultural and intellectual programmes. It also operated several small businesses which catered to the needs of the Jamaican masses.

Liberty Hall remained a central institution in Kingston even after it passed from the UNIA’s hands. For decades it was a major entertainment and sports centre, providing an outlet for budding musicians and hosting many Caribbean pugilists.

In 1987, Garvey’s centenary, the property was bought by the Jamaican Government and restored by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture through the Institute of Jamaica, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust and the Friends of Liberty Hall. It re-opened on National Heroes Day, October 20, 2003 as Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey, a cultural and educational institution.

The primary mission of Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey is:

to inform the public about the work of Jamaica’s First National Hero, and to use his philosophy and opinions to inspire, excite and positively affect the self-identity of Jamaican people, while creating social and economic wealth.

Liberty Hall operates four departments:

The Marcus Mosiah Garvey Multimedia Museum is the world’s first museum dedicated to Marcus Garvey and the first fully multimedia museum in the Caribbean. Through the technology of touch-screens, at the touch of a finger, visitors of all ages are treated to an enriching interactive experience highlighting Garvey’s life and work through the exhibition: Marcus Garvey: The Movement and the Philosophy. In addition, films and multimedia slides on Garvey, Africa and Black self-identity are shown in two locations in the museum. The MMGM gift shop offers an exciting array of books, CDs, films, souvenirs and paintings produced by famous Jamaican artists.

Entrance fees: Adults $300.00, College students with ID: $100.00, children: $50.00 Opening hours: Mon. to Fri. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Special weekend openings periodically

Garvey Research/Reference Library

The Garvey Research/Reference Library is a specialized library housing books, pamphlets and audio-visual materials relating to Marcus Garvey, the Garvey Movement, Pan-Africanism and the history and culture of Africa and the African Diaspora. It has the largest, most up to date collection on Garvey in Jamaica. The library also features a children’s collection on the same themes.




 

Educational Outreach Programmes

Liberty Hall’s Educational Outreach Programmes are directly influenced by Garvey’s belief that “Education is the medium by which we are prepared for the advancement of our own particular civilization.” They cater to children between the ages of 7 and 17 from the surrounding inner-city communities. The After-School Programme is conducted during the school terms on Mondays to Fridays. It consists of computer, drama, art, literacy, Capoeira, library skills and social studies classes; as well as motivational sessions, and a homework assistance programme. The Summer Art Programme exposes the children to various visual and performing art techniques --from painting, drawing and ceramics, to drama and dance. Garvey’s philosophies are creatively incorporated into both programmes.

Garvey Multimedia Computer Centre

The Garvey Multimedia Computer Centre provides computer access to the public at a nominal fee. Through the Adult Computer Literacy Programme, students learn basic computer skills aimed at improving their marketability for employment. Classes are also provided for children enrolled in the After School Programme.

In addition to operating these four departments, Liberty Hall organizes free cultural and intellectual events, including our public “groundings” series and annual symposium, SANKOFA. Most of our events take place in The Garvey Great Hall, an open-air multifunctional facility that offers a panoramic view of Downtown Kingston.

In 2009 we launched the first issue of our annual journal called 76 King Street. It is dedicated to the “study of the life, work and philosophy of Marcus Garvey, and the history, culture and current affairs of Africa and the African Diaspora.”