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Marcus Garvey helped shape the expectation of African redemption, but the historical record does not show that he endorsed Haile Selassie as God, Messiah, or the specific king foretold in the famous prophecy attributed to him. Two major African Diaspora figures whose legacies became connected through Rastafari interpretation. Few statements are more closely associated with the origins of Rastafari than the famous instruction attributed to Marcus Garvey: “Look to Africa, when a Black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is near.” In the popular telling, Garvey delivered the prophecy, Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, and the prediction was fulfilled. That narrative carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning within Rastafari. Historically, however, the relationship between Garvey, Selassie, and the prophecy is more complicated. Garvey did not publicly declare Haile Selassie to be God, the returned...

In the annals of history, Marcus Garvey is celebrated by many as a revolutionary figure who stood tall for the upliftment of the so-called Negro. But not everyone saw him as a hero during his time. W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the leading intellectuals of the 20th century, famously referred to Garvey as “the most dangerous enemy of the Negro race.” Harsh words, especially coming from someone who shared the stage of Black activism. Today, we’re peeling back the layers of that statement and re-examining Garvey’s legacy as a liberator, alongside his contemporary, Noble Drew Ali, another misunderstood prophet of Black empowerment. Garvey’s Mission to Uplift Fallen Humanity Garvey’s life’s work was about restoring pride and dignity to the so-called Negro. Through the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), he preached self-reliance, economic independence, and a spiritual awakening among people of African descent. His slogan, "Africa for the Africans," resonated deeply, inspirin...