A joyful moment at Liberty Hall

It was a joyful moment at Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey, during Black History Month. The poem The Black African Bloom – Tribute to the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, was presented to Liberty Hall by Errol Bean.

Participating in the presentation were Dalea Bean, historian and gender specialist; Carey Brown, acting director; and Constance Dunkley, administrator-programmes coordinator who both expressed appreciation for the addition to the museum.

Branded in the colours of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), the framed poem bears the artistic representation of Marcus Garvey by Patrick Kitson.

The Black Flower, conceptualised by Bean and painted by Raymond Jackson, further embellishes artistic design by graphic artist Anya Gloudon.

An audio poem was also contributed to the museum.

Errol Bean is author of an anthology of poems and reflections, A Flower Blooms (1998) and Cynthia Schloss: An Inspiration of Love & Friendship (2001).

Bean has released a number of recordings, including the album Beyond The Rhythm (2004) and several singles, including I Man Is A Black Man, The Black African Bloom, and Leave The Children Alone.

THE BLACK AFRICAN BLOOM

To the Rt Excellent, Marcus Mosiah Garvey

Sung:

We need a black flower; a lovely black flower.

Send a black flower; strong African flower.

In a green house, in the garden or in the pot,

Cultured or wild, foliage green, flowers colourful –

– purple and shades;

– yellow and shades;

– blue and shades;

– pink and shades

– red and shades, and even white!

But where is the black flower growing naturally?

Is the sun too hot for black or its shadow sin,

evil and death?

We need a Black Flower to remind us of our African roots:

to remind us of ANGOLA, CONGO, NIGERIA, IVORY COAST,

SIERRA LEONE, GHANA, GAMBIA, and SENEGAL!

We need a Black Flower to remind us of the slave ships:

HANNIBAL, AMISTAD, the ZONG and the GEORGE!

We need a Black Flower

To depict the coffles and the chains;

the resistance, the struggle for freedom in the Americas

and the West Indies.

We need a Black Flower

To sing the songs of redemption;

To sound the Abeng of the Black Princess –

Nanny of the Maroons;

To beat the drum of the of the Black Hero –

Marcus Garvey!

We need a Black Flower (like scarlet poppy)

To rise from – the grave of our History;

– the grave of our Pride;

– the grave of our Power;

– the grave of our Culture;

– the grave of our Confidence;

– the grave of our Dignity!

We need a Black Flower

to speak of Black courage and Black power;

We need a Black Flower

to create positive images of black beauty.

We need a Black Flower

to erase distortions of the black skin and stop bleaching.

We need a Black Flower

to dispel negative associations of blackness.

Yes, let the Black Flower remove

the stain of brainwashed concepts of self.

O Almighty JAH!

Send us a Black Flower with

Beautiful Black Petals,

Bright Red Sepals;

Let it sit on a Strong Green Stalk.

Let the Black Flower

Disturb the prejudices, the hate and the rejection.

Let the Black Flower call for Reparation & Repatriation

As well as the exoneration of Marcus Garvey.

Let the Black Flower – “THE BLACK AFRICAN BLOOM”:

Proclaim Freedom, Freedom, Freedom

Let the Black Flower bloom,

If only in my dream, my dream, my dream!

Sung

We need a black flower; a lovely black flower.

Send a black flower; strong African flower.