Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15, 2022

Dr Martin Luther King Jr. visited Jamaica in June of 1965 to deliver the sermon at the University of the West Indies valedictory service. His speech was entitled “Facing the challenge of a new age”. Inspired by Marcus Mosiah Garvey, King talked about the need for a worldwide brotherhood and the need to fight injustice with love while striving to be the best we can in life. After the reception, King visited the grave of National Hero Marcus Garvey to lay wreath on his grave. This was out of respect due to the fact that King echoed how Garvey gave Negroes a sense of dignity and pride in being somebody. King loved Jamaica because he saw the freedom he was fighting for in America throughout the Island; Jamaica was a politically independent country and majority black. He was extremely comfortable in Jamaica that he returned in 1967 to complete his book “Where do we go from here”. King applauded Jamaicans because they inspired his vision for black people at a pivotal point in the civil rights movement. The same sentiment can be portrayed in terms of King’s influence on reggae music. Most cultural artists have paid tribute to Martin Luther King in some form or another. Max Romeo “Reconstruction” album featured a single dedicated to the late civil rights leader.  Calypso giants Mighty Sparrow and Black Stalin also did justice with their rendition of acknowledgements to the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Many have done tributes via various platforms and stage shows. The world and music industry are truly blessed to have had a warrior fighting for justice so we can have freedom of speech and equal rights on all levels. King’s dream is now a reality and will inspire all of us for years to come.