Professor Rupert Lewis (left) speaks about the journal '76 King Street' with Nicosia Shakes (centre), research officer with Liberty Hall and editor of the journal, and Dr Cecil Gutzmore at Liberty Hall, 76 King Street, Kingston, last Wednesday. - Photo by Mel Cooke

Liberty Hall took a major step last Wednesday, launching its first journal. And the name of the publication - all 10 articles, a book review and collation of recent publications being about Marcus Garvey - is the same as the place where it was presented to the public, 76 King Street.

Two of the persons who played key roles at the address do the same in the journal and were heavily involved in the launch. Donna McFarlane, director/curator of Liberty Hall, contributes The Making of Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey, while Nicosia Shakes, research officer at Liberty Hall, edited 76 King Street.

Future plans

Shakes, along with Professor Rupert Lewis who chairs The Friends of Liberty Hall (Marcus Garvey) Foundation Limited, participated in the discussion with Dr Cecil Gutzmore who anchored the launch formalities. Lewis pointed out that while the original intention had been to have the articles published in existing academic journals, "they told us that they could not do that within the next two years".

"We discussed it and decided that the negative response was the opportunity to do our own," he said.

Gutzmore noted that 76 King Street does not look like the typical academic journal, Shakes responding in part that "Garvey wanted everyone to be educated, not just formally but informally."

She credited Anika Lewinson-Morgan for her work on the cover and Pansy Benn for working out the journal's dimensions. "We chose this size because it is easy to read," Shakes said. "It is something you can curl up and read and enjoy. When it comes to Garvey, specifically for people who are not knowledgeable about him, we have to find creative and attractive ways to teach Marcus Garvey's philosophy."

Diversity of contributions

Lewis, who writes the introduction to the journal and also contributes the article Marcus Garvey's Global Vision, noted the diversity of contributions.

Also among the articles in 76 King Street are Digna Castafieda Fuertos Marcus Garvey's Work: An Expression of His Historical Time, Marcus Garvey and the UNIA in the Memory of the West Indian Residents in Cuba by Walterlo Lord Garnes, and David Gonzalez Lopez's Conspiracies Against Marcus Garvey.

Herbie Miller was invited from the audience to join the discussion, giving the background to and some insight into his article.