Buju and the Garvey comparison
Afeeble attempt was made last week by one speaker to compare the incarceration of reggae artiste Buju Banton with that of National Hero Marcus Garvey, citing the same (US) “justice system” that tried both and the same state - Georgia that housed the two.
At all times we must be very careful of the comments that we make and the sentiments that we express.
Naturally, at an event launch to announce plans for a concert that would feature Buju Banton, there will be a lot of ‘positive’ talk in support of the artiste, a man I admire to the bone.
Buju was busted in a cocaine manoeuvre that did not go according to his script. He knew what he was doing. He was subsequently convicted and served time as a guest of the United States correctional authorities. The move on his part was an error in judgement, some people would call it a mistake, and we all (apart from Donald Trump) err at times in our lives. He is back home now, and has been enjoying national hero-like support, which is debatable in terms of what that says of our society.
Garvey was convicted in the United States of mail fraud in June 1923, when clearly, the evidence was not in support of the criminal activity that he was accused of, and it was laced with potions of political bias and vindictiveness. Indeed, if Garvey, who represented himself at his trial, had faced the court today, he would have walked away a free man.
Buju is no Garvey. My sympathy is with the artiste, and it is hoped that he will rebound and be a positive influence on our people. But no attempt should ever be made to compare him, nor his conduct with Garvey, whose impact on mankind is almost incomparable.
When one walks through the entrance to the University of Cape Town in South Africa and sees Garvey’s portrait alongside those of Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko and Malcolm X, then you know that Jamaica’s first national hero is large.