Harlem debuts ‘Garvey’ doc – world premiere next
Prof. Leonard Jeffries, Producer and director Allison and
Roy T. Anderson. Photo by Vinette K. Pryce
2020
Caribbean Life, AUG. 27-SEPT. 2, 2021 11
As if in response to a call to
action Marcus Mosiah Garvey
admonished to his followers
more than a century ago when
he said “(Look) Up You Mighty
Race…accomplish what you
will,” on the eve of the 134th
anniversary of his birthday, a
capacity crowd filled a Harlem
venue to view the biopic “African
Redemption: The Life and
Legacy of Marcus Garvey.”
They gathered inside the
Joseph P. Kennedy Center located
blocks away from Garvey’s
former residence in the village
Garvey toiled to empower
Blacks; inform the audacity
of white supremacy and unify
with Africa for the first public
screening of an anticipated
documentary. Invited by filmmaker
Roy T. Anderson and
Allison, his producer/partner/
wife, they asked compliance of
being checked at the door for an
87-minutes tour de force.
The select audience included
former Harlem Congressman
Charles Rangel, former CUNY
Professor Leonard Jeffries and
scores of guests willing to be
temperature checked, sanitized,
socially distanced and masked
throughout the screening.
Covid-19 precautions disallowed
a full capacity crowd
which would have included
scholars, intellectuals and beneficiaries
of Garveyism.
No one seemed deterred by
the entrance policy.
Determined from anticipation
of enlightenment of a
definitive document about perhaps
the very first Civil Rights
leader, a Black, newspaper publisher,
philosopher, Pan-African
advocate, father, husband,
immigrant, non-conformist
and revered “Negro Moses” they
arrived at dusk to witness the
early evening feature.
Spoiler alert — the film is
narrated by recurring Emmy
Award winning actor Keith
David.
From start to finish David’s
voice resonates with overarching
presence as if Garvey
himself approved the project.
When he tells the story about
Garvey’s journey from 1887 to
1940, even James Earl Jones
might yield to God calls.
How the actor managed to
relate the life history of a born
Jamaican who in only 52 years
was able to impact the lives of
millions of people throughout
the world by inspiring musicians,
motivating a Rastafarian
movement and instilled pride in
Blackness reeled the personification
of eloquence.
Elocution 101.
Perhaps it was Anderson’s
pen that must also be credited
with providing compelling,
simple, comprehensive, credible,
relatable, engaging, and
untold data about the trailblazing
Jamaican.
Born Aug. 17, 1887 Garvey
died June 10, 1940.
Retitled from “Marcus
Garvey: Untold Stories,” the
redemptive tale combines reenactments
that introduces
actor Paul Williams.
His haunting resemblance of
the Pan-African often provokes
a double-take to the projection.
Audiences seemed riveted to
the progression of facts they
already seemed versed and
except for occasional expressions
of malcontent to injustices
imposed by powers in the USA,
England and Jamaica, throughout
the screening prolonged
hushed periods prevailed.
Some reacted to interviews,
commentaries, re-enactments,
photographs, archival footage
and musical interludes.
Some seemed familiar
with vintage footage showcasing
members of Garvey’s
gem organization — Universal
Negro Improvement Association
– marching through
Harlem however, most engaging
were details of his private
life, arrest, deportation, and
redemption.
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