Jamerican Canadian patriot gifts ‘Garvey’ for Heroes Day TV
Filmmaker Roy T. Anderson; Co-Producer R. Alison Gail and
actor Keith David.
Caribbean Life, OCTOBER 15-21, 2021 13
Thanks to a gracious gesture
made by New Jersey-based
film director Roy T. Anderson,
Jamaican nationals on the
Caribbean island will have
an enlightening Heroes’ Day
experience during the Oct. 18
mandated COVID-19 weekend
lockdown.
With courtesy of the multitalented
actor, stunt coordinator
and documentarian he has
offered his “African Redemption:
The Life and Legacy of
Marcus Garvey” — for a free
national showcase to citizens
on the island with hopes its
screening might ease confinement
and no-movement restrictions
on the most culturally
honored holiday on the island.
Anderson, a native of Jamaica
gifted a one-time broadcast to
the island’s Television Jamaica
(TVJ) for airing in two consecutive
parts slated to conclude
on Heroes’ Day, a replacement
holiday of Queen Elizabeth II’s
birthday which was adopted in
1969 to honor to seven local
heroes.
Commemorated annually on
the third Monday in October,
the heritage acknowledgement
marks tributes, to outstanding
firemen, policemen, nurses,
teachers, intellectuals, creative
artistes and other essential
workers whose efforts in executing
their jobs proved dutiful
beyond distinction.
Given the day’s association
with heritage and culture,
Anderson decided the gift an
ideal treat to families particularly
those who might not be
aware of the trials and tribulations
their first national hero
encountered while living in foreign
countries.
“It’s my gift to Jamaica.”
Anderson, a proud national
said.
Born on the island, celebrated
stuntman and filmmaker
is also accredited by his acting
and directing roles in two
award winning historic documents
— Akwantu, (biopic
on the Maroons, indigenous
Jamaicans who overran British
soldiers) and “Queen Nanny:
Legendary Maroon Chieftainess”
(Jamaica’s only female
national heroine).
Both films won national
acclaim premiering at the United
Nations and the Schomburg
Library in Harlem.
Anderson said his decision to
gift the 85-minute, feature sidesteps
plans for a global release
slated for next year when precautions
against the coronavirus
will have subsided.
According to a press release
from his Action 4 Reel Filmworks,
the documentary chronicles
Garvey’s journey to becoming
the island’s first national
hero, one of the world’s leading
civil rights leaders and the first
foremost Pan-Africanist.
Historically regarded for
spearheading the Universal
Negro Improvement Association
(UNIA), Marcus Mosiah
Garvey dedicated his life to the
mission of redeeming Africa
and Africans throughout the
world.
At the height of the Harlem
Renaissance (1918 – 1930s)
Garvey’s Harlem-based UNIA
recorded membership in 1,000
branches spanning 40 countries.
It is well documented that
membership exceeded six million
loyalists.
‘Filmed in Jamaica, Ghana,
Canada, USA, UK, and Central
America, the docu-drama
blends live action sequences
and stunning still photographs
with no-holds barred interviews
and conversations with worldrenowned
leaders, scholars, and
personalities.’
All of the testimonials in the
film attests to the influence
of Garvey’s influence on each
individual’s activism/profession.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce