Marcus and Joan (excerpt)

....For almost 600 years, Joan of Arc's story has stood as a testament to the power of faith, hope, strength and courage. The historical accounts of her story are all well documented and most have been proven true. One thing that is still a mystery is whether her visions came from God or from her own desire to see her people live free. Regardless of her motivation, her willingness to sacrifice her life for the cause of liberty is undeniable.


Saint Jeanne d' Arc was a little girl who was not borne of wealth or nobility of title. In spite of her common origins, she possessed the courage to lead armies, the wisdom to convince Kings and the strength to resist an empire. In the most recent century, only one world figure even approaches the same level of ecclesiastical vision, humanistic optimism and inspired leadership as Jeanne d’Arc. That man is Marcus Mosiah Garvey.


Garvey launched the most ambitious and holistic program for liberation of an oppressed people that has ever been formulated in modern history. Words scarcely do justice to describe the boldness of his vision or his deep love for his people. Garvey's vision was built upon a forward thinking strategy of combining political organization, business formation, cultural unity and nation building in order to unify and liberate an oppressed people.


However despite of his accomplishments, Garvey is not regarded with the same universal renown as “the Maid of Orleans”. Jeanne d'Arc was eventually elevated to sainthood and is now worshipped by enemies and devotees alike. Conversely, Garvey’s legacy has been dragged through the mud by his enemies and has become the punch line to cruel jokes told by the very people he loved and sought to liberate....