Dr Julius Garvey spoke about a “Better World” at SUNY Old Westbury. Credit: MIC
Dr. Julius Garvey delivered a keynote address “Look for Me in the Whirlwind: Reparations, Restorative Justice & the Continuing Legacy of Marcus Garvey” in front of a packed house in the New Academic Building on February 6. This first big event of Black History month at Old Westbury was sponsored by the Black Studies Center.
Following in the footsteps of his father Marcus Garvey, Dr. Julius Garvey is an activist and speaking out against injustice for people of color. He is also an “acclaimed Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon and Professor of Surgery.”
Dr. Julius Garvey’s speech “A Better World,” touched on topics that not only affect people of color, but all people. He spoke about the abuse of people and resources, war and weapons technology, corporate globalization, and the mental health crisis.
Dr. Garvey’s message was that all people must come together to fix the problems of the world. There must be accountability to promote change and knowledge to fix change systematically. He argued that we must address the problems holding us back in order to move forward. Dr. Garvey ended his speech saying, “Repairing us as a people, will repair the world.”
After his address, Dr. Garvey was asked, “How do we get financial literacy and wealth back into our communities?” He responded that, “it is up to us” and that “we cannot expect anyone to help us.” Garvey said that “it is the responsibility of the organizations in our community,” and that “it should begin at home, these things should be taught around the dinner table.” He concluded that, “if we unify and understand, whatever advance we make is not the advancement of an individual, it is the advancement of our community.”
Another questioner asked Dr.Garvey about the “hopes” for reparations for Black people or at least some “acknowledgement” from the government. Reparations are “alive and well,” said Garvey, responding that “the reparations agenda is getting stronger and stronger.” He added that, “we are talking reparations internationally, there is progress.”
Dr. Garvey prefers the term “restorative justice” to “reparations.” He asked, “what dollar amount can we put on the treatment of our ancestors, who were enslaved?” Garvey cautioned that “it’s more than money, it has to be a systematic change, so that Black communities and lives can thrive.” For Garvey, “reparations are meaningless, without financial literacy.”
After the seminar, I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Garvey, “What can our generation do to improve our ideals and mindsets, to positively further our community?”
Dr. Garvey responded that it’s “about being educated, it’s about the content.” “Sound bites” are not enough. “To influence the system, you must be able to deconstruct the system, understand the system, and critically think in order to pull it apart to implement change.”
The director of the Black Studies Center, Dr. Jermaine Archer stated that it is an honor that Dr. Garvey came to Suny Old Westbury to speak to the students. “I’m so happy with the turnout,” said Archer. “The goal of the seminar was to get students to think critically and have an opportunity to engage with someone with the family legacy that he has and get them inspired by that.”
[Embed MIC Interview with Garvey Here: https://youtu.be/GIuhXjEKIxk?si=0ZB6qVnuEvLQHon1 Caption: “Watch OWTV reporter Amira Francois interview Dr. Julius Garvey.” Credit: MIC ]
The Black Studies Center is also sponsoring an exhibit of Malosa Basquiat’s art in the Art Lab in Woodlands Hall 1 for Black History Month.
