Educational Media Reviews Online

This film explores the impact of Marcus Garvey’s stay in Costa Rica. Garvey begins to travel to Central American countries in 1910, living in Port Limón, Costa Rica for several months and editing La Nación newspaper. Upon his arrival in Port Limón, he began working as a timekeeper with a banana empire - The United Fruit Company - allowing him to travel from farm to farm. Being a political and labor activist, he saw how blacks were treated and fought for their rights, founding the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Garvey envisioned a shipping line that could transport the black community between the Caribbean and Africa and in 1919 announced his plans to create a shipping company, the Black Star Line. Eventually he was able to buy a ship and in 1920 it left New York for Havana sinking on its return.

The Department of State, concerned about Garvey’s political movements, began persecuting him and with the help of the United Fruit Company followed his every step. Finally, the federal government accused him of selling stocks for an unknown shipping company and he was arrested on mail fraud charge. The Black Star Line then dissolves due to financial failure. From a jail in Atlanta, Garvey continued fundraising to create another shipping line.

The story is told by Port Limón’s aging black community and former members of UNIA most of them showing a clear and articulate memory. With archival photos and film footage, and excellent audio and visual techniques, this documentary chronicles the poignant impact of Garvey’s project in this black community.

Highly recommended as an educational tool for discussion and study of the African Diaspora in the Americas.