Bermudians can derive substantial benefit from the study of the life and writings of Marcus Garvey, a visiting academic has said.

And while Garvey's movement spawned a mass following in the United States, Europe and his native Jamaica during the 1920s, there is still tremendous merit in his ideas today.

Dr. Tony Martin, tenured professor since 1975 and the chair of Black Studies at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, shared these ideas in an interview with The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"It is very inspiring when one considers that Marcus Garvey faced incredible odds from the Government of the United States and Europe yet he built a movement,'' he said.

"He built a movement that included the non academic as well as the intellectual and I want people to get a sense of the importance of his life.'' Dr. Martin is on the Island as a guest of the Writer's Machine publishing company. He will deliver the second of two lectures tonight at 8 p.m. at St.

Paul Centennial Hall.

Currently, Dr. Martin, who has written and edited 11 books on Garvey, is conducting research on the biographies of three Caribbean women -- Amy Ashwood Garvey, Audrey Jeffers and Trinidad's Kathleen Davis.

Dr. Martin said that Black History is a politically-charged subject and has been that way for a long time. "Those who have oppressed us have tried to take it over and interpret it from their perspective,'' he explained. "In the end they use it to try to justify slavery and their oppression of our community.'' A good and recent example of this, he said, is the movie "Amistad''. "The subtle message of that film is that black people enslaved themselves and whites were minor players in the slave trade.

"When people watch that film they need to see and catch that negative message.'' He added: "That is why Black History is absolutely important. We must get our own record straight. To say that we were responsible for our own enslavement is a horrible thing to say.'' Nonetheless, he pointed out that it was important to study the lives of persons like Marcus Garvey whose work has produced positive effects for Blacks throughout the Diaspora.

Dr. Martin said that the basis of Garvey's belief was a strong focus on nation building, political self determination, self reliance and a love of black people.

"One of his ideas was race first,'' Dr. Martin said. "He believed that we should look after our own self interest first and appreciate our own God, literature and culture.'' Moreover, Dr. Martin said that he wanted his audience to appreciate the "absolute singleness of purpose'' of Garvey who endured tremendous hostility as he went about his work.

"But he never gave up hope,'' he added. "His entire life is just an amazing story of dedication.'' TONY MARTIN -- "An amazing story of dedication.''