2.4 The Seven National Heroes of Jamaica

2.4 The Seven National Heroes of Jamaica

The Order of National Hero

The Order of National Hero is the highest honor in the Jamaican honors system. Established by the National Honors and Awards Act of 1969, this honor is reserved for Jamaican citizens who have rendered services of the most distinguished nature to the nation.

Recipients are officially styled as "The Right Excellent" and are honored with life-sized monuments in the National Heroes Park in Kingston. To date, seven individuals have been bestowed with this title for their pivotal roles in the fight against slavery, colonial oppression, and the establishment of independent Jamaica.

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1. Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887–1940)

Born in St. Ann’s Bay, Marcus Garvey was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who became one of the most influential black leaders of the 20th century. In 1914, he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Kingston, which grew into a massive global movement advocating for Black Nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and the repatriation of African descendants to their ancestral homeland (the "Back to Africa" movement).

Garvey established the Black Star Line, a shipping company owned and operated by black people to facilitate trade and travel among the African diaspora. He also published the widely circulated newspaper The Negro World. Garvey's teachings focused on racial pride, economic self-reliance, and education. His famous quote, "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds," was later popularized by reggae icon Bob Marley in his "Redemption Song." He was declared Jamaica's first National Hero in 1969.

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2. Paul Bogle (c. 1822–1865)

Paul Bogle was a native Baptist deacon and small landowner from Stony Gut in the parish of St. Thomas. He was a vocal advocate for social justice, fair wages, and access to land for the newly emancipated black population. Bogle recognized that the local court system, dominated by white landowners, was deeply corrupt and disenfranchised the black peasantry.

In October 1865, Bogle led the Morant Bay Rebellion to protest these injustices. After a peaceful march to Spanish Town was ignored, Bogle led his followers to the Morant Bay Courthouse. The subsequent clash with the militia resulted in the burning of the courthouse and the collapse of the local colonial government structure. Bogle was captured by Maroon forces allied with the British, tried under martial law, and executed by hanging on October 24, 1865. His bravery paved the way for administrative reforms that protected the peasantry.

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3. George William Gordon (1820–1865)

George William Gordon was a self-educated businessman, landowner, and politician. The son of a white planter and an enslaved black woman, Gordon used his wealth and position as an elected member of the House of Assembly to campaign for the rights of the poor black peasantry. He was a close friend of Paul Bogle and helped him establish a native Baptist chapel in Stony Gut.

Gordon was a fierce political opponent of Governor Edward Eyre, accusing him of mismanaging the colony and oppressing the working class. Following the outbreak of the Morant Bay Rebellion, Governor Eyre blamed Gordon for inciting the violence. Although Gordon was in Kingston—which was not under martial law—Eyre had him arrested and transferred to Morant Bay. Gordon was subjected to a hasty military trial and hanged on October 23, 1865, just one day before Bogle.

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4. Samuel Sharpe (1801–1832)

Samuel Sharpe was an enslaved Baptist deacon who lived in the western parish of St. James. He was literate and highly respected by both fellow slaves and missionaries, which allowed him to travel between estates to preach. Sharpe used his meetings to educate others about their natural rights and the growing abolitionist movement in Britain.

Sharpe was the primary organizer of the 1831 Christmas Rebellion (the Baptist War). His strategy was to lead a peaceful strike, refusing to work after the Christmas holidays unless wages were paid. When the strike turned into an armed conflict, Sharpe continued to lead the rebellion. Following the suppression of the revolt, Sharpe was captured and sentenced to death. He was executed in Montego Bay on April 23, 1832. Sharpe's famous statement, "I would rather die on yonder gallows than live in slavery," remains a symbol of Jamaican resistance. He was declared a National Hero in 1975.

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5. Nanny of the Maroons (c. 1686–c. 1755)

Nanny of the Maroons is Jamaica’s only female National Hero. She was an outstanding military leader and chieftainess of the Windward Maroons during the First Maroon War. Based in the Blue Mountains at Nanny Town (now Moore Town), Nanny was a master of guerrilla warfare.

Nanny was known for her brilliant military tactics, which included:

• Camouflage: Having her warriors cover themselves with branches and leaves to blend into the forest, allowing them to ambush British troops.
• Strategic Retreats: Luring British soldiers deep into the mountain passes where they could be easily surrounded.
• The Abeng: Utilizing the cow horn instrument to send coded messages across long distances.

In addition to her military skills, Nanny was a spiritual leader (Obeah woman) who held the community together and kept their African traditions alive. She successfully negotiated land grants for her people, securing their independence. She was declared a National Hero in 1975.

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6. Norman Washington Manley (1893–1969)

Norman Manley was a brilliant lawyer, Rhodes Scholar, and decorated World War I veteran who became one of the primary architects of modern Jamaica. In 1938, following the labor riots, Manley founded the People's National Party (PNP) to campaign for self-government and universal suffrage.

Manley was a key constitutionalist. He led the negotiations with the British government that resulted in the 1944 constitution and Universal Adult Suffrage. He served as Chief Minister from 1955 to 1959, and as Jamaica's first and only Premier from 1959 to 1962. Manley was the chief legal mind behind the drafting of the Jamaica Independence Constitution. He was declared a National Hero in 1969.

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7. Sir Alexander Bustamante (1884–1977)

Sir Alexander Bustamante was a charismatic labor leader and politician who championed the rights of Jamaica's working class. During the labor riots of 1938, Bustamante emerged as the primary spokesman for the workers, leading strikes and marches. He was imprisoned by the colonial authorities for his activism, which only increased his popularity.

In 1938, he founded the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), the first registered trade union in the Anglophone Caribbean. In 1943, he formed the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to contest the 1944 elections under Universal Adult Suffrage. Bustamante went on to lead Jamaica to full independence and was sworn in as the country's first Prime Minister on August 6, 1962. He was declared a National Hero in 1969.