100 JMD: Marcus Garvey & the Dunn’s River Falls
Episode 2 · Jamaica
How did one man from a small town in Jamaica go on to build the largest Black nationalist movement in history? And why does he appear alone on Jamaica’s $100 banknote?
100 Jamaican Dollars · New Series · June 2022 · Bank of Jamaica · ≈ $0.88 CAD
Episode Summary
In this episode of What’s on Your Money, we explore the remarkable life of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, one of Jamaica’s National Heroes and one of the most influential figures in modern Black history.
From the banana plantations of Costa Rica and the construction of the Panama Canal to Harlem, London, and Kingston, Garvey built a movement that inspired millions across the African diaspora. Along the way, we also discover the history of Dunn’s River Falls, one of Jamaica’s most iconic natural landmarks, and why it has appeared on the reverse of the $100 note for decades.
While researching this episode, I also uncovered an unexpected connection to my own family’s history, making this one of the most personal stories I’ve shared on the podcast.
Whether you’re interested in history, travel, Jamaica, or world currencies, this episode shows how a simple banknote can open the door to an extraordinary story.
Episode Highlights
– Why Marcus Garvey appears alone on Jamaica’s $100 banknote
– Jamaica’s National Heroes and the redesign of its currency
– Garvey’s early life in St. Ann’s Bay
– The United Fruit Company and Caribbean labour migration
– The Panama Canal and West Indian workers
– The founding of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
– The Black Star Line
– Garvey’s lasting influence on Pan-Africanism and the Civil Rights Movement
– Dunn’s River Falls and its place on the reverse of the note
– A personal family connection uncovered during the research
