Throughout his service to the race Dr Garvey actively warned his people to, individually and collectively, reappraise their status in spiritual and world affairs. It was no longer possible, Dr Garvey believed, to blame the ‘white man’ or anyone else for failings or doubts. The time had come for the race to develop as free people not as slaves. Racial dignity was not to be based on the views or images shaped by others. History had shown this was folly and destructive to shaping self-worth as well as redemption of the African continent.