“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, None but ourselves can free our minds.”

That was Bob Marley quoting Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1937) in his “Redemption Song” (1980). Mr. Marley’s lyrics consist of many quotations, Jamaican sayings and proverbs, woven into his thoughts. He was good at that.

Redemption Song is one of Bob Marley’s most popular songs, and it was just him and his acoustic guitar.

And today in Jamaica is Emancipation Day, August 1. A national holiday, light and bright and with a willful breeze that comes and goes. We had a really meaningful shower yesterday, the rain determinedly pressing down on our battered and exhausted lawn, as if to make up for the months of bitter drought. Of course it didn’t make up for it entirely. But it brought the garden to life, and beat the dust into submission. The air feels softer and cleaner. The birds (who have…