4.3 Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association

Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican-born activist, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914. The UNIA became the largest black-led movement in history, promoting black pride, self-reliance, and economic empowerment.

Garvey's philosophy emphasized black nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and self-determination. His ideas influenced later civil rights leaders and continue to shape black politics and culture worldwide. The UNIA's activities included publishing a newspaper and establishing a shipping company.

Marcus Garvey's background

Childhood in Jamaica

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• Born in 1887 in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica to a family of modest means
• Showed an early interest in reading and was exposed to Pan-Africanist ideas through his father's library
• Worked as a printer's apprentice in his teenage years, gaining valuable skills and knowledge

Education and early career

• Attended elementary school but was largely self-educated through extensive reading
• Worked as a printer and journalist in Jamaica, honing his writing and oratorical skills
• Became involved in labor activism and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914

Travels and influences

• Traveled to Central America, where he observed the conditions of African laborers on plantations
• Spent time in London, where he was exposed to African and African diaspora intellectuals and activists
• Influenced by the ideas of Booker T. Washington, Edward Wilmot Blyden, and other black leaders

Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)

Founding of UNIA

• Established in 1914 in Jamaica with the goal of uniting and uplifting the African diaspora
• Relocated to Harlem, New York in 1916, where the organization gained a significant following
• Became the largest black-led movement in history, with millions of members worldwide

Goals and objectives

• Promoted black pride, self-reliance, and economic empowerment
• Advocated for the redemption of Africa from European colonialism and the establishment of independent black nations
• Sought to challenge and dismantle white supremacy on a global scale

Organizational structure

• Hierarchical structure with Garvey as the President-General and various departments and offices
• Included a paramilitary branch called the African Legion, which provided security and discipline
• Established local divisions and chapters in cities across the United States, Caribbean, and Africa

Chapters and membership

• By the early 1920s, UNIA had over 1,000 chapters in more than 40 countries
• Membership was open to people of African descent worldwide, regardless of nationality or religion
• Attracted a diverse range of supporters, from working-class laborers to middle-class professionals

Garvey's philosophy

Black nationalism

• Emphasized the need for black people to take pride in their race and heritage
• Called for the creation of independent black nations in Africa and the Caribbean
• Rejected integration and assimilation in favor of black self-determination

Pan-Africanism

• Promoted the unity and solidarity of African people worldwide
• Sought to connect the struggles of Africans on the continent with those in the diaspora
• Envisioned a global black community united by a common history and destiny

Self-reliance and empowerment

• Encouraged black people to establish their own businesses, institutions, and communities
• Emphasized the importance of education and skill development for economic and political advancement
• Promoted the idea of "race first" and prioritizing the interests of the black community

Critique of white supremacy

• Challenged the notion of white superiority and the global system of white domination
• Exposed the hypocrisy and brutality of European colonialism in Africa and the Americas
• Called for an end to racial oppression and exploitation worldwide

UNIA's activities

The Negro World newspaper

• Official publication of the UNIA, founded in 1918
• Served as a platform for Garvey's ideas and a source of news and information for the black community
• Reached a circulation of over 200,000 at its peak and was distributed internationally

Black Star Line shipping company

• Established in 1919 as a black-owned and operated shipping venture
• Aimed to facilitate trade and transportation between Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States
• Symbolized black economic self-sufficiency and challenged white monopoly in the shipping industry

Liberty Hall meetings

• Regular gatherings held at the UNIA headquarters in Harlem, known as Liberty Hall
• Featured speeches, debates, and cultural performances that celebrated black pride and unity
• Attracted thousands of attendees and became a hub of black intellectual and political activity

International conventions

• Annual gatherings of UNIA delegates from around the world, held in Harlem from 1920 to 1924
• Showcased the organization's global reach and influence, with attendees from Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe
• Included elaborate parades, ceremonies, and discussions on issues affecting the black diaspora

Religious aspects of Garveyism

Garvey's religious views

• Raised as a Methodist but later developed a more eclectic and Afrocentric religious outlook
• Believed in the divine destiny of the black race and the need for spiritual redemption and liberation
• Drew on Christian, Islamic, and African religious traditions in his speeches and writings

African Orthodox Church

• Independent black Christian denomination established in 1921 with Garvey's support
• Incorporated African cultural elements into its liturgy and theology
• Served as a religious arm of the UNIA and a symbol of black religious autonomy

Rastafari movement's origins

• Emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, partly inspired by Garvey's teachings and prophecies
• Regarded Garvey as a prophet and forerunner of the divine figure of Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia
• Incorporated elements of Garvey's black nationalism and Pan-Africanism into its religious worldview

Religious symbolism and rhetoric

• Garvey often used biblical language and imagery in his speeches and writings
• Portrayed the black race as the chosen people of God, destined for greatness and redemption
• Employed religious themes of exodus, deliverance, and salvation to frame the struggle for black liberation

Conflicts and controversies

Rivalries with other black leaders

• Garvey clashed with other prominent black figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph
• Disagreements centered on strategies for achieving racial equality and the role of race in political organizing
• Garvey's separatist and nationalist views often put him at odds with integrationist and socialist-leaning leaders

Accusations of fraud

• In 1922, Garvey and other UNIA officials were indicted for mail fraud related to the Black Star Line
• Charges were based on allegations of misleading investors and mismanaging funds
• Garvey maintained his innocence but was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison

Deportation from the US

• After serving two years in prison, Garvey was deported back to Jamaica in 1927
• Deportation was based on his conviction and status as a non-citizen
• Garvey's removal dealt a significant blow to the UNIA and the black nationalist movement in the US

Decline of UNIA

• Following Garvey's deportation, the UNIA faced internal divisions and financial difficulties
• Leadership struggles and ideological disputes weakened the organization's cohesion and effectiveness
• By the 1930s, the UNIA had lost much of its former influence and membership

Legacy and impact

Influence on civil rights movement

• Garvey's emphasis on black pride and self-determination inspired later generations of activists
• His ideas and rhetoric can be seen in the work of Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and other black power advocates
• The UNIA's model of mass organizing and economic nationalism provided a template for future movements

Garvey's global influence

• Garvey's message resonated with black communities around the world, from the United States to the Caribbean to Africa
• His Pan-Africanist vision helped to inspire anti-colonial and independence movements in Africa and the Caribbean
• Garveyism continues to be a significant political and cultural force in many parts of the African diaspora

Garveyism vs other ideologies

• Garvey's black nationalism often clashed with other political ideologies such as Marxism and integrationism
• His emphasis on race and separatism was criticized by some as divisive and counterproductive
• Garveyism represented a distinct and influential strand of black political thought in the early 20th century

Garvey's lasting legacy

• Garvey is widely regarded as one of the most significant black leaders and thinkers of the 20th century
• His ideas and activism helped to shape the course of black politics and culture for generations
• Garvey's legacy continues to inspire and inform struggles for black liberation and empowerment around the world