Marcus Garvey was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica and was the youngest of 11 children. He inherited an interest in books from his father and was self-educated. He founded a couple association like the Universal Negro Improvement Association. In 1935, he moved permanently to London where he died on June 10, 1940. 24 years later his body was returned to Jamaica where he was declared the country's first national hero.
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey was a famous orator for the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
In 1914, Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association. In 1916, he moved to Harlem in New York where the UNIA thrived. He became a public speaker and traveled across America to urge African-Americans to be proud of their race and return to Africa. In 1919, Garvey founded the Black Star Line, which provided transportation for African Americans to Africa, and the Negro Factories Corporation, which encouraged black economic independence. In 1922, Garvey was arrested for mail fraud in connection with the sale of stock in the Black Star Line, which had now failed.
Quiz
Why did Marcus Garvey create the Universal Negro Improvement Association?
- Provide transportation for African Americans to Africa
- To convince blacks to go back to Africa
- Encourage black economic independence
Marcus Garvey was sometimes known as "Black Moses" because of the way he attracted followers to go to Africa just like Moses attracted his followers to the Promised Land.
Marcus Garvey is often compared to Booker T Washington because they both stressed racial pride. They also compare in the regard that they both wanted integration everywhere and for everyone to be successful. Most of all though, Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey are similar in a way that they both agreed upon the fact that blacks must work for their freedom and the only way to do that was by hard work which took time.
Quiz
Which African American leader does Marcus Garvey MOST compare to?
- W.E.B. Du Bois
- Booker T. Washington
- Arthur W. Mitchell
- Woodrow Wilson
Did you know?
Did you know that Marcus Garvey created the Black Star Line? This ship transported African Americans back to Africa. The Black Star Line was poorly managed and eventually fell. Garvey also chose poor associates to go into business with; Some even stole money from the business. Garvey and the UNIA sold stock in the business by mail, and the inability of the company to deliver on its promises resulted in the federal government prosecuting Garvey and four others for mail fraud.
Marcus Garvey formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association which tried to persuade African Americans to go back to Africa and in his most famous speech, "Back to Africa." He did not call for a widespread exodus of blacks out of America and into Africa but did see the continent as a source of heritage, culture and pride. Garvey believed in founding a nation to serve as a central homeland. In his speech he promoted the Black Star Line and attempted to persuade blacks to come back to their homeland.
Did you know?
Did you know that in 1922, Garvey was arrested for mail fraud in connection with the sale of stock in the Black Star Line? Though Garvey was only guilty of inexperience and bad choices, he was convicted in 1923. He spent two years in jail and President Calvin Coolidge ended his sentence early. Garvey was then deported in 1927. He continued to work for the UNIA's goals after his exile from the United States, but he was never able to return. As a result, the UNIA lived on but never reached the heights it had under Garvey.
Forum
Marcus Garvey says, " A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots."
How much do you know about your spiritual roots? Cultural roots?
Has reading this presentation inspired you to learn more about where you are from?
Marcus Garvey was one of the most influential speakers of his time and spent his life attempting to get African Americans back to Africa. He founded Pan Africanism which was the idea that all Black people have a common cultural heritage in Africa, and that they should redeem Africa by working to end colonialism there. Pan Africanism was important because for the first time Black people were represented as having a common culture and cause to bind all of them together, no matter which country they lived in. One of Garvey's most famous quotes is "If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life"