marcus garvey
Marcus Garvey was a pivotal figure in the history of Black nationalism and the struggle for the rights and empowerment of people of African descent. Here are some key points about his life and legacy:
Early Life and Education
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. was born on August 17, 1887, in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. His father was a stonemason, and his mother was a domestic servant. Garvey received his early education in Jamaica until he was 14, after which he traveled to Central America and later to London, where he studied at Birkbeck College and worked for the African Times and Orient Review234.
Founding of the UNIA
In July 1914, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica, with the goal of promoting Black nationalism, celebrating African history and culture, and supporting the "back to Africa" movement. After failing to gain significant traction in Jamaica, he moved to the United States in 1916 and established the UNIA in Harlem, New York City. By the early 1920s, the UNIA had grown to include 700 branches in 38 states, as well as chapters in Canada, the Caribbean, and Africa235.
Economic and Cultural Initiatives
Garvey was a strong advocate for economic independence among Black people. He established several businesses, including the Negro Factories Corporation, the Black Star Line shipping company, restaurants, grocery stores, laundries, and a printing press. These ventures were designed to promote self-sufficiency and economic strength within the Black community35.
Ideology and Controversies
Garvey's ideology emphasized racial pride, unity, and autonomy. He believed in the establishment of a Black-governed nation in Africa and advocated for a return to Africa for people of African descent. However, his methods and some of his alliances were controversial. He met with white supremacists, including the Ku Klux Klan, to discuss racial separatism, which alienated him from other prominent Black leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph235.
Legal Issues and Later Life
In 1922, Garvey was charged with mail fraud related to the sale of stock for the Black Star Line. He was convicted and served two years of a five-year prison sentence before his sentence was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. Garvey was subsequently deported to Jamaica, where he continued his activism. He later moved to London in 1935, where he remained until his death on June 10, 1940, following multiple strokes234.
Legacy
Despite the controversies surrounding his life, Garvey's legacy is significant. He is remembered as a champion of the "back to Africa" movement and a pioneer of the "black is beautiful" ideal. His movement influenced later groups such as the Nation of Islam, the Rastafari movement, and the Black Power movement. Figures like Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael were also influenced by his ideas on racial pride and economic empowerment245.