Who was Marcus Garvey?
Marcus Garvey was born in 1887 and grew up in Jamaica before immigrating to the United States in 1916. He encouraged African Americans to create and develop a separate society and come together to stand up against racial injustice. His radical ideas created lots of controversy during the 1920's.
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
Marcus Garvey created the UNIA in 1914. The organization was developed to try and improve the lives of African Americans. Garvey transferred the company to a new location in New York City where he tried to reach out to people who lived in the ghetto's to gain more followers. Garvey also held mass meetings and parades to try and gain more members. His plan for recruitment was a success. Within a short period of time the UNIA had 1 million followers.
While trying to recruit members for the UNIA, Garvey wanted to publish a paper to spread the news about his ideas and inform people about important events taking place. He needed help with funds so he wrote to a fellow civil rights activist, Booker T. Washington. He askied for a donation to help him publish the paper called "The Negro World". In return Garvey proposed to send Washington copies of the published paper. Below is the letter he wrote to Washington.
Kingston, JamaicaWest Indies, Sep 8, 1914
Dear Sir & Brother.
I have been informed by our Commissioner in London that you are expected to be in Europe during the month of April or May of next year, and that you shall be engaged addressing meetings in London and other cities of the British Isles on the subject of "The Progress of the Negro." Please be good enough to inform me if this is correct.
I have been keeping in touch with your good work in America, and although there is a difference of opinion on the lines on which the Negro should develop himself, yet the fair-minded critic cannot fail in admiring your noble efforts. The two schools of America have gone as far as to give us, who are outside, the real possibilities of the industrial and intellectual scope for Negro energy. We are organized out here on broad lines and we find it conclusive to our interest to pave our way both industrially and intellectually. The Prejudice in these countries is far different from that of America. Here we have to face the prejudice of the hypocritical White men who nevertheless are our friends as also to fight down the prejudice of our race in shade colour.
Our organization is marching steadily on and we hope to extend our scope all over the world within the next few years. I have just returned from a tour in Europe where I spent two years studying the Negro's place there. I am also hoping to be in England about March next year after paying a visit to the U.S.A. I intend lecturing in a few of the European cities on the condition of the West Indian Negro. I enclose for you a Circular Appeal which I feel sure will interest you, and I am asking that you be good enough as to help us with a small donation to carry out our work. We publish for the first time next week our paper "The Negro World" a copy of which we shall send you regularly. If you publish any journals in connection with Tuskegee please be good enough to send us same in Exchange.
Wishing you well and praying for the salvation of World-Wide Ethiopia. Yours in the bonds of Fellowship,
Marcus Garvey
President and Traveling Commissioner
While trying to recruit members for the UNIA, Garvey wanted to publish a paper to spread the news about his ideas and inform people about important events taking place. He needed help with funds so he wrote to a fellow civil rights activist, Booker T. Washington. He askied for a donation to help him publish the paper called "The Negro World". In return Garvey proposed to send Washington copies of the published paper. Below is the letter he wrote to Washington.
Kingston, JamaicaWest Indies, Sep 8, 1914
Dear Sir & Brother.
I have been informed by our Commissioner in London that you are expected to be in Europe during the month of April or May of next year, and that you shall be engaged addressing meetings in London and other cities of the British Isles on the subject of "The Progress of the Negro." Please be good enough to inform me if this is correct.
I have been keeping in touch with your good work in America, and although there is a difference of opinion on the lines on which the Negro should develop himself, yet the fair-minded critic cannot fail in admiring your noble efforts. The two schools of America have gone as far as to give us, who are outside, the real possibilities of the industrial and intellectual scope for Negro energy. We are organized out here on broad lines and we find it conclusive to our interest to pave our way both industrially and intellectually. The Prejudice in these countries is far different from that of America. Here we have to face the prejudice of the hypocritical White men who nevertheless are our friends as also to fight down the prejudice of our race in shade colour.
Our organization is marching steadily on and we hope to extend our scope all over the world within the next few years. I have just returned from a tour in Europe where I spent two years studying the Negro's place there. I am also hoping to be in England about March next year after paying a visit to the U.S.A. I intend lecturing in a few of the European cities on the condition of the West Indian Negro. I enclose for you a Circular Appeal which I feel sure will interest you, and I am asking that you be good enough as to help us with a small donation to carry out our work. We publish for the first time next week our paper "The Negro World" a copy of which we shall send you regularly. If you publish any journals in connection with Tuskegee please be good enough to send us same in Exchange.
Wishing you well and praying for the salvation of World-Wide Ethiopia. Yours in the bonds of Fellowship,
Marcus Garvey
President and Traveling Commissioner
Helping Natives
Garvey also proposed an idea about helping the natives in Africa. He encouraged people to return to the country and help the people gain power over the white oppressors. In 1919 Garvey started the Black Star Line which provided transportation for blacks to Africa. The first ship purchased for the company was called the S. S. Yarmouth, later renamed the Frederick Douglass. The ship had an all black crew and a captain named Joshua Cockburn. Marcus sold stock for the company at his UNIA meetings and advertised for it in his newspaper. Unfortunately, support for Garvey's movement decreased when he was jailed for mail fraud.
"They said that the Negro had no initiative; that he was not a business man, but a laborer; that he had not the brain to engineer a corporation, to own and run ships; that he had no knowledge of navigation, therefore the proposition was impossible.
Oh! ye of little faith. The Eternal has happened."
-- Marcus Garvey, on the founding of the Black Star Line