Marcus Garvey: A Symbol for Black Nationalism

My first kid's father named my son Marcus after legendary Marcus Garvey. Which made me curious to know more about who Marcus Garvey actually was?

"Up You Mighty Race, Accomplish What You Will..." (Marcus Garvey)

The following text is dedicated to my eldest son Marcus.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born on August the 17, 1887, in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica as the youngest of 11 children.

Marcus Garvey was known as a journalist, entrepreneur, publisher and a crusader for black nationalism. During his whole life, he has fought for racial equality.

Childhood years

In St Ann's Bay, young Marcus attended grammar school. Alfred Burrowes, his godfather, also gave him some private instruction. Alfred Burrowes hired Marcus at the age of 14 as an apprentice in order to learn the printing trade.

Garvey's father, who was the owner of a private library, encouraged young Marcus' love for books.

During his apprentice period, Marcus used to discuss politics and social affairs at his uncle's place.

In 1906, Garvey moved from St Ann to Kingston.

In 1908, Marcus Garvey participated in Jamaica's first Printers' Union strike. The strike was unsuccessful and as a consequence, Marcus Garvey lost his job.

Luckily, he was employed by the Government Printing Office.

Visiting the world

Around 1910, Marcus Garvey left Jamaica for Costa Rica. There, he worked as a time keeper at a panana plantation. Then he went to Central America, visited the Panama Central Zone. He observed Blacks and Indians hard working conditions. He also traveled to Equador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia and Venezuela.

Very sensitive about discrimination and racial prejudice, Marcus Garvey always had the will to make things change. That's why he appealed to his government in order to improve West Indians working conditions. But the government just wouldn't listen to his complaint.

Garvey, the publisher

Marcus Garvey's first publications started during his Central American travels.

In 1910, Garvey started his first newspaper, The Watcher, that was followed by several other short lived newspapers

He was also associated with several publications:

- The African Times and Orient Review, The Daily Negro Times, Harlem, 1922-1924

-The Blackman, Kingston, Jamaica, 1929-1931

-The New Jamaican, Kingston, 1932-33

Marcus Garvey started The Black Man Magazine in 1933 in Kingston. His magazine was continued in England until 1939.

Black militantism: the creation of the UNIA-ACL

Marcus Garvey was very conscious that improving black folks conditions was a long term work. It had better chances to work if Africans united. That's why he created the the Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League (UNIA). As the President of the UNIA, he defined its goal to unite « all the people of African ancestry of the world into one great body to establish a country and Government absolutely their own. » very precisely. The UNIA's flag is red, black and green.

In 1916, Marcus Garvey went to the USA and gave a lecture tour.

In 1920, Garvey set up branches of the UNIA in more than 40 countries.

Garvey's ideas

Marcus Garvey fought for social, political and economic freedom for Black people.

He founded several companies like Black Star Line and Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company.

He also created the Negro Factories Corporation, which helped to created more marketable black businesses. Garvey was commercially very active: he started chains of groceries and restaurants and many other kind of businesses.

"Africa for the Africans...At Home and Abroad!"

Marcus Garvey wanted Blacks to consider Africa as their permanent homeland:

« I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa, there are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be no good there. Our success educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the protection of a nation founded by ourselves. And the nation can be nowhere else but in Africa ».

In 1920, he worked on the ambitious project to develop African state Liberia by building colleges and industries , but he had to stop it, because of many European countries' political and economic interest in Liberia.

Mail fraud charges

Marcus Garvey was confronted by mail fraud charges in 1925 and sentenced to jail in 1925. He was jailed at Atlanta Federal prison. After his release in 1927, he was deported from New Orleans to Kingston, Jamaica, where a huge crowd welcomed him.

Defending Blacks till his death

Marcus Garvey has never stopped fighting for the cause he found right.

In 1928, he went to Geneva. He presented the "Petition of the Negro Race" to the League of Nations, which was strongly against black people's abuse around the world.

In 1929, he founded the PPP (People's Political Party), which became Jamaica's first political party. This political party was all about helping poor people, education and workers' rights.

In 1929, Garvey was elected Councillor for the Allman Town division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

He was reelected in 1930.

In 1931, Marcus Garvey created Edelweiss Amusement Company, a company that was supposed to help artists to make a living out of their work and to give them an opportunity to get known better- at least locally.

In 1935, Marcus Garvey moved to London. He kept being involved in his activism till his death. Garvey died in London in 1940. He is considered as Jamaica's first national hero.

It is a known fact that Marcus Garvey was nicknamed « Black Moses »?

Don't search so many saints in the Holy Bible when you have a pretty good example in real life.

Copyright©2005 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I am an Eminem biographer and a freelance music journalist. I teach English and German at public schools.

---

Dreaming of Love and Peace

She dreams of touring Europe and the US to sing... Read More

Native American Life After Prophetstown

My name is Luksi Humma, I am Choctaw or, Chahta,... Read More

Fictions Galore

FABULOUS: - Many 'fabulous' personages and concepts are created by... Read More

Cant Afford Illness in America

I had become too sick to live in America.Even with... Read More

Precious Stones The Big Five-Part 5 The Pearl

Since pearls are so rare and possess such a high... Read More

Birthstone Jewelry Beliefs and Celebrity Birthdays

Wearing birthstone jewelry is very popular today. Not only is... Read More

The Dazzling Beauty of the Shwedagon Paya

The Shwedagon Paya is much more than just another temple.... Read More

Gymnastics History ? A Brief Overview

Gymnastics, as an activity, has been around for more than... Read More

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: - It seems a mystery to most academics... Read More

Amaterasu The Goddess of the Sun

Amaterasu is a shining example of how adversity can help... Read More

A Short Biography on Some of Europes Most Loved and Hated Monarchs - Pt 3 King Ludwig II

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, named after his grandfather, was... Read More

The Beothuk

Canada is an emancipated country in the relative scheme of... Read More

True Story; Why Can?t We all Just Get Along?

A little girl came up to her mom in the... Read More

When Does Man Become God?

Some scientists argue over creation and evolution and they argue... Read More

I, Ego, and Power

I: - A vowel that didn't appear in sacerdotal alphabets... Read More

The Western Cowboy

In the State of Texas the Western Cowboy can be... Read More

The Trickster of Folklore

Folklore includes a traditional trickster figure, the subject of many... Read More

Astrology : A Science or Superstition?

Human beings have always been curious to know their future.... Read More

Nessie, the Beast of the Loch

They were fierce hill tribes in what is now Scotland,... Read More

Nelsons Last Words: Kiss Me, Hardy or Kismet, Hardy?

"Kiss me, Hardy" or "Kismet, Hardy"? Both versions are commonly... Read More

A Short Biography on Some of Europes Most Loved and Hated Monarchs - Pt 5 Charles II

Born in 1630, Charles II was the second eldest son... Read More

10 Feng Shui Tips for a Better Life

Ever walked into a house that felt like home? Ever... Read More

Ludlow Festival

His plays and adaptations have been performed in many countries... Read More

Sun Tzu: The Art of War

The Art of War is an ancient Chinese text on... Read More

Return to Ouvea, New Caledonia

"Ouvea is everything you'd expect in a South Pacific island.... Read More

When We Was Kids In Chicago

Radio was the big communicator, back when I was a... Read More

Astrology Refuted: They Should Have Seen It Coming

A comedian once showed a newspaper to his audience. The... Read More

Bits of Heritage, Whose Heritage

Change is the only inevitably constant aspect of life in... Read More

ML - CHI - Zadok and the Making of Gold

ATOMIC HIGH-SPIN TECHNOLOGY: - In 1950 B.C. there was a... Read More

Paul Hamm: Did He Deserve Gymnastics Gold in 2004?

What was the controversy all about?In the 2004 Olympics, an... Read More

Working With The Generations

For the first time in history, there are four generations... Read More

Mythology and Parables in Modern Communication - Part 3

Our Self is the true center of our being and... Read More

At 60 plus Amitabh Bachchan Rules! - A Vastu Study

No words in this universe are enough to describe him,... Read More