Marcus Garvey: A Symbol for Black Nationalism

My first kid's father named my son Marcus afterAfrican ancestry of the world into one great body to
legendary Marcus Garvey. Which made me curious toestablish a country and Government absolutely their
know more about who Marcus Garvey actually was...own. » very precisely. The UNIA's flag is red,
"Up You Mighty Race, Accomplish What You Will..."black and green.
(Marcus Garvey)In 1916, Marcus Garvey went to the USA and gave a
The following text is dedicated to my eldest sonlecture tour.
Marcus.In 1920, Garvey set up branches of the UNIA in more
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born on August the 17,than 40 countries.
1887, in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica as the youngest of 11Garvey's ideas
children.Marcus Garvey fought for social, political and
Marcus Garvey was known as a journalist,economic freedom for Black people.
entrepreneur, publisher and a crusader for blackHe founded several companies like Black Star Line
nationalism. During his whole life, he has fought forand Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company.
racial equality.He also created the Negro Factories Corporation,
Childhood yearswhich helped to created more marketable black
In St Ann's Bay, young Marcus attended grammarbusinesses. Garvey was commercially very active: he
school. Alfred Burrowes, his godfather, also gave himstarted chains of groceries and restaurants and many
some private instruction. Alfred Burrowes hired Marcusother kind of businesses.
at the age of 14 as an apprentice in order to learn the"Africa for the Africans...At Home and Abroad!"
printing trade.Marcus Garvey wanted Blacks to consider Africa as
Garvey's father, who was the owner of a privatetheir permanent homeland:
library, encouraged young Marcus' love for books.« I have no desire to take all black people back
During his apprentice period, Marcus used to discussto Africa, there are blacks who are no good here and
politics and social affairs at his uncle's place.will likewise be no good there. Our success
In 1906, Garvey moved from St Ann to Kingston.educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the
In 1908, Marcus Garvey participated in Jamaica's firstprotection of a nation founded by ourselves. And the
Printers' Union strike. The strike was unsuccessful andnation can be nowhere else but in Africa ».
as a consequence, Marcus Garvey lost his job.In 1920, he worked on the ambitious project to develop
Luckily, he was employed by the Government PrintingAfrican state Liberia by building colleges and industries ,
Office.but he had to stop it, because of many European
Visiting the worldcountries' political and economic interest in Liberia.
Around 1910, Marcus Garvey left Jamaica for CostaMail fraud charges
Rica. There, he worked as a time keeper at a pananaMarcus Garvey was confronted by mail fraud
plantation. Then he went to Central America, visitedcharges in 1925 and sentenced to jail in 1925. He was
the Panama Central Zone. He observed Blacks andjailed at Atlanta Federal prison. After his release in
Indians hard working conditions. He also traveled to1927, he was deported from New Orleans to Kingston,
Equador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia andJamaica, where a huge crowd welcomed him.
Venezuela.Defending Blacks till his death
Very sensitive about discrimination and racial prejudice,Marcus Garvey has never stopped fighting for the
Marcus Garvey always had the will to make thingscause he found right.
change. That's why he appealed to his government inIn 1928, he went to Geneva. He presented the "Petition
order to improve West Indians working conditions. Butof the Negro Race" to the League of Nations, which
the government just wouldn't listen to his complaint.was strongly against black people's abuse around the
Garvey, the publisherworld.
Marcus Garvey's first publications started during hisIn 1929, he founded the PPP (People's Political Party),
Central American travels.which became Jamaica's first political party. This
In 1910, Garvey started his first newspaper, Thepolitical party was all about helping poor people,
Watcher, that was followed by several other shorteducation and workers' rights.
lived newspapersIn 1929, Garvey was elected Councillor for the Allman
He was also associated with several publications:Town division of the Kingston and St. Andrew
- The African Times and Orient Review, The DailyCorporation (KSAC).
Negro Times, Harlem, 1922-1924He was reelected in 1930.
-The Blackman, Kingston, Jamaica, 1929-1931In 1931, Marcus Garvey created Edelweiss
-The New Jamaican, Kingston, 1932-33Amusement Company, a company that was
Marcus Garvey started The Black Man Magazine insupposed to help artists to make a living out of their
1933 in Kingston. His magazine was continued inwork and to give them an opportunity to get known
England until 1939.better- at least locally.
Black militantism: the creation of the UNIA-ACLIn 1935, Marcus Garvey moved to London. He kept
Marcus Garvey was very conscious that improvingbeing involved in his activism till his death. Garvey died
black folks conditions was a long term work. It hadin London in 1940. He is considered as Jamaica's first
better chances to work if Africans united. That's whynational hero.
he created the the Universal Negro Improvement andIt is a known fact that Marcus Garvey was nicknamed
Conservation Association and African Communities« Black Moses »...
League (UNIA). As the President of the UNIA, heDon't search so many saints in the Holy Bible when
defined its goal to unite « all the people ofyou have a pretty good example in real life.