Marcus GarveyFrom Jamaica WikiMarcus Garvey was born on 17 August 1887 at the Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. His father, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, was a mason, and his mother, Sarah Jane Richards, a domestic help and farmer. Amongst his 11 siblings, only Garvey and his sister, Indiana attained maturity. Garvey is best known for being a key advocate of the Back-to-Africa movement, which urged people of African descent to come back to their native country. This movement would go on to encourage other movements, such as the Nation of Islam and the Rastafari movement. In 1900, Garvey joined as an apprenticeship in his godfather Alfred Burrowes’ business. At 14, Garvey went to Kingston and worked as a compositor in P.A. Benjamin Limited. In November 1907, he became the vice-president of the Kingston Union. He was fired in 1908 for joining a printers’ strike. He then joined the Government Printing Office. In 1910, Garvey travelled all over the Central American region. He stayed in Costa Rica for many months, working as a timekeeper on a banana plantation. He edited a daily called 'La Nacionale' in 1911. The same year, he went to Colón, Panama where he was the editor of a tri-weekly. In 1912, he came back to Jamaica. Between 1912-1913, Garvey traveled to London where he attended Birkbeck College, joined the African Times and Orient Review, and occasionally addressed gatherings at Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner.
[edit] Founding of the UNIA-ACLOn 15 July 1914, Garvey sailed aboard the S.S. Trent to Jamaica. He together with his wife Amy Ashwood founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and African Communities League (ACL) and Garvey became its first President-General. On March 23, 1916, Garvey sailed the S.S. Tallac to America to meet with Booker T. Washington to raise funds for starting a school in Jamaica on the lines of Washington's Tuskegee Institute. However, Washington died in 1915. Garvey went to New York and worked as a printer during the day, and would speak at on street corners at night. He sensed a leadership void amongst the African people and on May 9, 1916, he embarked on a 38-state speaking tour. In 1917, he with thirteen others established the first UNIA division outside Jamaica. On June 27, 1919, the members of the UNIA incorporated Black Star Line of Delaware, with Garvey as President. Garvey strongly believed that Blacks should have a stable homeland in Africa. He started the Liberia program in 1920. Garvey has been widely acknowledged for starting the biggest African movement with over a million members. [edit] Charged with mail fraudIn November 1919, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation into Garvey’s and the UNIA’s activities. Garvey was charged with mail fraud regarding stock sales of the Black Star Line. In June 23, 1923, Garvey was sentenced to five years in prison and was jailed at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. President Calvin Coolidge commuted his sentence and in November 1927, Garvey was deported to Jamaica. [edit] Later yearsIn 1928, Garvey visited Geneva to present the Petition of the Negro Race, outlining the abuse faced by Africans, to the League of Nations. Garvey founded the People's Political Party (PPP) in September 1929. In 1929, Garvey became the Counselor for the Allman Town Division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC). In April 1931, Garvey started the Edelweiss Amusement Company, aimed at helping artisans earn a decent living. In 1935, Garvey traveled to London, where he lived up to his death in 1940. In 1938, he established the School of African Philosophy to train UNIA leaders. He also worked for The Black Man magazine. [edit] DeathAfter seeing an obituary of himself in the Chicago Defender, Garvey suffered a stroke and died on 10th June 1940. His remains were initially interred at Kensal Green Cemetery in London but later brought to Jamaica. The Jamaican Government, on 15th November 1964, proclaimed him as Jamaica's first national hero and regally interred him at a shrine in National Heroes Park. |
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