Marcus Garvey

Founder of the UNIA · 1887 – 1940

Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and led the largest mass movement of people of African descent in the early twentieth century.

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Heavyweight unisex crew neck in natural off-white, printed to order near you.

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Born: 17 August 1887, St Ann's Bay, Jamaica
Founded: UNIA, 1914
Black Star Line: 1919
Died: 10 June 1940, London

Who was Marcus Garvey?

Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica, in 1887. In 1914 he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), whose motto was "One God! One Aim! One Destiny!".

Moving to Harlem in 1916, he built the UNIA into a mass movement with hundreds of branches worldwide, published the Negro World newspaper and launched the Black Star Line shipping company in 1919.

Garvey preached racial pride, economic independence and the redemption of Africa. He was convicted of mail fraud in 1923 in a case widely regarded as politically motivated, deported to Jamaica in 1927, and died in London in 1940. Jamaica named him its first National Hero in 1969.

Questions people ask

What did Marcus Garvey believe?

In Black pride, self-reliance and Pan-African unity, including the idea that people of African descent should build their own economic and political institutions.

What was the UNIA?

The Universal Negro Improvement Association, founded by Garvey in 1914, which grew into the largest organised mass movement in African diaspora history.

Is Marcus Garvey a national hero?

Yes. In 1969 Jamaica named him its first National Hero.

Sources & further reading

Marcus Garvey — Wikipedia

Marcus Garvey

Who was Marcus Garvey?

Questions people ask

What did Marcus Garvey believe?

What was the UNIA?

Is Marcus Garvey a national hero?

Sources & further reading

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