Claude McKay

Marcus Garvey & Black Nationalism

Black Nationalism

Black nationalism, political and social movement prominent in the 1960s and early ’70s in the United States that gained popularity among Black Americans. The movement sought to acquire economic power and to infuse among Black people a sense of community and group feeling.

The roots of Black nationalism can be traced to Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association of the 1920s. Many adherents to Black nationalism assumed the eventual creation of a separate Black nation. As an alternative to being assimilated by a predominantly white America, Black nationalists sought to maintain and promote their separate identity as a people of Black ancestry. 

With such slogans as “Black power”—originated by the activist Stokely Carmichael—and “Black is beautiful,” they also sought to inculcate a sense of pride among Black people, particularly as the civil rights movement faced new challenges in the wake of the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a leading supporter of rights for black people. He tried to establish an African home for all people of African descent living around the world.

Early Life

Marcus Garvey was born in Jamaica in August 1887. He was a good student in elementary school. At age 14, he trained to become a printer. Garvey worked as a printer for a few years. He also took an interest in journalism.

In 1910, Garvey traveled to South America in search of work. He was saddened by the working conditions of African Americans and Indians. They were treated poorly because of their skin color. This is called racism. Garvey returned to Jamaica in 1912.

United Negro Inprovment Assosiation

Garvey decided that the only way to help African Americans was to bring them together. In 1914, he started an organization to help African Americans. It was called the United Negro Improvement Association. Garvey toured the United States in 1916. He gave speeches about the importance of African Americans working together.

Garvey developed several businesses to give African Americans jobs. He developed a restaurant, publishing house, and grocery stores, among other businesses.

Garvey believed in black nationalism. This is the idea of black people returning to Africa and building one strong nation. He began working in Liberia in 1920. Liberia is a country in Africa. It is located on its west coast. Garvey had hoped to build railroads, colleges, and industries in Liberia. He gave up in the mid‐1920s because some European countries took an interest in Liberia. Garvey did not want to fight with these powerful nations.

Prison

Garvey was found guilty of mail fraud in 1923. Mail fraud is when a person uses the U.S. Postal Service to commit a crime. Garvey was sent to prison in 1925. He was released in 1927 and sent back to Jamaica.

After his release from prison, Garvey founded the People's Political Party in 1929. This was Jamaica's first modern political party.

Garvey moved to London, England, in 1935. He died in 1940.