Marcus Garvey's Influences

Nearly every aspect of American history involves white supremacy. Upon the discovery of the Americas, the Europeans believed they entered into a land inhabited by savages (Boyer 20). According to President Jackson, the mistreatment of the Indians was to “kill the Indian, but save the man” (Williams) in order to purify America. They were forced to adapt to the dominate society or be killed. According to Wiethaus, “the Trail of Tears is a story of tragedy far overshadows the longer term economic consequences of Indian land for the United States economy and the disruption of individual lives for those dispossessed of their homes” (29). The Columbian Exchange involved the slavery of Africans which later became an issue during the 1800’s once the colonies formed into states. African-Americans did not receive emancipation until after the civil war. Before then, slavery was at the heart of the Commercial Revolution which set the stage for the modern era of economic growth (Wright 14). During the 1800’s, states became divided upon the issue of being a Slave or Free State. After the Civil War, Johnson approved of the emancipation of slaves (Boyer 497). However, during the Reconstruction, “black codes” were constructed to prevent African-American to be considered worthy citizens. Many Acts were passed to give them equality, but they still received inhuman treatment (Boyer 509-511). It took years of marches, protest, and riots

Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey shared some similar ideologies, however to a large extent Washington’s philosophies contradict Garvey’s outlook on African American society. Washington was known for accommodating the white people’s desires. For instance, “he advised African Americans to accept segregation, work hard for the friendship of whites, and achieve economic equity”. Washington probably encouraged African Americans to accept their circumstances, because he knew that fighting against norms would be a difficult task to accomplish and he wanted the race to better themselves through hard work during an era of prejudice. This belief contradicts Garvey’s ideas, because Garvey believed that pleasing the white man was the issue that prevented African Americans from being viewed as equals in the society. Although both men believed that working hard would gain Blacks an advantage in their community, Washington advocated for satisfying the white man while Garvey’s thoughts of Black Nationalism lied in the separate rights of Blacks and keeping the white man out of their way to success. Garvey’s ideology to promote economic equality of the black race was not liked by the white race, and compared to Washington’s policy of accommodation and gradual progress, was more acceptable to whites.

Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois are similar to each other but disagree on plans for African Americans social and economic progress. “Booker T. Washington, educator, reformer and the most inflectional black leader of his time (1856-1915) preached a philosophy of self-help, racial solidarity and accommodation.” Washington encouraged African Americans to take on discrimination and focus on educating themselves through hard work and discipline. He believed that education was the answer to how African Americans can prove themselves to whites without anger and hatred. Washington believed that this would win the respect of whites and African Americans would be accepted as citizens into society. “W.E.B. Du Bois, a towering black intellectual, scholar and political thinker (1868-1963) said no--Washington's strategy would serve only to perpetuate white oppression.” Du Bois was one of the founders of the NAACP (National

Marcus Garvey, was born in Jamaica in 1887 and is considered to be the father of the Black Nationalism Movement. During the early 1900’s, after reading Booker T.

The arrival of African slaves, sold in the plantations of colonial America, definitely triggered a superior-inferior relationship and mentality between “the whites” and “the blacks”. This present-day culture, resulting from a society of masters and slaves, has struggled against central concepts deeply rooted in the nations past .With strong cultural values on racial discrimination, the path towards the concept of racism in America was a vital moment in the course of the nation’s history. Social concepts and attitudes could not be altered overnight, but it can be altered. Indeed, in the quest for social progress, the struggle for equality has gone a long way, with black Americans now holding high-ranking

. Ideological and personal differences led to acrimonious debate between Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, a Black Nationalist leader who strove to construct through economic enterprise and mass education a unified empire of people of African descent. Du Bois also opposed Marcus Garvey whom he considered a demagogue, although they shared a commitment to Pan-Africanism and the liberation of Africa. Du Bois rejected many of Garvey’s policies and mounted a campaign to expose corruption and mismanagement of Garvey’s famous Black Star Shipping Line: a black cross-continental trade venture. Pan-Africanism is “a movement of people of African descent from sub-Saharan Africa in the early twentieth century that emphasized their identity, shared

I believe one of the most influential African Americans of all time is Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey achieved accomplishments in not just one, but many areas. His accomplishments ranged from a worldwide Black political organization, The Untied Negro Improvement Association, to the first, and to this day the largest Black-owned multinational businesses, the Black Star Lines. Marcus was criticized by many of his fellow African American leaders because many of his projects failed. In despite of that, Marcus Garvey talent to attract followers towards his beliefs is inspiring.

These words, despite them coming straight out of an encyclopedia, hold a sense of pride. Weisbrot informs the reader the 20s were an obvious time for change, and states that Harlem was recognized as having great influence in African community and culture. In earlier American history, African Americans were unfairly excluded from the opportunity to be individuals or express themselves culturally. In the 20s, Harlem created an area where they are free to do so. According to Reuben’s account, which also carries it with a sense of pride, the Harlem Renaissance was a profound period in African American culture. This was more than a literary movement - it was a period of racial consciousness, as Marcus Garvey, a dynamic African leader, boldly dubbed “the back to Africa” movement. Being a prolific leader of the time, Garvey uses his influence to encourage cultural change. By looking back on the accomplishments of the time there is proof that this occurred, “the Harlem Renaissance brought the Black experience clearly within the General American cultural history,” (Reuben). After World War I, Reuben suggests that the Renaissance still flourished. Morale was rising again, and there was opportunity for American citizens to enjoy various forms of entertainment, which proliferated the Harlem Renaissance. The 20s was also known as

According to Marcus Garvey, the “Negro’s greatest enemy” were white people and politicians. Essentially, politicians, of every race, were blocking his efforts. Garvey communicated that there was no solution to this problem, unless black people created their own country. This would have given them economical and social freedom. Since God was their inspiration, it was always intended that everyone was free, and not was not to be enslaved by others. Garvey thought that no one should ever feel superior, when it came to race. Although, Garvey did not outright convey who the “enemy” was, it can be interpreted that white people were the enemy.

The 1920’s were a time of change for African Americans. They were beginning to retain a sense of pride in their background and culture, were becoming more independent socially and economically, and were becoming more militant. Part of this was because of the Great Migration, in which a proliferation of African Americans moved from the Southern states to the Northern states, and the excessive levels of racism and prejudice they faced during the process. African Americans were really starting to make their voices and identities prevalent, especially through movements like the Harlem Renaissance and Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). This mentality of independence and militance that African Americans adopted which is represented through the actions of Ossian Sweet is what makes up the 1920s cultural construct of the “New Negro” which allowed me to understand the realness and effectiveness of cultural constructs.

Nonetheless, Garvey’s vision for Negroes was that we can do anything that we set our minds to regardless of the circumstances that we could face. Garvey writes, “ Let no man pull you down, let no man destroy your ambition, because man is but your companion, your equal; man is your brother; he is not your lord; he is not your sovereign master”. (p.1003) Garvey’s vision to the Negroes was that man is not the one you live for, God is the one who will be their with you to the end and he will never leave you.

This idea has taken on many different forms over the past century and a half, and its discourse has evolved alongside the major works of prominent figures like W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Delany, and Marcus Garvey. A common theme among these thinkers is the notion of historicizing the development of black culture relative to diasporic movements in the preceding centuries. However, they differ significantly in their visions and aspirations for the culture at large, as well as in their interpretations of how peoples of African descent should behave with respect to the dominant (primarily white) societies in which they live and function. In particular, earlier scholars like Du Bois tended to “sustain their faith in a partnership with white allies, wagering that [their] commitments to ‘civilization building’ ... would hasten the day when they and their race would be respected as equal partners” (Ewing 16). In contrast, Garvey, a contemporary of Locke, supported a radical agenda for African independence, and a mass migration to bring peoples of African descent back to Africa (Ewing 76).

The period between 1865 and 1945 saw some of the most dramatic social, political and economic changes in America. The key issue of black civil rights throughout this period was advocated and led by a range of significant, emotive and inspiring leaders. Marcus Garvey was a formidable public speaker and is often named as the most popular black nationalist leader of the early twentieth century. He believed in pan-Africanism and came nearer than any other black leader in mobilising African American masses. He was hailed as a redeemer and a “Black Moses” who tried to lead ‘his people back to freedom’. However, arguably although

Garvey appealed to the masses, with his message of self-determination, despite socio-economic background. He stated himself, “… I appeal for four hundred million Negroes of the world, and fifteen millions in America in particular,” and thus, he did attract a very large audience. Dubois, on the other hand, saw the wealthy and well educated as the epicenter of black prosperity and growth, and thus proclaimed that “from [educated blacks’] knowledge and experience, [they] would lead the mass.” Because of this overt separation in viewpoints of the lower class blacks, many are lead to believe that only Dubois exuded scrutiny of blacks in America. Dubois frequently declared that poor blacks were in their situations by their own accord, and made statements such as “wealth is the result of work and saving and the rich rightly inherited the earth. The poor, on the

Marcus Garvey was important because he aided in inspiring a mass movement amongst African Americans. Garvey make efforts to show African Americans economic empowerment meanwhile sharing the importance of taking part in politics and have greater impacts. Along with these many accomplishments, his biggest accomplishment was becoming the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League in Jamaica. Garvey came to the United States in 1916 and launched the New York Division of the UNIA the following year. This association started off with merely thirteen members and exponentially grew to approximately 3500 members. Garvey has reached new heights of power within his career in the late 1920s when he headed an international convention in Liberty Hall, containing frequent delegates in attendance from 25 countries. Garvey also led a parade of over 50,000 throughout all of Harlem.