The Harlem Renaissance : A Time Of Battle For African Americans

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.

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.

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.

In addition, Garvey writes to the New Negroes about the vision he sees for them. He reminds them that God created them and because of this you are special and do not allow anyone to tell you differently. Garvey writes, “Remember that you are men, that God created you Lords of this creation.

I believe that Garvey had such a powerful drive , due to having more followers than other leaders. Not to state the fact that he assembled with the Ku Klux Klan from time to time to hash out their shared interest, more so getting Africans back to Africa. An asset that not many have had the ability to do. Although he lacked the right skills to be an actual leader of an organization, However, he did hold what was most important the understanding and the drive to embrace race pride and race solidarity; the major theme of the Harlem Renaissance. I personally believe it's not what you know but it’s what you can do, practically

Next we have Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who was born in Jamaica on 17 August 1887. Mr. Garvey is best remembered as a pivotal figure in the struggle for racial equality, not just in the United States but throughout the world as well. He founded the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) and African Communities League in 1914 while still in Jamaica, and also championed the 'back to Africa' movement of the 1920s. Of the Africans who departed, Garvey thought, some had left independently while others were brutally removed for economic gain and exploitation. Garvey perceived that the main problems facing not only African Americans, but Africans as well was that they must first go back to Africa and free their African brothers before moving on to other parts of the world. Through the organizations that Garvey had formed (UNIA and ACL), he reasoned that until Africa is free and redeemed, not only in name but in reality, no one would be free, Black or White. Garvey reasoned that no matter what one's race was we are all bound together by the Creator, which is Spirit. The Creator has a purpose for everyone and that purpose did not include being made a slave or subject to anyone for that matter. While Dubois and Garvey did not see eye to eye on the issues involving African Americans, Garvey did align himself closely with Dr Robert Love, and Dr Loves teachings

He believed that black culture was the best and superior to the one of white people. He disagreed with Du Bois and other black rights activists because of his position and activities. Garvey often felt like he was discriminated against by other activists because of his darker skin and Caribbean origins. After his meet with the KKK, his image was

In many ways it could be argued that Marcus Garvey was the most significant African American civil rights leader of this time because of his role in tackling the social issues African American’s faced. He aimed to improve the lives of African Americans by encouraging them to take control of their own affairs and education. His role surrounding this issue is illustrated by his founding of the UNIA. This Universal Negro Improvement Association was an organisation dedicated to racial pride, economic self sufficiency and the formation of an independent black nation in Africa. Through this and the magazine the ‘Negro World’ he urged African Americans to be proud of their race, and argued “a people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. It has been said that through Garvey’s dedication to social improvement for his race he managed to capture the imagination of many blacks for whom the American Dream was a dirty joke.

America has a long history of discrimination against non-white peoples. White Americans are responsible for the eradication of Native Americans from their native lands, and for the importation of Black people from Africa for enslavement. Today racism is not even close to what it had been 150 years ago, when slavery was still legal; however the changes have come gradually. The Harlem renaissance was a pivotal time for the recognition of black culture in the US, and Marcus Garvey emerged as a strong and cunning political leader. During the Harlem Renaissance, Marcus Garvey was instrumental in defining the black identity in the World, and the fundamental basis of this goal was black self-determination.

This book of, Negro with a Hat, is worth remembering because Marcus Garvey was a man that lived his life with a mission. Garvey was highly skilled at his age and became a master printer, and foreman at the P.A Benjamin Company by the age 20. He was so driven he founded UNIA in Jamaica as a friendly society which fed the poor and sick. Marcus Garvey brought inspiration to many and spoke of many people dreams.

One of the early impacts who paved the way for the rise of this cult was Marcus Garvey. Garvey lived in New York City, and believed that the black man would never receive fair treatment in a white man’s world. He then organized a “back-to-Africa” movement that attracted thousands. Which were followers among the poor blacks of certain large-city urban areas. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud, and spent time in prison. When he finally returned to his native Jamaica in 1927, Garvey allegedly “prophesied” that a black king would be crowned in Africa. He also stated through that monarch freedom for dark-skin people would be realized eventually. Garvey himself never joined the succeeding religious movement that became known as Rastafarianism. Garvey was even critical of Haile Selassie for leaving Ethiopia during the time of the Italian Fascist occupation.

Garvey 's considered capitalism to be necessary in the process of human advancement but expressed difficulty with the results of its unrestrained uses. It was Garvey 's belief that white capitalists tolerated African American workers only because they were willing to accept a lower standard of wage than unionized white workers. Garvey aimed to reform the social democratic nature rather than attempting to eradicate the capitalist system. He felt that the capitalistic system gave African Americans a chance for competitive employment and also gave them the opportunity to make a profit from their labor. Garvey also felt that communism was a white man 's creation to solve their own political and economic problems. To him, it was never intended for the economic or political emancipation of African Americans, but rather to raise the earning capacity of the lower class workers. Garvey said, "It is a dangerous theory of economic and political reformation because it seeks to put government in the hands of an ignorant white mass who have not been able to destroy their natural prejudices towards Negroes and other non-white people. While it may be a good thing for them, it will be a bad thing for the Negroes who will fall under the government of the most ignorant, prejudiced class of the white race" (Nolan, 1951).

Garvey was born in St. Anne’s Bay, Jamaica on August 17, 1887. He was a decendant of the Maroons, Jamaica’s first freedom fighters, and he was said to be proud of his "pure black

Much is mentioned about Ethiopia in the bible and as more slaves started to read about it soon concluded that their homeland was part of the Garden of Aden, "cradle of mankind". (Napti). These revelations about Ethiopia came at a time when majority of African people, inside and outside of Africa were ruled by white supremacy. Ethiopia one of the few places still not dominated by white power became for all the Africans living in despair and oppression, a place of freedom and of pride in their heritage. Soon after, hope emerged among the black population, especially in Jamaica, where they lived in despair and poverty, oppressed by white ruling as well. During the 19th century, when many Africans learn to write and read English, some grew to be quite known and respected, in particular Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican-born scholar. He was seen as a prophet among the people living in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica. During this time, the Rastafarian religion was not quite established yet; however "his travels, organizational abilities and pioneering efforts established a basis and a spirit for a foundation for Rastafari's development" (Dubb). He wanted to unify Africa in order to create a government ruled by the black people. Garvin's vision was for "blacks to overcome their feelings of inferiority

On October 11, 1865, Paul Bogle and a group of free blacks marched into Morant Bay protesting a local trail, which resulted in a full-scale uprising that caused deaths and destruction. Free blacks had economic troubles and little to power in colonial society because of their limited access to resources. By July 8, 1865, the Jamaica Guardian captured the people’s discontent with Governor Edward John Eyre, who served as British official on the island. In this message of discontent, the people call for his removal because of his “weak, vacillating, and undignified” character and conduct. The people became quite discontent with the British official because of his actions regarding the Morant Bay Rebellion. He responded to the rebellion with force and violence by declaring martial law in Surrey County and accused George William Gordon, a free black businessman, of being part of the rebellion that led to death. This whirlwind of events caused many to question Eyre’s leadership and led to the establishment of the Jamaica Committee, a group of men from England. This group wanted to imprison the governor for his actions, but their actions led to his removal from office.