Biography of Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey is one of the most influential African Americans, having worked as an active member of the Black Nationalist and Pan-Africanist Movement. His philosophies and ambition were displayed in his many articles, editorials and essays and were incredibly unique in the 1920s, a time where African Americans were still victims of Jim Crow laws, which strengthened racial discrimination by subjecting African Americans and other minorities to de jure segregation and restricted civil liberties.

Born in Jamaica on August 17, 1887, Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. grew up as one of eleven children of his father a mason and his mother a domestic worker. Despite his humble beginnings, Garvey was able to become a printer's apprentice in Kingston, Jamaica. During his time in Kingston, he participated in early nationalists organizations, traveling the world and working with notable figures such as Sudanese nationalist Duse Mohamed Ali. In 1916, Booker T. Washington invited Garvey to America to help open an industrial training school, however Garvey did not arrive to the U.S. until Washington died.

Settling down, he established a chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and African Communities League (ACL) and through his association with these organizations spread his powerful philosophies. He promoted the "Back to Africa" message, but also spoke of the enlightenment and strengthening of African descendants all over the world.

Marcus Garvey's philosophies are now known as Garveyism. Garveyism is notable for its call to create an African nation that experienced self-reliance from "descendants of the Slavemasters", but its main goal was to redeem motherland Africa. Garvey stated the importance of nationhood, "The Negro needs a nation and a country of his own, where he can best show evidence of his own ability and the art of human progress."

Though, Garvey promoted the "Back to Africa" slogan, he did not intend for all African Americans to leave the United States to settle in Africa. He did want them to go to Africa to help build the nation, in which he advocated.

Garvey definitely practiced what he preached. His second wife, Amy Jacques Garvey, a journalist and publisher, wrote Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, which provides a variety of quotes by Marcus Garvey. According to Garvey, "Life is that existence that is given to man to live for a purpose". Garvey's sole purpose was to provide inspiration to all the African people of the world. He traveled everywhere from Geneva to London to Toronto to Liberia, speaking his philosophies until his death in 1940.

Though W.E.B. Du Bois claimed Garvey was "either a lunatic or a traitor" because his work, including a trip to Atlanta to participate in a KKK rally to promote the black nationalist message to White America, seemed undermined the efforts of the NAACP and other organization to gain civil rights, Garvey was pronounced Jamaica's First National Hero. Garveyism and the African Redemption movement, Garvey promoted with the UNIA and ACL, became an incredible influence for later Pan-African movements and organizations.

The Nation of Islam, Father Divine's Universal Peace Mission Movement, and the Rastafari Movement incorporated the religious component present in Garvey's philosophy. Rastafarians include Garvey's teachings in their spiritual practices, along with considering him a prophet. Garvey's proclamation that "black is beautiful" also encouraged racial pride and to this day celebrations of African heritage continue.