Marcus Garvey Research Paper

Marcus Garvey is known as the father of Black Nationalism. The unique approach that he had, included no support from whites and working on getting African Americans to return to Africa. He wanted this approach so that they were able to control their own destinies and organizations, his ultimate goal.

Booker T. Washington was Garvey’s inspiration. Similar to Washington, Garvey did not have any support from educated blacks or those who had power because he was not trusted. With the inspiration from Washington, Garvey launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) as a self-help organization for individuals of African descent. The UNIA was first established in Jamaica in 1914, then it made its way to the United States in 1916. This organization in the United States was filled with mostly the working class and poor black people. The UNIA established over 700 branch organizations in the US.

In his vision Garvey envisioned Africa as their common country, and a way to build a connection with ancestors. Garvey also thought that African Americans had the right to everything Africa had to offer. He argued "The Negro needs a nation and country of his own, where he can best show evidence of his own ability in the art of human progress" (Garvey, p.248). He promoted self-help, self-reliance and achieving on their own through an organization that would help the race toward a common goal. He argued "No Negro shall be truly respected until the races a while has emancipated itself through self-achievement and progress, from universal prejudice" (Garvey p.249). He wanted the race to build their own government, industry, art, science, culture, and literature to be independent and respected as a government. His thought was that they would help uplift the other individuals of African descent throughout the world, once their economy was self-sufficient and