Marcus Garvey A Symbol for Black Nationalism
admin on 22 Sep 2008 | history
My first kid’s father named my son Marcus after legendary Marcus Garvey. Which made me curious to know more about who Marcus Garvey actually was
“Up You Mighty Race, Accomplish What You Will…” (Marcus Garvey)
The following text is dedicated to my eldest son Marcus.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born on August the 17, 1887, in St Ann’s Bay, Jamaica as the youngest of 11 children.
Marcus Garvey was known as a journalist, entrepreneur, publisher and a crusader for black nationalism. During his whole life, he has fought for racial equality.
Childhood years
In St Ann’s Bay, young Marcus attended grammar school. Alfred Burrowes, his godfather, also gave him some private instruction. Alfred Burrowes hired Marcus at the age of 14 as an apprentice in order to learn the printing trade.
Garvey’s father, who was the owner of a private library, encouraged young Marcus’ love for books.
During his apprentice period, Marcus used to discuss politics and social affairs at his uncle’s place.
In 1906, Garvey moved from St Ann to Kingston.
In 1908, Marcus Garvey participated in Jamaica’s first Printers’ Union strike. The strike was unsuccessful and as a consequence, Marcus Garvey lost his job.
Luckily, he was employed by the Government Printing Office.
Visiting the world
Around 1910, Marcus Garvey left Jamaica for Costa Rica. There, he worked as a time keeper at a panana plantation. Then he went to Central America, visited the Panama Central Zone. He observed Blacks and Indians hard working conditions. He also traveled to Equador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Columbia and Venezuela.
Very sensitive about discrimination and racial prejudice, Marcus Garvey always had the will to make things change. That’s why he appealed to his government in order to improve West Indians working conditions. But the government just wouldn’t listen to his complaint.
Garvey, the publisher
Marcus Garvey’s first publications started during his Central American travels.
In 1910, Garvey started his first newspaper, The Watcher, that was followed by several other short lived newspapers
He was also associated with several publications:
- The African Times and Orient Review, The Daily Negro Times, Harlem, 1922-1924
-The Blackman, Kingston, Jamaica, 1929-1931
-The New Jamaican, Kingston, 1932-33
Marcus Garvey started The Black Man Magazine in 1933 in Kingston. His magazine was continued in England until 1939.
Black militantism: the creation of the UNIA-ACL
Marcus Garvey was very conscious that improving black folks conditions was a long term work. It had better chances to work if Africans united. That’s why he created the the Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League (UNIA). As the President of the UNIA, he defined its goal to unite
Tags: black heroes, black history, black nationalism, Jamaica, Marcus Garvey