Marcus Garvey was a monumental figure in global Black history. He was a Jamaican-born Pan-Africanist, powerful orator, and the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
This interactive timeline, “A Lifetime of Resistance,” chronicles his unrelenting journey. Consequently, it details his fight for Black economic independence, self-reliance, and political power across the globe.
Follow key dates from his birth in 1887 and the founding of the UNIA to his trial, deportation, and lasting legacy as a champion of Black consciousness.
Key Questions Answered
What was Marcus Garvey’s core mission?
Marcus Garvey’s mission was to build a global Pan-African movement centered on Black self-reliance, economic independence, and political power. He believed in the unity of all people of African descent and advocated for the establishment of an independent Black nation in Africa.
What was the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)?
The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), founded by Garvey in 1914, was the largest mass movement in Black history. Its goal was to unite people of African descent globally, promote racial pride, and create independent Black economic and political institutions.
What was the Black Star Line?
The Black Star Line was a steamship corporation established by Marcus Garvey and the UNIA in 1919. It was created to facilitate global trade among Black communities and transport people back to Africa, symbolizing Black economic independence.
Why was Marcus Garvey deported from the United States?
Marcus Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in 1923 related to the Black Star Line. After serving part of a five-year prison sentence, President Calvin Coolidge commuted his sentence in 1927 on the condition of his immediate deportation back to Jamaica.
What is Marcus Garvey’s enduring legacy?
Garvey’s legacy is one of profound psychological and cultural impact. He instilled racial pride and unity in millions of Black people worldwide. His ideas influenced the Nation of Islam, Rastafarianism, and the Black Power movement, and he is honored as Jamaica’s first National Hero.
Early Life and Pan-African Awakening (1887-1915)
1887: Birth in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica
August 17: Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. is born to Marcus Mosiah Garvey Sr., a mason, and Sarah Jane Richards, a domestic worker and farmer.
1910-1914: Travels and Intellectual Formation
Garvey travels through Central America and later moves to London, attending Birkbeck College. His experiences abroad solidify his Pan-African ideals and expose him to the global plight of Africans.
1914: The Founding of the UNIA
On July 20, after returning to Jamaica, Garvey and Amy Ashwood co-found the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL).
Arrival in America & The Rise of the UNIA (1916-1919)
1916: A Soapbox Orator in Harlem
Garvey arrives in New York City and quickly gains a following for his powerful speeches on Harlem street corners, advocating for Black unity and self-determination.
1919: The Black Star Line is Born
Garvey incorporates the Black Star Line, a steamship company intended to facilitate trade among Black communities and serve as a symbol of Black economic independence.
The Zenith of Garveyism and Global Influence (1920-1921)
1920: First International Convention
The UNIA holds its first International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World at Madison Square Garden. Garvey is elected Provisional President of Africa, and the Red, Black, and Green flag is adopted.
Confrontation and Government Persecution (1922-1925)
1922: Arrest for Mail Fraud
Garvey is arrested by the U.S. government for allegedly using the mails to fraudulently sell stock in the failing Black Star Line. This marks the beginning of intense government efforts to neutralize him.
1923: The Trial and Conviction
After a highly contentious trial where he represents himself, Garvey is convicted of mail fraud and sentenced to five years in prison.
Incarceration, Deportation, and Final Years (1925-1940)
1925: Incarceration in Atlanta
Garvey begins his sentence at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. From prison, he continues to write and lead the UNIA through his wife, Amy Jacques Garvey.
1927: Deportation from the United States
President Calvin Coolidge commutes Garvey’s sentence. He is released from prison and immediately deported to Jamaica, never to return to the U.S.
1940: Death in London
After relocating to London, Garvey suffers two strokes and dies on June 10 at the age of 52.
Legacy and National Hero Status (1964-Present)
1964: Jamaica’s First National Hero
Garvey’s body is returned to Jamaica, where he is declared the country’s first National Hero and re-interred at a shrine in his honor in National Heroes’ Park, Kingston.
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