Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born Black nationalist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, who organized the first important American Black nationalist movement (1919–26) based in Harlem, New York City.

Political Figure

August 17, 1887

Leo

June 10, 1940

52

St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica

Born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, Marcus Garvey was a charismatic Black leader who founded the first significant American Black nationalist movement. He established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and promoted black self-reliance and the creation of an independent black nation in Africa. Garvey’s most renowned work, “The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey,” encapsulates his beliefs and ideas. Additionally, he founded the Black Star Line, a shipping company focused on supporting black trade and transportation, and the Negro World newspaper. Garvey’s ideas continue to influence black nationalist movements today. He passed away on June 10, 1940, in London, England, after suffering multiple strokes.

An intriguing aspect of Marcus Garvey’s life is that he was a Jamaican-born Black nationalist and a leader of the Pan-Africanism movement. He organized the first significant American Black nationalist movement (1919–26), which was based in Harlem, New York City.