Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey was born in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica on August 17, 1887. He was was a Jamaican-born black nationalist. At the age of fourteen, Garvey left school and became a printer's apprentice where he led a strike for higher wages. From 1910 to 1912 Garvey traveled in South and Central America and visited London too. He returned to Jamaica in 1914 and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). In 1916, Garvey moved to Harlem in New York where the UNIA continued to prosper. He was a natural born public speaker. With this gift, he spoke all across America. He encouraged Africans to be proud of their race and return to their homeland, Africa. He attracted thousands of supporters who agreed with what he had to say. In 1919, Garvey founded the Black Star Line, to provide transportation to Africa, and the Negro Factories Corporation to encourage black economic independence. Garvey also tried to persuade the governement of Liberia in West Africa to grant land on which black people from America could settle. Unfortunately, he was unseccesful in that recommendation. In 1922, Garvey was arrested for mail fraud connected with the Black Star Line, which at this point had failed. Garvey was sent to prison and later deported to Jamaica. In 1935, he moved
permanently to London where he died on June 10, 1940. In 1964, his body was returned to Jamaica where he was declared the country's first national hero.
permanently to London where he died on June 10, 1940. In 1964, his body was returned to Jamaica where he was declared the country's first national hero.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/garvey_marcus.shtml>.