Glossary
"Address to the Second UNIA Convention"
A pivotal speech delivered by Marcus Garvey in 1921, showcasing his powerful oratory and vision for Black self-reliance, African liberation, and Negro emancipation.
Example:
In his "Address to the Second UNIA Convention", Garvey passionately warned of impending racial conflict and criticized the League of Nations for its disregard of African sovereignty.
African diaspora
The global community of people of African descent who were dispersed from Africa, primarily through the transatlantic slave trade, and their descendants.
Example:
The UNIA's goal of achieving Black liberation extended across the entire African diaspora, including communities in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Americas.
Back-to-Africa Movement
A component of Garvey's ideology that advocated for the repatriation of African Americans to their ancestral homeland, believing true freedom and equality were impossible in the United States due to systemic racism.
Example:
The slogan 'Africa for the Africans' encapsulated the core idea of the Back-to-Africa Movement, which envisioned independent Black nations free from colonial rule.
Black Panther Party
A revolutionary Black nationalist and socialist organization founded in 1966 in the United States, known for its advocacy of self-defense and community programs.
Example:
While differing in methods, the Black Panther Party shared a lineage of Black liberation thought that could be traced back to Garvey's emphasis on self-determination.
Black Star Line
A steamship company founded by Marcus Garvey in 1919, intended to transport African Americans to Africa and promote trade and commerce between Africa and the African diaspora.
Example:
The Black Star Line was a tangible manifestation of Garvey's vision, symbolizing both the potential for Black economic power and the aspiration for a return to Africa.
Black liberation
The struggle for freedom, equality, and self-determination for people of African descent, often encompassing political, economic, and social emancipation from oppression.
Example:
The UNIA's ultimate objective was global Black liberation from colonialism and oppression across the African diaspora.
Black nationalism
A political and social movement that advocates for a racial identity and unity among people of African descent, often emphasizing self-determination, self-sufficiency, and the creation of separate Black institutions or nations.
Example:
Garvey's philosophy of Black nationalism provided a foundational framework that influenced later movements and leaders like Malcolm X.
Colonialism
The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Example:
The UNIA explicitly called for the end of European colonialism in Africa and the establishment of independent Black nations.
Economic Independence
The ability of an individual or group to sustain themselves financially without reliance on external entities, often achieved through self-owned businesses and financial systems.
Example:
Garvey believed that achieving true economic independence through Black-owned businesses and financial institutions was crucial for the overall liberation of African Americans.
Jim Crow laws
State and local laws enacted in the Southern and some border states of the United States from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries, enforcing racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
Example:
During the era of intense racial violence and Jim Crow laws, the UNIA inspired African Americans to embrace their heritage and take pride in their racial identity.
League of Nations
An intergovernmental organization founded in 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War, aimed at promoting international cooperation and peace.
Example:
Marcus Garvey criticized the League of Nations for dividing African territories among European powers without consulting the African people themselves.
Liberty University
An institution founded by the UNIA, reflecting its commitment to educational advancement and the creation of separate Black institutions for the progress of the race.
Example:
The establishment of Liberty University by the UNIA underscored their belief that Black people needed their own educational systems to achieve true self-determination.
Marcus Garvey
A Jamaican-born Black nationalist leader, Marcus Garvey was the charismatic driving force behind the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and its global initiatives.
Example:
Marcus Garvey's powerful speeches inspired thousands to embrace their African heritage and envision a future of Black self-governance.
Nation of Islam
An African American political and religious organization founded in the United States, known for its advocacy of Black nationalism and self-sufficiency.
Example:
The UNIA's separatist approach and focus on Black empowerment directly inspired organizations like the Nation of Islam in the mid-20th century.
Negro Consciousness
The awakening of a new, empowered sense of identity, pride, and awareness among people of African descent, often in response to historical oppression and a call for collective action.
Example:
Garvey's declaration that "The old Negro is buried" signaled the emergence of a new era of Negro Consciousness, characterized by pride and a demand for global recognition.
Negro Emancipation
The act or process of freeing people of African descent from legal, social, or political restrictions and oppression.
Example:
Garvey's "Address to the Second UNIA Convention" emphasized the urgency of achieving Negro Emancipation worldwide, not just in the United States.
Negro Factories Corporation
An economic initiative established by the UNIA to create and operate Black-owned businesses, aiming to foster economic independence and self-sufficiency within the African American community.
Example:
Through ventures like the Negro Factories Corporation, Garvey sought to demonstrate the economic prowess of Black people and create jobs within their own communities.
Pan-Africanism
A global movement that emphasizes the unity, solidarity, and shared heritage of people of African descent worldwide, often advocating for the political and economic liberation of Africa and its diaspora.
Example:
The UNIA's broad international scope, with members across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa, exemplified its commitment to Pan-Africanism.
Rastafari movement
An Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, which reveres Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I as God incarnate and views Marcus Garvey as a prophet.
Example:
The Rastafari movement in Jamaica was profoundly influenced by Garvey's teachings, seeing him as a prophetic figure who foretold their spiritual and physical return to Africa.
Red, black, and green flag
A flag created by the UNIA as a symbol of Black pride and unity, with red representing the blood shed for liberation, black representing African people, and green representing the natural wealth of Africa.
Example:
The red, black, and green flag became an enduring symbol of Pan-African unity, later adopted by several African countries upon gaining independence.
Self-determination
The process by which a group of people, often sharing a common identity, forms its own state and chooses its own government, or otherwise controls its own affairs.
Example:
Garvey's advocacy for the creation of separate Black institutions was rooted in the belief that true self-determination required economic, political, and educational independence.
Self-reliance
The principle of relying on one's own efforts and resources, particularly within the context of a community or group, to achieve independence and progress.
Example:
Garvey's vision for the UNIA heavily promoted self-reliance, encouraging Black communities to build their own businesses and institutions rather than depending on external support.
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
Founded by Marcus Garvey, the UNIA was the largest pan-African movement in African American history, aiming to unite people of African descent globally and promote their economic and political empowerment.
Example:
The UNIA established businesses and institutions, like the Negro Factories Corporation, to foster economic independence within the Black community.
White supremacy
A racist ideology based on the belief that white people are superior to people of other races and should therefore dominate society.
Example:
The UNIA directly challenged white supremacy by advocating for Black economic and political empowerment, asserting the dignity and capability of African people.