Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the man, the myth and the legend, was a great Black-American leader, a champion for Africans in diaspora, whose life and work continue to inspire millions today.
Who is Marcus Mosiah Garvey?
Born in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, Marcus Mosiah Garvey (August 17, 1887 – June 10, 1940), was a prominent Black nationalist and a visionary leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, based in New York City’s Harlem. He was a staunch believer in the African spirit and a passionate advocate for the unification of all people of African descent worldwide. If Black Pride is a prominent feature in our social media hashtags, it’s because of this man. In 1914 he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association to advocate for black pride.
Five Facts About Marcus Mosiah Garvey
- Black Pride and Identity: Garvey inspired Black people to be proud of their heritage. His message of self-love and confidence still resonates today. The “Black Moses” was acclaimed to have a following of over 2,000,000 people. His ideal black man, “a new negro”, was a proud black man aware of his African culture and identity.
- Economic Empowerment: He believed in supporting Black businesses and creating wealth within the community. He pioneered the Black Star Line (1919) and Negro Factories Corporation, chain restaurants, grocery stores, laundries, a hotel and a printing press. His ideas are still relevant as many push for financial independence.
- Pan-African Unity: Garvey dreamed of uniting all people of African descent. His vision still guides those who work to connect Africa with its diaspora. He was vocal about his beliefs and taught about black heroes and the beauty of African traditional culture.
- Repatriation: He encouraged people to consider returning to Africa. Today, his ideas spark discussions about reconnecting with ancestral roots. In his time, he made a lot of enemies among black leaders who were against his approach to black nationalism, like W.E.B. Du Bois.
- Inspiration for Movements: Many civil rights leaders looked up to Garvey. His teachings helped shape movements for freedom and justice across the world. He inspired generations of leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela.
Ten Quotes From Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Wear these quotes like a badge of honor and let them renew and restore your African spirit.
- “Hail! United States of Africa-free! Country of the brave black man’s liberty; State of greater nationhood thou hast won, A new life for the race is just begun.”
- “The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.”
- “The race needs workers at this time, not plagiarists, sophists and mere imitators; but men and women who are able to create, to originate and improve, and thus make an independent racial contribution to the world and civilisation.”
- “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.”
- “Pay no attention to the man who criticizes unless he is doing something better than what he criticizes.”
- “You at this time can only be destroyed by yourselves, from within and not from without. You have reached the point where the victory is to be won from within and can only be lost from within.”
- “The ends you serve that are selfish will take you no further than yourself but the ends you serve that are for all, in common, will take you into eternity.”
- “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
- “God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.”
- “Never forget that intelligence rules the world and ignorance carries the burden. Therefore, remove yourself as far as possible from ignorance and seek as far as possible to be intelligent.”
Which of these quotes would you regard as your favorite?
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