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GARVEY AND GARVEYISM 
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( AFRICA 
- A. Jacques Garvey . 
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G- l0B794 
Q.. E ,~r .. 9r 
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DEDICATED TO 
TRUTH AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING 
BETWEEN RACES 
Weare all merely human beings, 
what we do to others, 
not only affect them, but ourselves,-
our dispositions, our actions, 
which all leave their impress, 
that, history records. 
A.l.G. 
PubUahed by A. Jacques Garvey, 12 Mona Rd., Kingston 6, Jamaica. W.I. 
Copyright 1963. First publication printed by United Printers Ltd.. 218 
MarcU!l Garvey Drive. Kingston 11. Jamaica, W.I. 
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A compo8ite picture of Mr. and Mr8. Garvey, with Marcu8 and Julius. Thi8 was taken ID New York Cily, August, 1946, when 
Mre. Garvey and the bOyA were gueAlII of the Garvey Club Inc. 
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Dear Reader: 
During the year 1926, while my husband - Marcus Garvey 
was incarcerated in Atlanta Federal prison, U.S.A. I published 
two volumes of his speeches and writings entitled "The Philo-
sophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey" because no white pub-
lisher would do the work. I had to go on several lecture tours 
to raise the money to pay the Printers, as it was a cash trans-
action; I also had to proof-read, and distribute and sell the 
books. 
It was important that his words and works should be re-
corded; and at his request, hundreds of books were mailed to 
important persons, libraries and institutions of learning all over 
the world, as well as to Senators and Congressmen of the United 
States of America, so that they could know the truth about 
Garveyism, the facts that lead up to the campaign - "Garvey 
must go" by his jealous rivals, and which ended in his imprison-
ment, and finally deportation. 
At the time of his death in 1940, three hundred books were 
left. Knowing our financial pOSition, the Secretary General of 
the U.N.I.A. offered to sell them in America. I shipped all the 
books to her, never received a cent from her, and after months 
of enquiries, was told that tl,e President-General took them 
from her, and sold them. He never remitted the money to me. 
\Vithin recent years I have made repeated requestl:S to the 
Executives of the Parent Body, U.N.I.A. in America to advance 
the moneys necessary for a reprint of the books, at an interest 
rate of seven per cent; but this has never materialized, and 
no Publisher will undertake same, that is why ''The Philosophy 
and Opinions" is still out of print. 
As African nations emerge from Colonialism, the clamour 
is even greater for books on Garvey. Very often I have to 
answer questionnaires from insistent Students, Teachers and 
political aspirants; so in 1958 I wrote this short biographical 
volume - Garvey and Garveyism, tried to get a publisher and 
failed. Now at the close of 1962, realizing that when I pass 
on much of the authentic story of his life will be lost, I ap-
pealed to an old stalwart member of the U .N.I.A. in America, 
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and he has consented to loan more than half of the cost of 
printing, and another member has promised to lend a few hun-
dred dollars. 
Dear Reader, I have related the above, so that you will 
know the amount of work and responsibility I have to publish 
this book, sell them, and repay the loans with interest. You 
can help by asking others to buy a book. 
A. Jacques Garvey, 
Widow of Marcus Garvey. 
12 Mona Road, 
Kingston 6, 
Jamaica, W.I. 
December 1962. 
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CHAPTER 1. 
From early history we learn of men and women who have 
emerged from their environment and so far out-distanced their 
contemporaries in thought and action, that in their day they 
were apt to be called "mad, dangerous or fools". Long after 
their death, when the truths they espoused, the experiments they 
proved are materialized, or the dangers which they pointed out, 
come to pass, then, they who have been convinced by experience 
are prone to admit that the Visionary was right, and must have 
been inspired to have been so persevering. 
Heredity and environment seem to influence them, and 
used by them to carry out a spiritual urge in a given line - an 
experiment, a mission or task. They seem to have a Supreme 
Purpose in life, and once started, even against personal interests 
will not give up. They are, as it were, impelled to go on, even 
to death. 
In this category we may well place Marcus Mosiah Garvey, 
born on the 17th day of August 1887, to Marcus and Sarah 
Garvey in Jamaica, an Island in the Caribbean, discovered by 
Columbus on his second voyage to the New World, and called 
Xaymaca - Isle of Springs. The Spaniards decimated the Ara-
waks - the aborigines, and controlled the Island for 161 years; 
during which time they brought Africans to work on the plant-
ations. When the English captured the Island finally in 1657, 
most of the Africans fled to the hills, and led a free life, so 
they were called Maroons from "Cimarron" - the wild ones. 
Although many military expeditions were sent against them, 
they defeated the trained soldiers. The English exhausted by 
these guerillas from the caves and hills, Signed a peace treaty 
of friendship with them, allowing them to live on their lands 
without paying taxes, and to be directly governed by their own 
Chiefs. Many more shipments of Africans were brought to the 
Island by the English to work as slaves, but the Maroons always 
regarded themselves as superior. 
Garvey's father who was always an enigma to his neighbours 
in St. Ann's Bay, St. Ann (the Garden Parish) is said to be a 
descendant of the Maroons. A Jewish lady 89 years old who 
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4 Garvey and Garveyism 
knew both Mr. and Mrs. Garvey well, being a resident of that 
parish herself, described them as follows: 
"Mr. Garvey was a master mason, he did both stone and 
brick work beautifully, but he always acted as if he did not 
belong among the villagers; he was well read, and gave advice 
as a local lawyer. He was silent, stern, seem to have the 
strength of an ox, his complexion was not very black, but his 
features were broad, and nose flat. He was 'Mr. Garvey' to 
every one, even to Sarah - his wife and children. 
"She was just the opposite to him in every way. She was 
one of the most beautiful black women I have ever seen. She 
had European features; her skin was black and soft as velvet; 
her eyes jet black, large, liquid and sad. Her voice was gentle 
and caressing, her figure well shaped and erect. She was a 
regular Church-goer at the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Mr. 
Garvey only attended funerals, which were not often. Mrs. 
Garvey used to make delicious pastries from coconuts, guavas 
etc., and sell them, as Mr. Garvey took jobs when he felt like it, 
and would rather lock himself in his room and read". 
This strange union brought forth eleven children, but they 
all died in childhood, except Indiana and Marcus. He was the 
youngest, and although all the others boys had biblical names 
given them by their Mother, yet Mose as he was called, was 
named Marcus by his father, who believed in planetary influ-
ences, and said, "any boy born under the planet Leo - the 
lion, when the Sun is in the ascendancy is bound to be a leader 
in his line". Mrs. Garvey wanted him named Moses, so he 
compromised and added Mosiah to Marcus, and she said, "I 
hope he will be like Moses and lead his people". 
In the domestic arrangements Mr. Garvey dwelt apart -
he built a large room, several feet away from the home. In 
this room he housed his books and newspapers; he lived there 
when he wanted to be alone, and tl,at was almost always; he 
stored imported canned foods, fruits, cheese and biscuits, so 
that he could read and munch to his heart's content without 
interference. 
Mose grew up very close to his Mother, he was her baby, 
her comfort, her handy-one. She was Co-owner with a single 
brother of a property at Chalky Hill, when pimento and citrus 
came to reaping time, she sent ~lose to help in the reaping, 
selling and bringing back her portion of the proceeds. Crop-
time was a big time for him, as his Ma would he sure to give 
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Garvey and Garveyism 5 
him something new from her allotment. Such trifles as Mose's 
wants did not worry Mr. Garvey, he was too engrossed in him-
self and his brooding_ 
Mose was puzzled over his father's moodiness and abstrac-
tion, he used to sit by the sea and wonder why his old man 
was so cross, why his Mother was so patient with him. Would 
he ever have money to go on one of the big ships which took 
logwood and pimento to Germany, sugar and citrus to England, 
and bananas to America? He longed to see the people and 
places he read about in his father's books. Everything seem 
to move so slowly in the Town; the big Plantation Owners sent 
their children to England to High Schools and Colleges, the 
small Planters sent their children to Kingston (the capital) for 
higher education. He had hopes that he too would go there. 
But his father's peculiar disposition, his unreasonable stubborn-
ness was causing him to lose his properties. For twenty years 
he had been getting newspapers from Mr. Gaul, the Owner-
Publisher, and understood it was a gift - for what Mr. Garvey 
read others in the village would be sure to read, so it went 
until the Owner died, and in winding up his estate his Execu-
tors sent Mr. Garvey a bill for thirty pounds ($150), he refused 
to pay it. He was sued, contested the case, lost, and still re-
fused to pay claim and costs; so by Court order one of his 
properties was attached and sold for much less than its value. 
He became more irritable, as he felt that he was unjustly 
dealt with. He quarreled with a neighbour about a boundary 
line of a few feet, with another about cutting down a cedar 
tiee which he claimed, and so he was in and out of Court, losing 
each time as costs piled up against him, until he lost all of his 
lands, except just a house spot. 
So at 14 Mose had to leave Elementary School (Public 
School) and was apprenticed to his God-father - Mr. Burrowes 
to learn printing. At a small country Printery one learns every-
thing in connection with the trade, besides Mr. Burrowes had 
many books, and the "Wise-heads" of the Town would drop in, 
especially on market days, to swap news, discuss the happenings. 
After two years Mose was full of knowledge, but his pockets 
were thin. He was always reminded when he asked for a 
raise that he was learning "a good trade." 
A hurricane swept the countryside in 1903, destroyed econ-
omic trees and flood rains ruined the ground food, such as yams, 
cocoes, and cassava. Ma Garvey was in desperate straits, as 
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6 Garvey and Garveyism 
all her crops were lost. Mose confided only to her his plans 
to go to Kingston to his Maternal Uncle, and get a job as a 
Printer, so that later on he could send for her. 
He kept his word, but she did not like City life, and 
fretted over her losses in the country. To her, real life was -
plenty of fruit trees, basking under their cool shade, getting 
water from the river, without having to pay for it, tending her 
garden, and having chickens and ducks in her yard. Without 
this domestic freedom and natural living, she felt cooped-up in 
a room, looking out on paved streets, thinking of what might 
have been. She soon died. 
To Mose, city life lacked the natural beauty, calm and 
neighbourliness of village life, but it brought a quickening of 
other activities, contacts with people who had travelled on 
ships to all parts of the world, civic consciousness and vocal 
expression. Barbershop forums, and Park-bench discussion 
groups after work contributed to his mental expansion. At 
first he was a silent listener, hesitant to enter discussions, for 
his first attempt he was rudely rebuked and told, "Country boy 
shut your mouth". This retort galled him; he determined after 
this to learn how to be a good speaker. He knew he had views 
which were different to those of his Comrades, but being young, 
they were all to chaff at his youth, and disregard his points of 
argument, so he must learn to press them with logic and persu-
asion. 
At this period in Jamaica there were no elocution classes, 
no concert or stage groups, so every Sunday he visited different 
churches to get pointers in platform deportment and oratory 
from the Preachers. In his room he read aloud passages from 
School Readers, also poems, and tried out gestures he thought 
apt, while pacing the floor. 
In January 1907 occurred a great earthquake and fire which 
destroyed the Capital City - Kingston, killing over 800 persons, 
and destroying buildings and property to the value of two mil-
lion pounds. Money was loaned by the English Government 
to help rebuild the City. Wages were very low, money lost 
more of its purchasing power, because of scarcity of commodi-
ties etc., and workers felt the pinch. The first Union to be form-
ed in the Island was a Printers' Union, and Garvey was fore-
most in it. They made demands for an increase in wages, and 
better working conditions, which were not met. They struck, 
and although Garvey was a Foreman at Benjamin's Printery and 
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he personally was promised an increase in pay, he struck with 
them. The Union received financial help from American 
Printers, but the Union Treasurer left the Island with the money, 
and broke the morale of the men. 
After this Garvey went to work at the Government Printing 
Office. Saturday nights himself and others used to have dis-
cussion groups at Victoria pier, fanned by the sea breezes, and 
lighted, sometimes by the moon, they would hold forth on all 
sorts of subjects, but what was uppermost in his mind was how 
to improve the lot of the poor working people. Thus he helped 
to form the first political club in Jamaica called the National 
Club, which issued a publication fortnightly called "Our Own". 
By this time he could speak fluently and endeavoured to 
help others. In 1910 he used to train young men and women 
in elocution and arrange concerts and elocution contests. Pro-
minent persons donated the prizes. The first black man to in-
spire in him leadership was Dr. Love, who was born in Nassau, 
Bahamas, educated in England and on the Continent. He spent 
his best years in Jamaica, fighting for the uplift of the black 
masses. He published a paper called "The Advocate". Cour-
ageous and out-spoken, he spent all his time and means in this 
work, and in the practice of medicine, especially among the poor. 
Garvey now realized that his cultural and political activi-
ties were a full-time work. He gave up his job at the Printery, 
and published a little paper called "The Watchman". But he 
had nothing to sustain him, and could not get help. He de-
cided to go to Costa Rica to one of his Maternal Uncles, to 
earn enough money and return to continue his work. Off he 
went, where the Fruit Company was clearing and planting 
bananas. His Uncle got him a job as a Time-keeper, but what 
his black people had to brave in order to earn a living sickened 
him - daily they had to encounter snakes, swamps and wild 
tiger-cats; at week-ends when they got their pay, and went to 
the nearby Towns to buy the week's supply, the Costa Rican 
bandits would lay-wait them on their return trip, chop them like 
logs with their Spanish machetes, and take away money and 
goods. Mutilated black bodies in the rivers and bush were 
common sights. He could stand it no longer, and returned to 
Port Limon, the Capital There he discovered that those who 
had put their moneys in the Banks suffered great risks, as the 
Banks were not under government control, they were run more 
like private money exchange agencies. Garvey then asked the 
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8 Garvey and Garveyism 
British Consul what could be done to protect the lives and 
moneys of these black British subjects. Quite nonchalantly he 
was told that nothing could be done by him as Consul, he 
could not change conditions in Costa Rica. Garvey then rea-
lized that white men did not regard the lives of black men as 
equal to those of white men, and had no intention of trying to 
protect blacks or giving them a square deal. 
With what money he had earned, he started a paper called, 
"La Nacionale", but he could not carry it on for long, as his 
people were not organized and enlightened enough to help him 
fight their own battles. His Uncle helped him to go to Bocas-
del-Toro, Republic of Panama, where he saw much of the same 
abuse of the labour and theft of the moneys of his people. He 
worked there for some months, then went to Colon and started 
another paper called "La Prensa". The Panama Canal was 
dug with West Indian labour under American contract, but pre-
viously thousands had lost their lives from malaria and other 
diseases because of the insanitary conditions. Frenchmen 
started the Canal, American dollars finished it, but black men's 
sweat and blood were spilled copiously to make this dream 
come true. Yet they were called "Silver Employees" - under-
paid, and jim-crowed in separate quarters, not as good as "Gold 
Employees", meaning white men. 
He left Panama and went to Ecuador, South America, where 
West Indian labour was being used on tobacco fields and in 
mining. Again he saw the awful conditi JS under which they 
laboured - no protection from the British Consul, and no ef-
forts made for their welfare. The same conditions obtained in 
Nicaragua, Spanish Honduras, Columbia and Venezuela. Sick-
ened with fever, and sick at heart over appeals from his people 
for help on their behalf, he decided to return to J amaioa in 
1911, and try with Government there, as well as to awaken 
Jamaicans at home to the true conditions on the Spanish Main-
land. 
From Government he was faced with the same inertia and 
disinterestedness towards the black peoples' suffering in order 
to earn a living, and help their poor relatives back home. The 
Governor said he was not inclined to get in bad graces with the 
Spanish Republics, and if conditions there were intolerable Ja-
maicans should return. But argued Garvey, "return to do 
what?" To this Government was mum. 
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Garvey and Garveyism 9 
The people urged Garvey to form an Association for the 
betterment of black West Indians at home and abroad. Again 
money handicapped him, and Government frowned on his ef· 
forts. He called the Organization the Universal Negro Improve. 
ment Association. The word "Negro" created opposition and 
prevented help from "better-off Coloured people", who felt that 
Negro was synonymous with low, good-for-nothing. To the 
few whites it suggested an organized black majority; which they 
felt would be dangerous to their economic over-lordship. These 
Oppositions were subtle and under-mining, so he decided to go 
to England, and try to eullst the sympathy of black seamen and 
students from Africa. 
He had heard of conditions in Africa and Europe from the 
lips of Jamaicans and Barbadians who had been soldiers in the 
West India Regiments used in Africa to suppress Africans and 
take their territories. The last event was the Ashanti war. The 
West Indians were urged to fight Africans, so that they could 
be, "subdued, Christianized, and taught the modern way of 
living". It is said that when the Africans saw black men com-
ing toward them, many threw down their primitive weapons and 
surrendered, regarding them as long-lost relatives. But both 
were disillusioned soon afterwards, as white Traders and Soldiers 
took possession of Africans' lands and began exploiting their 
labours. Many Barbadian Ex-soldiers settled in Jamaica. 
All this Garvey digested and determined that amends should 
be made for the deception practised on Africans and their re-
latives abroad. The year 1912-13 found him in England, and 
on the European Continent, contacting African Seamen and Stu-
dents, who opened to him new vistas of Africa and Asia. He 
worked on the "African Times and Orient Review" published 
in London by Duse Mohammed Ali, an Egyptian Scholar and 
Traveller. From him he learned much of Africa's ancient his-
tory, topography, mineral potential and labour conditions of 
semi-slavery and serfdom. All this suffering in order to mine 
and produce wealth to enrich Europeans, and turn their wheel. 
of industry, thereby providing gainful employment for their 
peoples, with the attendant educational and cultural facilities. 
The ingrates! thought he, who are making them rich and puffed-
up? Africa, India and Malayas. How long is this deception to 
last? Only so long as they continue to keep all subject peoples 
ignorant of each others conditions of exploitation and abuses -
half starved and uneducated. He now knew that the Coloured 
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10 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
Races out-numbered the whites, as three-quarters of the earth'. 
population were coloured. What if these vast number. dis-
covered their potentialities and possibilities for them to act as 
freed men and women guiding their own destiny? 
Garvey spent much time in the libraries, reading among 
other things the rise and fall of Empires, Economics etc., he 
also attended Trinity College, but found it hard to study and 
earn enough to keep himself in warm clothing and good food; 
he decided to return to Jamaica, full of added information to 
continue the work of the Organization. 
In one of his articles in the "African Times and Orient Re-
view", dated Mid-October 1913, under the caption - 'The Bri-
tish West Indies in the mirror of civilization - history", he de-
scribed the appalling economic conditions of the masses, and 
made this prophecy in closing: 
"As one who knows the people well, I make no apology for 
prophesying that there will soon be a turning point in the his-
tory of the West Indies, and that the people who inhabit that 
portion of the Western Hemisphere will be the instruments of 
uniting a scattered Race, who before the close of many centuries 
will found an Empire on which the sun shall shine as ceaseless 
as it shines on the Empire of the North today. 
"This may be regarded as a dream, but I would point my 
critical friends to history and its lessons. Would Caesar have 
believed that the country he was invading in 55 B.C. would be 
the seat of the greatest Empire of the world? Laugh then as 
you may at what I have been bold enough to prophesy, but as 
surely as there is evolution in the natural growth of man and 
nations, so surely will there be a change in the history of these 
subjected Regions." 
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CHAPTER 2. 
On board ship one night as he lay thinking of all he had 
seen and heard in England and Europe, the whole Mrican pro· 
gramme came to him as a revelation. Silently he questioned 
himself and prayed for the answers and directives. Thought he, 
the conditions in Mrica certainly are a reflection on Western-
ized black people, despite handicaps in their way . .. a continu-
ation of this estrangement would be tantamount to ingratitude 
if and when the true situation is told them. Yes, he must tell 
them, he must show them their true relationship toward each 
other ... the condition of one reflects on the others. Mter all 
exploitation of blacks and discrimination were everywhere, only 
in a greater or lesser degree. Where was the black man's gov-
ernment strong enough to protect him? A black man seem to 
have only one true passport, that was his black face; no matter 
what other passport he p,resented as a subject or citizen of any 
country in which he was born, his black face finally decided 
the way he should be treated, and that was usually less than 
white men. 
Where were black men's ships to carry his minerals and 
produce to make him economically secure? White Companies 
only took black men's cargoes, and carried them as passengers 
when it suited their convenience. Their attitude was, "if you 
don't like it, then swim the oceans or get your own ships". 
Where were black men's factories to provide employment for 
their people? Why should black men always walk hat in hand 
begging white men for jobs? This is why he is kicked around, 
and gets the refuse; this is why he is treated with contempt, 
sometimes with pity, but never with re'pect as a Race. 
Up from his bunk he rose, got his note-book, and added a 
Co-title to his Organization - "Mrican Communities' League". 
Aims and Objects: 
"To establish a Universal Confraternity among the race; to pro-
mote the spirit of pride and Iqve; to reclaim the fallen; to ad-
minister to and assist the needy; to assist in civilizing the back-
ward tribes of Africa; to assist in the development of Inde-
pendent Negro nations and communities; to establish a central 
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12 Garvey and Garveyism 
nation for the race, where they will be given the opportunity 
to develop themselves; to establish Commissaries and Agencies 
in the principal countries and cities of the world for the repre-
sentation of all Negroes; to promote a conscientious Spiritual 
worship among the native tribes of Africa; to establish Universi-
ties, Colleges, Academies and Schools for racial education and 
culture of the people; to improve the general conditions of 
Negroes everywhere." 
Thus his embryonic ideas took on more expansive growth, 
and the words of the old Hymn became a prayer on his lips, 
"For service Lord, 0 let me live, My love, my All to others 
give." 
The Preamble to the Constitution which he wrote before 
he left for England reads:· 
"The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African 
Communities' League is a social, friendly, humanitarian, chari-
table, educational, institutional, constructive and expansive 
SOciety, and is founded by persons desiring to the utmost, to 
work for the general uplift of the Negro peoples of the world; 
and the members pledge themselves to do all in their power 
to conserve the rights of their noble Race, and to respect the 
rights of all mankind, believing always in the Brotherhood of 
Man, and the Fatherhood of God. 
''The Motto of the Organization is: One God! One Aim! 
One Destiny! therefore let justice be done to all mankind, realiz-
ing that if the strong oppresses the weak, confusion and dis-
content will ever mark the path of man, but with love, faith 
and charity towards all, the reign of peace, and plenty will be 
heralded into the world and the generations of men shall be 
called Blessed". 
In 1914 he arrived in Jamaica, and for nearly two years he 
struggled to unite Jamaicans to a consciousness of Race. A 
gigantic task, as educated well-off blacks ignored the cause of 
the black masses; they were purposely accepted into the society 
of the whites, and told they were "different". This was done 
to weaken the black majority economically and intellectually. 
The ambition of blacks when they got money and education was 
to "lift up the colour" of their children by marrying white or 
near-whites. Because, argued they, these children will be ac-
cepted in society and get better business opportunities and jobs; 
this was a social and particularly an economical expediency, 
but it created a colour-of-skin bias. Garvey tried to show them 
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Garvey and Garveyiml 13 
the falsity and trickery of it, and that outside the shores of the 
Islands, they are classified and treated as belonging to a poor, 
rejected Race. But prejudice based on "class" was an English 
institution, and to ape the English, and be snobbish made them 
feel "high.and mighty". This is one of the phases of "divide-
and-rule" policy of Imperialism in Colonial territories, to reduce 
the people of a particular country - the real Owners of the land 
- to impotence in thinking as a group, and acting in their own 
interest. 
Garvey spent many months of hardships and disappoint-
ments by not getting the masses to unite and co-operate for 
their own good, but still he plodded on. He was up against 
the Plantocracy - the I.and Barons, the white Shipping and 
Fruit Companies, (who made millions yearly out of the Islands 
and Africa), newspapers, whose policy was to make the Island 
safe for Big Business at any cost, they being the stock-holders. 
Added to this combine were the people he was trying to re-
educate, who for over a century had been steeped in the almost 
divine might of Imperialist European Nations. "It can't be 
done," was the innermost thoughts of even those who were help-
ing him; yet they knew tIIat he was but expressing their hopes 
and ambitions. 
The subtle economic thraldom of Colonial Powers in the 
Caribbean fools many West Indians who say, "All I want is 
money to do business, or good-paying, steady work . . . I can 
buy a good house anywhere I want to live, I can send my 
children to good schools as long as I can pay for them ... I can 
live like a real man and be respected ... All I want Is money." 
True. But to get it for the masses, was the almost imposs;ble 
task. To make this possible at once, would necessitate revo-
lutionary measures, which would be impractical and horrifying. 
But this foolish thinking - this mirage taunted the masses, and 
made Garvey's work harder. 
Seamen travelling on Banana shipS told him of opportuni-
ties in America; he also heard of the help Booker T. Washington 
got for his work in the Southern States, so he wrote him, and 
Washington encouraged him to come up. Garvey felt that if 
he could get funds, he would return and open a Trade School 
like Tuskegee. This would give practical help to the masses, 
who then had no such opportunity for training; at the same 
time he could inculcate in them Race-love, and strengthen his 
African programme in the entire Island. The Trade School 
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14 Garvey and Garveyism 
would in time furnish competent men and women as T echnicaI 
Missionaries to be sent to the Mother country - Africa. 
He planned to set up branches of the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association and African Communities League under 
Coloured American leadership, and return to Jamaica to estab-
lish his Trade School and black Cultural Centre. Where he 
could keep in touch with the American and African branches, 
and go periodically to America, which could be used as a meet-
ing-ground for Conventions, because of freedom of speech and 
pres., greater latitude of movement, and having the largest 
black population in the Western World. 
When he arrived in the United States of America March 
1916, Washington had died. By travelling through most of the 
States he got an over-all picture of the true conditions of his 
Race - Opportunities? Yes, but out-weighed by disenfranchise-
ment, lynchings, jim-crowism and discriminations. He got busy 
organizing groups, but the people lacked faith in their local 
leaders, who regarded their following as so many votes to be 
bartered for personal gain, or a few jobs for their henchmen. 
Thus their voting power was split among Republicans, Demo-
crats, Socialists and Communists. Garvey realized that it would 
take some time to inspire in them the altruism of real Race 
leadership, and to stress the dire need of uniting Africans, West 
Indians and themselves for a common Cause. 
To him, they lacked long-ranged vision, they were not over-
seas travellers as some of the whites, they knew practically no-
thing of the countries beyond their shores, and nothing of the 
history of their African ancestors; they regarded Africans as 
"naked savages", and West Indians as "monkey-chasers" (al-
though they only saw monkeys in the Zoo). Many earned good 
wages in the big industrial cities, but as earnestly as they worked 
for it, they set out to spend it recklessly. 
On the other hand Coloured Americans could not under-
stand why that "foolish foreigner" would go hungry and stand 
up talking about Africa until he brought tears to the eyes of 
some of his side-walk hearers, when he could use that "silver-
tongue" to live good and wear good clothes. Twice Garvey 
got dizzy and fell off soap-boxes because he was hungry, (un-
kind remarks were that it was a stunt to get the sympathy of 
the crowd.) He took many colds because his shoe soles had 
holes in them. But Garvey had seen black men back home 
with bare feet, or board sandals emerge from their wattle-and-
• 
Garvey aDd Garveyism 15 
daub rooms, look out on their two or three acres of cultivation 
and small stock, and smile - the smile of contentment - and 
walk with the air of a Lord or Baron, knowing in their minds 
and repeating to themselves, "these are mine, I am Master of 
them". Garvey grew up in these surroundings that taught him 
that fine clothes, and liquor did not make a man a real man. One 
had to possess the good earth unmolested, to have the means of 
economic stability, to be able to plan and administer one's own 
destiny - that was freedom, and that was being "somebody", 
with "something" in this material world. 
He was not the product of side-walks, although he used 
them to speak to crowds. He was a child of nature, who used 
to hear the thunder roll, the lightning flash during tropical 
storms, to see the havoc wrought by them, and to replant again 
with zeal and hope; he watched the turbulent blue sea that bear 
on its bosom ships with people and goods; he dreamed his 
dreams by her shores, and they were as far-reaching as her 
waters; he knew that as he lived those dreams, they would have 
stormy sailings, as well as balmy days. As a boy he delighted 
to look in awe at the "Roaring River Falls", as the spray Idssed 
his cheeks, and its churning waters gurgled over the rocks into 
the "Roaring River" beneath, which could be heard for miles 
around; he wondered if ever he would be able to roar loud 
enough to voice his turbulent thoughts, which made him rest-
less and eager, for what? He knew not. Even the science of 
ilature taught him - storms and calms, violence and gentleness; 
it gave him courage, yet a simplicity and love for lowly things 
and humble poor people. 
Africa to him was like his birthplace; he loved the pro-
fusion of tropical growth, he loved the people who lived near 
to Nature. Africa! nearly twelve million square miles of it! 
What a wonderful gift from God! If only he could get his 
people to appreciate it the way he did, and use it as God pre-
destined. He must! He will fulfil God's Purpose. 
CHAPTER 3 
Garvey's "Appeal to the Soul of White America" - written 
for the Negro World, October, 1923, and reproduced in Volume 
11 of the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey - sets 
out the doctrine of Garveyism as it applies to the U.S.A. and 
his arguments in support of these principles. 
This article was written, because all over the nation the 
cry was: "this is a white man's country, and by God we intend 
to keep it white". Garvey wrote: 
"Surely the soul of liberal, philanthropic, liberty-loving, 
white America is not dead. It is true that the glamour of 
materialism, to a great degree destroyed the innocence and 
purity of the national conscience, but still, beyond our soulless 
industrialism, beyond our politics, there is a deep feeling of 
human sympathy that touches the soul of white America, upon 
which the unfortunate and sorrowful can always depend for 
sympathy, help and action. It is to that feeling that I appeal 
for four hundred million Negroes of the world, and fifteen 
millions of America in particular. 
"There is no real white man in America who does not desire 
a solution of the Negro problem. Each thoughtful citizen has 
probably his own idea of how the 'exed question of races 
should be settled. To some the Negro could be gotten rid of 
by wholesale butchery, by lynching, by economic starvation, 
by a return to slavery and legalized oppression, while others 
would have the problem solved by seeing the race all herded 
together and kept somewhere among themselves; while a few 
- those in whom they have an interest - should be allowed to 
live around as wards of a mistaken philanthropy; yet none so 
generous as to desire to see the Negro elevated to a standard 
of real progress and prosperity, welded into a homogeneous 
whole, creating of themselves a mighty nation, with proper sys-
tems of government, civilization and culture, to mark them ad-
missible to the fraternities of nations and races without dis-
advantages. 
"I do not desire to offend the finer feelings and sensibilities 
of those white friends of the race who really believe that they 
16 
• 
Garvey aad Garveyism 17 
are kind and considerate to us as a people; but I feel it my duty 
to make a real appeal to conscience and not to belief. Con-
science is solid, convicting and permanently demonstrative; be-
lief is only a matter of opinion, cbangeable by superior reason-
ing. Once the belief was that it was fit and proper to hold 
the Negro as a slave, and in this the bishop, priest and layman 
agreed. Later on, they changed their belief or opinion, but at 
all times, the conscience of certain people dictated to them 
that it was wrong and inhuman to hold human beings as slaves. 
It is to such a conscience in white America that I am addressing 
myself. 
"Negroes are human beings - the peculiar and strange 
opinions of writers, ethnologists, philosophers, scientists and 
anthropologists notwithstanding. They have feelings, souls, pas-
sions, ambitions, desires, just as other men, hence they must be 
considered. 
"Has white America really considered the Negro in the 
light of permanent human progress? The answer is NO. Men 
and women of the white race, do you know what is going to 
happen if you do not think and act now? One of two things. 
You are either going to deceive and keep the Negro in your 
midst until you have perfectly completed your wonderful Amer-
ican civilization with its progress in art, science, industry and 
politics, and then, jealous of your own success and achievements 
in those directions, and with the greater jealousy of seeing your 
race pure and unmixed, cast him off to die in the whirlpool of 
economic starvation; thus getting rid of another race that was 
not intelligent enough to live; or you simply mean by the large-
ness of your hearts to assimilate fifteen million Negroes into 
the social fraternity of an American race, that will neither be 
white nor black. Don't be alarmed. We must prevent both 
consequences. No real race-loving white man wants to destroy 
the purity of his race, and no real Negro conscious of himself, 
wants to die; hence there is room for an understanding, and 
an adjustment; and that is just what we seek. 
"Let white and black stop deceiving themselves. Let the 
white race stop thinking that all black men are dogs and not 
to be considered as human beings. Let foolish Negro agitators 
and so-called reformers, - encouraged by deceptive or unthink-
ing white associates, - stop preaching and advocating the doc-
lrine of "social equality", meaning thereby the social inter-
mingling of both races, intermarriage and general social co-re-
• 
18 Garvey .ad Garveylsm 
lationship. The two extremes will get us nowhere, other than 
breeding hate, and encouraging discord, which will eventually 
end disastrously to the weaker race. 
"Some Negroes, in the quest for position and honour, have 
been admitted to the full enjoyment of their constitutional 
rights. Thus we have some of our men filling high and res-
ponsible government positions, others, on their own account, 
have established themselves in the professions, commerce and 
industry. This, the casual onlooker, and even the men them-
selves, will say carries a guarantee and hope of social equality, 
and permanent racial progress. But this is a mistake. There 
is no progress of the Negro in America, that is permanent, so 
long as we have with us the monster evil - prejudice. 
"Prejudice we shall always have between black and white, 
so long as the latter believes that the former is intruding upon 
their rights. So long as white labourers believe that black lab-
ourers are taking and holding their jobs; so long as white arti-
sans believe that black artisans are performing the work that 
they should do; so long as white men and women believe that 
black men and women are filling the positions they covet; so 
long as white political leaders and statesmen believe that black 
politicians and statesmen are seeking the same positions in the 
nation's government; so long as white men believe that black 
men want to associate with, and marry white women, then we 
will ever rave prejudice, and not only prejudice, but riots, lynch-
ings, burnings and God to tell what next will follow. 
"It is this danger that drives me mad. It must be pre-
vented. We cannot allow white and black to drift along un-
thinkingly toward this great gulf and danger, that is nationally 
ahead of us. It is because of this that I speak, and call upon 
the soul of great white America to help. It is no use putting 
off. The work must be done, and it must be started now. 
"Some people have misunderstood me. Some don't want 
to understand me. But I must explain myself for the good of 
the world and humanity. Those of the Negro race who preach 
social equality, and who are working for an American race that 
will, in complexion, be neither white nor black, have tried tu 
misinterpret me to the white public, and create prejudice against 
my work. The white public not stopping to analyze and ques-
tion the motive behind criticism and attacks aimed against new 
leaders and their movements, condemn without even giving a 
chance to the criticized to be heard. Those of my own race 
• Garvey and Garveyism 19 
who oppose me because I refuse to endorse their programme of 
social arrogance and social equality, gloat over the fact that 
by their misrepresentation and underhand methods, they were 
able to discredit me, so as to destroy the movement that I repre-
sent, in opposition to their programme of a new American race; 
but we will not now consider the opposition to a programme 
or a movement; but state the facts as they are, and let deep 
souled white America pass its own judgment. 
"In another one hundred years white America will have 
doubled the population; in another two hundred years it will 
have trebled itself. The keen student must realize that the 
centuries ahead will bring us an over-crowded country; as the 
population grows larger, opportunities will be fewer; the com-
petition for bread between the people of their own class will 
become keener, to such an extent that there will be no room 
for two competitive races - the one strong and the other weak. 
To imagine Negroes as district attorneys, judges, senators, con-
gressmen, assemblymen, aldermen, government clerks and offi-
cials, artisans, and labourers at work, while millions of white 
men starve, is to have before you the bloody picture of whole-
sale mob violence that I. fear, and against which I am working. 
No preaching, no praying, no presidential edict will control the 
passion of hungry, unreasoning men of prejudice when the hour 
comes. It will not come, I pray, in Our generation, but it is of 
the future that I think, and for which I work. 
"A generation of ambitious Negro men and women, out 
from the best colleges, universities and institutions, capable of 
filling the highest and best positions in the nation, in industry, 
commerce, society and politics I Can you keep them back? If 
you do, they will agitate and throw your constitution in your 
faces. Can you stand before civilization and deny the truth 
of your constitution? What are you going to do then? You 
who are just will open the door of opportunity and say to all 
and sundry, 'enter in'. But, ladies and gentlemen, what about 
the mob, that starving crowd of your own race? Will they 
stand by, suffer and starve, and allow an opposite, competitive 
race to prosper in the midst of their distress? If you can con-
jure these things up in your mind, then you have the vision of 
the race problem of the future in America. 
"There is but one solution, and that is to provide an out-
let for Negro energy, ambition and passiOn, away from the at-
tractiveness of white opportunity, and surround the race with 
• 
20 Ganey and Garveyism 
opportunities of its own. If this is not done, and if the found-
ation for same is not laid now, then the consequences will be 
sorrowful for the weaker race, and disgraceful to our ideaIJ of 
justice and shocking to our civilization. 
''The Negro must have a country and a nation of his own. 
If you laugh at the idea, then you are selfish and wicked, for 
you and your children do not intend that the Negro shall dis-
commode you in yours. If you do not want him to have a 
country and a nation of his own; if you do not intend to give 
him equal opportunities in yours, then it is plain to see that 
you mean that he must die, even as the Indian, to make room 
for your generations. 
"Why should the Negro die? Has he not served America 
and the world? Has he not borne the burden of civilization in 
this Western world for three hundred years? Has he not con-
tributed of his best to America? Surely all this stands to his 
credit. But there will not be enough room, and the one answer 
is, find a place. We have found a place; it is Africa, and as 
black men for three centuries have helped white men build 
America, surely generous and grateful white men will help black 
men build Africa. 
"And why shouldn't Africa and America travel down the 
ages as protectors of human rights and guardians of democracy? 
Why shollldn't black men help white men secure and establish 
universal peace? We can only have peace when we are just to 
all mankind; and for that peace, and for that reign of universal 
love, I now appeal to the soul of white America. Let the 
Negroes have a government of their own. Don't encourage 
them to believe that they will become social equals and leaders 
of the whites in America, without first on their own account 
proving to the world that they are capable of evolving a civiliz-
ation of their own. The white race can best help the Negro by 
telling him the truth, and not by flattering him into believing 
that he is as good as any white man without first proving the 
racial, national, constructive metal of which he is made. Stop 
flattering the Negro about social equality, stop appealing to 
his vanity, and not to his good COmmon sense; tell him to go 
to work and build for himself. Help him in the direction of 
doing for himself, and let him know that self-progress brings 
its own reward. 
"I appeal to the considerate and thoughtful conscience of 
white America not to condemr. the cry of the Universal Negro 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 21 
Improvement Association for a nation in Africa for Negroes, 
but to give us a chance to explain ourselves to the world. White 
America is too big, and when informed and touched, too liberal, 
to turn down the cry of the awakened Negro for 'a place in the 
sun.' 
In his appeal to the conscience of the Negro to be himself, 
and to create and work toward his own goal, Garvey said: 
"It is said to be a hard and difficult task to organize and 
keep together large numbers of the Negro race for the com-
mon good. Many have tried to congregate us, but have failed; 
the reason being, that our characteristics are such as to keep 
us more apart than together. 
''The evil of internal divisions is wrecking our existence 
as a people, and if we do not seriously and quickly move in the 
direction of a readjustment, it simply means that our doom be-
comes imminently conclusive. For years the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association has been working for the unification of 
our raoe, not on domestic-national lines only, but universally. 
The success which we have met in the course of our effort is 
rather encouraging, considering the time consumed and the en-
vironment surrounding the object concerned. It seems that the 
whole world of sentiment is against the Negro, and the diffi-
culty of our generation is to extricate ourselves from the pre-
judice that hides itself beneath, as well as above, the action of 
an international environment. 
Prejudice is conditional on many reasons, and it is apparent 
that the Negro supplies, conSciously or unconSciously, all the 
reasons by which the world seems to ignore and avoid him. No 
one cares for a leper, for lepers are infectious persons, and all 
are afraid of the disease, so because the Negro keeps himself 
poor, helpless and undemonstrative, it is natural also that no 
one wants to be of him or with him. 
"Progress is the attraction that moves humanity, and to 
whatever people or race this 'modem virtue' attaches itself, 
there will you find the splendour of pride and self-esteem that 
never fail to win the respect and admiration of all. It is the 
progress of the Anglo-Saxon that singles them out for the res-
pect of all the world. When their race had no progress or 
achievement to its credit, then, like all other inferior peoples, 
they paid the price in slavery, bondage, as well as through pre-
judice. We cannot forget the time when even the ancient Bri-
22 Garvey and Garveyism • 
ton was regarded as being too dull to make a good Roman slave, 
yet today the influence of that race rules the world. 
"It is the industrial and commercial progress of America 
that causes Europe and the rest of the world to think appreci-
atively of Americans. It is not because one hundred and ten 
million people live in the United States that the world is at-
tracted to the republic with so much reverence and respect - a 
reverence and respect not shown to India with its three hundred 
millions, nor to China with its four hundred millions. Progress 
of and among any people will advance them in the respect and 
appreciation of the rest of their fellows. It is such a progress 
that the Negro must attach to himself, if he is to rise above 
the prejudice of the world. The reliance of our race upon the 
progress and achievements of others for a consideration in sym. 
pathy, justice and rights is like a dependence upon a broken 
stick, resting upon which will eventually consign us to the 
ground. 
"The Universal Negro Improvement Association teaches our 
race self-help and self·reliance, not only in one essential, but in 
all those things which contribute to human happiness and well-
being. The dispOSition of the many to depend upon the other 
races for a kindly and sympathetic consideration of their needs, 
without making the effort to do for themselves, has been the 
race's standing disgrace, by which we have been judged, and 
through which we have created the strongest prejudice against 
ourselves. 
"There is no force like success, and that is why the indi-
vidual makes all efforts to surround himself throughout life 
with the evidence of it. As of the individual, so should it be 
of the race and nation. The glittering success of Rockefeller 
makes him a power in the American nation; the success of 
Henry Ford suggests him as an object of universal respect, but 
no one knows and cares about the bum or hobo who is Rocke-
feller's or Ford's neighbour. So, also is the world attracted 
by the glittering success of races and nations, and pays abso-
lutely no attention to the bum or hobo race that lingers by the 
wayside. The Negro must be up and doing if he will break 
down the prejudices of the rest of the world. Prayer alone is 
not going to improve our conditions, nor can the policy of 
watchful waiting. We must strike out for ourselves in the 
course of material achievement and by our own effort and 
• Garvey and Garveyism 23 
energy present to the world those forces by which the progress 
of man is judged. 
"The Negro needs a nation and a country of his own, where 
he can best show evidence of his own ability in the art of 
human progress. Scattered as an unmixed and unrecognized 
part of alien nations and civilizations is but to demonstrate his 
imbecility, and point him out as an unworthy derelict, fit neither 
for the society of Greek, Jew or Gentile. It is unfortunate that 
we should so drift apart, as a race, as not to see that we are 
but perpetuating our own sorrow and disgrace in failing to ap-
preciate the first requisite of all peoples - organization. 
"Organization is a great power in directing the affairs of 
a race or nation toward a given goal. To properly develop the 
desires that are uppermost, we must first concentrate through 
some system or method, and there is none better than organiz-
ation. Hence the Universal Negro Improvement Association 
appeals to each and every Negro to throw in his lot with those 
of us who, through organization, are working for the universal 
emancipation of our race and the redemption of our common 
country - Africa. 
"No Negro, let him be American, European, West Indian 
or African, shall be truly respected until the race as a whole 
has emancipated itself, through self-achievement and progress, 
from universal prejudice. The Negro will have to build his 
own government, industry, art, science, literature and culture, 
before the world will stop to consider him. Until then, we are 
but wards of a superior race and civilization, and the outcasts 
of a standard social system. The race needs workers at this 
time, not plagiarists, copyists 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 
civilization. 
''The unfortunate thing about it is that we take the monkey 
apings of our so-called 'leading men' for progress. There is no 
real progress in Negroes aping white people and telling us that 
they represent the best in the race, for in that respect any 
dressed monkey would represent the best of its species, irrespec-
tive of the creative matter of the monkey instinct. The best 
in a race is not reflected through or by the action of its apes, 
but by its ability to create of and by itself. It is such creation 
that our organization seeks. Let us not try to be the best or 
worst of others, but let us make the effort to be the best of 
• 
Garvey and Garveybm 
ourselves. Our own racial critics criticize US as dreamers and 
fanatics, and call us benighted and ignorant, because they lack 
backbone. They are unable to see themselves creators of their 
own needs. The slave instinct has not yet departed from them. 
They still believe that they can only live or exist through the 
good graces of their 'masters'. The good slaves have not yet 
thrown off their shackles, thus to them, the U.N.I.A. is an 'im-
possibility.' 
"It is the slave spirit of dependence that causes our so-called 
leading men to seek the shelter, leadership, protection and 
patronage of 'the master' in their org3Dization and so-called ad-
vancement work. It is the spirit of feeling secured as good 
servants of the master, rather than as independents, why our 
modem Uncle Toms take pride in labouring under alien leader-
ship and becoming surprised at the audacity of our organization 
in proclaiming for racial liberty and independence. But the 
world of white, and other men, deep down in their hearts, have 
much more respect for those of us who work for our racial sal-
vation under the banner of the U.N.I.A. than they could ever 
have, in all eternity, for a group of helpless apes and beggars 
who make a monopoly of undermining their own race and be-
littling themselves in the eyes of self-respecting people, by be-
ing 'good boys', rather than able men. Let the white race of 
America and the world he informed that the best in the Negro 
race is not the class of beggars who send out to other races 
piteous appeals annually for donations to maintain their coterie, 
but the groups within us that are honestly striving to do for 
themselves with the voluntary help and appreciation of that 
class of other races that is reasonable, just and liberal enough 
to give to each and every man a fair chance in the promotion of 
those ideals that tend to greater human progress and human 
love. There is no desire for hate or malice, but every wish to 
see all mankind linked into a common fraternity of progress and 
achievement, that will wipe away the odour of prejudice, and 
elevate the human race to the height of real Godly love and 
peace. 
• 
CHAPTER 4 
Garvey formed a strong Branch of the U.N.I.A. in New 
York City, so that they could lead the other groups and continue 
the fight for their rights when he returned to Jamaica. Soon 
after there was disruption, as two of the Officers saw in the 
Organization a means of using the memberships voting strength 
for Socialists, and another for the Republicans. In this man-
ner they planned to augment their intake, and not depend solely 
on membership dues and collections. This was in contradiction 
to Garvey's policy - that in order to be self-respecting and to 
deserve the respect of others, no longer must we accept white 
philanthropy to maintain our Leaders and our Organization, but 
must do so on our own. He refused to allow the Organization 
to be used as a "side-line" for Party Machines. 
On the appeal of most of the members he decided to re-
main in the U.S.A. and re-build, and expand the work. His 
former Associates now became the nucleus of an opposition 
who plotted against him, when they could not get the members 
to follow them. Which to their way of thinking meant the loss 
of their "bread-and-butter", as they could not show Political 
Party Bosses a membership list worth the sums they wanted "to 
swing" elections. 
New Officers were elected, a women's auxiliary formed, and 
means of propagandizing adopted. The membership increased 
rapidly. Across the nation white mob-rule was taking a toll 
of seventy odd yearly by lynching alone; and hundreds of 
Negroes either lost their lives, were maimed, or their properties 
destroyed. To counter this there were a few "Better-Race-
relations Committees". In the lead was the National Association 
for the Advancement of Coloured People, directed by white 
people and one Coloured man - Dr. E. B. DuBois, a Doctor 
of Philosophy, who had been brought up in the comparatively 
cultured atmosphere of Massachusetts by "good white people", 
and was the leading Intellectual at that time, so he was spon-
sored as the leading Coloured American. Their members were 
of both Races. White Philanthropists helped them liberally, 
as they symbolized good race relations, and only came into 
25 
• 
26 Garvey and Garveyism 
action after a lynching or a Race-riot, to protest against such 
barbarous practices, and to avow that the American Negro was 
a loyal citizen, and as such deserved equality and equal 
rights as any other born citizen. Since the death of Booker T. 
Washington there was no one with a positive and practical up-
lift programme for the masses - North or South. 
There was no All.Negro Organization with a programme or 
plan for the Race beyond equality and citizens rights. Small 
individual businesses flourished in the South mainly, because 
Negroes were compelled to patronize their own, or walk through 
side entrances of white Traders. On the slightest pretext they 
were thrown into State prisons, and from there farmed out to 
White Planters; the human misery on these farms were appal. 
ling. Labour Camps used prison labour too, and forced men 
to work on the highways and state Public Works. Some White 
Farmers unable or too lazy to use up all their land allowed 
Negroes to come in and cultivate same on an agreement to 
share the crop either in money or produce. When reaping time 
came arrangements were disputed by the Farmer, and he usually 
showed a padded statement of monies advanced during planting 
time, which was carried on to next year's account. A Negro 
dare not call a white man a liar in any Southern State; if he 
did, he would be run out of town or very likely shot dead on 
the farm, and the Sheriff told that the Nigger "looked hard·' 
at his daughter. Then the body would be taken to the public 
square, and souvenirs such as hair, toe or fingernails cut from 
it. After this it would be tied to a slowly moving car, followed 
by the ever increasing mob to a COmmon and burned by the 
White Supremists. 
Into this abnosphere travelled Garvey with this message: 
"No longer must our Race look to Whites for guidance and 
leadership; who best can interpret the anguish and needs of 
Our people but a Negro? This Organization under God will 
thrive without the demoraliZing effect of existing off the charity 
of Whites." Among the many things the Race needed, and 
badly too, were self-respect and self-reliance. Henceforth they 
must think for themselves and of themselves, only relying on 
their own initiative and ability to right the wrongs being done 
them. This was the first phase of his campaign to re-orientate 
the minds of his people. 
He appealed to all Negro newspaper Publishers and Owners 
to stop carrying skin bleaching and hair straightening advertise-
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 27 
ments, as they tended to make our people feel that they must 
try to loolc like white people to "be somebody." These Busi-
ness men became angry with him. They were well paid for 
pictorial advertisements; subscriptions cannot "carry a news-
per", and they had no intention to run a paper on sentiment. 
As the thoughts in the slogan - "Negro be yourself" - gained 
more adherents, the tone of the advertisements were changed. 
So in every phase of life that subjugated their true self he 
attacked it. Said he: "Take down the pictures of white women 
from your walls. Elevate your own women to that place of 
honour. They are for the most part the burden-bearers of the 
Race. Mothers! give your children dolls that look like them 
to play with and cuddle. They will learn as they grow older 
to love and care for their own children, and not neglect them. 
Men and women", he continued, "God made us as his perfect 
creation. He made no mistake when he made us black with 
kinky hair. It was Divine Purpcse for us to live in our natural 
habitat - the tropical zones of the earth. Forget the white 
man's banter, that he made us in the night and forgot to paint 
us white. That we were brought here against our will, is just 
a natural process of the strong enslaving the weak. We have 
outgrown slavery, but our minds are still enslaved to the think-
ing of the Master Race. Now take these kinks out of your 
mind, instead of out of your hair. You are capable of all that 
is common to men of other Races, so let us start now to build 
big business, commerce, industry and eventually a nation of our 
own to protect us wherever we chose to live. 
"A Beggar-Race can never be respected. Stop begging for 
jobs, and create your own. Look around you and wherever you 
see the need for factories and business, supply it. Stop begging 
for a chance, make it yourself. Remember God helps those who 
help themselves." Said a Coloured Southern woman after she 
had joined the Organization, "Garvey is giving my people back-
bones where they had wish-bones". No man had spoken to 
them like this before. Wherever he went he stirred something 
in them, so that they could never be the same self·satisfied or 
happy-go-lucky human beings again. Preachers had told them 
about the sweet "bye-and-bye," but he was telling them about 
the "now-and-now". The good book says that "your just re-
ward shall be in Heaven on that great Day"; but Garvey said, 
"work for it right here, and get it here, or take it; then the 
spiritual reward shall surely come." 
• 
28 Garvey and Garveyism 
"We are ten million souls in the forty-eight states of this 
American Union in a majority of ten to one. A majority that 
legislates and increases its lead with European Immigrants while 
it limits Coloured ones. so as to maintain its policy of "keep 
America white", even as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. 
We are spoken of as 'The Negro Problem": they say we have 
not grown up mentally, just a child·race. The indignity of it 
alll No one hears of a Jewish Problem: yet they too have 
suffered discrimination and segregation. When a Jew is told 
he can't do business in the Hub of the commercisl area of a 
city, he reports it to his Jewish Organization, a fund is created, 
a Holding Company formed, and they buyout the entire busi· 
ness block He solves his difficulty through Unity and Thrift. 
Jews do not go around asking for social equality, and decry 
the fact that they are not admitted to some of the exclusive 
clubs of this country, nor can he be President of the United 
States. He knows the world will knock at his door because he 
is financially strong and united. 
"Good white folks have paid our erstwhile leaders to tell 
us bed-time .stories to lull us to sleep like children - that the 
problem will solve itseU as the years go by, with the white 
population absorbing the Coloured. But I am telling you to 
wake upl and stay awakel God never intended that you should 
lose your identity as a Race, but that you must continue to make 
a distinct contribution all your own to America. Our people are 
more adaptable than other Races, it is this adaptability that has 
saved us from extermination. But it is the same characteristic 
that has made you willing to submerge yourseU in another Race. 
Being collectively slothful too, you accept the easy way out. 
"The old myths must be cleared away, they are like cob-
web in your brains. You blame somebody else for what you 
yourself fail to do through fear, and lack of forthright thinking. 
The old belief imposed on you that slavery was caused through 
the Will of God - exercised in punishment or neglect - still 
has its baneful effects. You are inclined to submit to wrongs 
feeling that they are Divinely sent, and should be patiently 
endured. 
"Slavery was the result of the needs of the strong to main-
tain material strength; the weak became the victims because 
while they enjoyed the bounties of nature around them, they 
failed to prepare for the Invader. Self-satisfaction weakens a 
people. That is why slavery is not confined to any particular 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 29 
Race or clime. History records that slaves - by virtue of their 
experiences and the knowledge gained in captivity in strange 
lands - have eventually become Masters of themselves, and in 
time enslaved others. Let us therefore use adversity as others 
have done. Take advantage of every opportunity; where there 
is none, make it for yourself, and let history record that as we 
toiled laboriously and courageously, we worked to live glori-
ously." 
It was said in derision then that every Race had a flag 
except the Coon, so Garvey desigoed a flag for the Race of the 
tricolours of the red, black and green. He also bad an African 
National Anthem put in verse, and set to martial music, the 
lines are: 
Ethiopia, thou land of our fathers, 
Thou land where the gods loved to be, 
As storm cloud at night sudden gathers 
Our armies come rushing to thee. 
We must in the fight be victorious 
When swords are thrust outward to gleam. 
For us will the vict'ry be glOriOUS 
When led hy the red, black and green. 
Chorus 
Advance, advance to victory, 
Let Africa be free; 
Advance to meet the foe 
With the might 
Of the red, the black and the green. 
Ethiopia the tyrant's falling, 
Who smote thee upon thy knees 
And thy children are lustily calling 
From over the distant seas, 
Jehovah, the Great One has heard us, 
Has noted our sighs and our tears 
With His Spirit of Love has stirred us 
To be one through the coming years. 
0, Jehovah, Thou God of the ages 
Grant unto our sons that lead 
The wisdom Thou gave to Thy sages 
When Israel was sore in need. 
G.G.-3 
• 
30 Garvey and Garveyism 
Thy voice thro' the dim past has spoken, 
Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand 
By thee shall all fetters be broken 
And Heav'n bless our dear Motherland . 
• 
• 
CHAPTER 5. 
As the branches multiplied all over the country, Garvey 
saw the necessity for a weekly newspaper to convey his message 
of uplift and present clean wholesome news. Early in 1919 
he published "The Negro World" - the Official organ of the 
U.N.I.A. He contributed front-page articles, no matter where 
he was. This paper was destined to play a leading part in 
Negro Renaissance. As it developed later Spanish and French 
sections were added. 
Top-page slogans were: "The indispensable weekly, the 
voice of the awakened Negro, reaching the masses everywhere." 
Atter he was forced to leave America an eight point platform 
at the head of the editorial page was inserted to show that 
their policy had not changed: 
1. To champion Negro nationhood by redemption of Africa. 
2. To make the Negro Race conscious. 
3. To breathe ideals of !l'anhood and womanhood in every 
Negro. 
4. To advocate self-determination. 
5. To make the Negro world-conscious. 
6. To print all the news that will be interesting and instructive 
to the Negro. 
1. To instil Racial self-help. 
B. To inspire Racial love and self-respect. 
In order to counteract misleading and vicious lies about 
the intentions and behaviourism of both Leader and followers 
of the Organization, the "Negro World" published at different 
times when necessary, "thirty don'ts" to guide members. Among 
them were: 
20 . Always respect authority. 
21. Be a good citizen. 
22. Vote as the Association will direct for the good of our 
Cause and the nation. 
23. Don't sell your vote. 
2B. Keep your present job, work hard, and save all you can. 
26. Don't sell your property without getting the advice of your 
Officers and the Legal Department. 
31 
32 Garvey and Garveyism 
This paper brought light and hope to our people in all 
comers of the world made dark by the deeds of the Oppressors. 
It was carried by trains, ships, in suit-case linings by Seamen 
and Students; tied to the bare bodies of men, or just the front-
page article in a hat or cap lining. Men have been lashed and 
imprisoned for being in possession of this "seditious publica-
tion". Many have been put under third degree to tell what 
they (don't) know of the plans for an all-African uprising. 
In instances when translations into dialects became risky, 
then just the tom-tom drums at night would relay the Message. 
The slogan, "Africa for the Mril'"'ns", thrilled men's hearts, and 
hope strengthened them into activity. The pass-word for awak-
ened Africans was "Freedom". The glorious career of this 
paper came to an end in 1933, the "Blackman" succeeding it. 
Among its Editors were: T. Thomas Fortune, John E. Bruce and 
William Ferris, M.A. 
In 1918 and for many years after, Coloured Lawyers found 
it difficult to make a living by their profession. They had the 
training, but could not get the opportunity to practice freely 
in the Courts; hence they lacked court experience, so necessary 
for trial Lawyers. In the courts they were treated with deft 
courtesy because of the low-rating of their Race. Many of 
them could only afford a desk-space in a Real Estate office-
room, or if he had a room to himself he did part-time manual 
work, and had a card hung on his door which read: "Busy at 
court, will be in after 4 o'clock," or some such explanation for 
his absence. When he got a little more prosperous he employed 
a Typist to take calls and make evening appointments. The 
most reliable among these Lawyers was James Watson who 
was highly thought of in Democratic Party circles. Later on 
he had an office down-town in the suite of a white Law firm. 
Garvey retained him to do the legal work for the Organization. 
Mr. Watson eventually became a MuniCipal Judge. 
Per<ons who had relatives and friends in the West Indies, 
Central and South America wrote telling them of the Garvey 
organization, and because of his previous activities in these 
- areas hundreds of branches were quickly formed throu~h cor-respondence. These branches, not only functioned as U nits of 
a Fraternal Organization shonld, but became centres of ex-
tensive activities. Summarized reports of these activities and 
grievances on local conditions were sent to the Parent Body 
in New Yorle City. 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 33 
Arising out of such reports on discrimination on ships 
against both passengers and seamen, Garvey conceived the idea 
of getting a ship to carry bananas and other produce to America, 
and on the return a cargo of manufactured goods. A white 
Fruit Company years ago had started with a Schooner and bO? 
came rich. His Colleagues vetoed the idea, being too big a 
proposition. Later on however complaints became more in-
sistent, and seamen from Africa came to the office, and told 
them how valuable cargoes were left on wharves to rot if African 
Owners showed any spunk in asking for better prices. After 
this they agreed to form the Black Star Line Company, but 
they lacked real interest in its progress. The moneys of the 
U.N.l.A. were used for all promotional work. 
In 1919 when the stock selling campaign was well on its 
way, two former Associates went to the District Attorney's of-
fice, and told him all that Garvey was doing uptown. With the 
result that he was summoned by District Attorney Edwin Kilroe, 
who told him that he was investigating his activities, and ad-
vised him to "close down the Black Star Line". Garvey re-
torted that he had no intention to do so. Mr. Kilroe sent for 
him on two other occasions, questioned and cautioned him as 
before. Garvey became irate, and at a Liberty Hall meeting 
told the people what he thought of Mr. Kilroe's attitude towards 
the Black Star Line. For this speech he was taken before the 
Court on a criminal libel charge. He explained that he was 
angry and apologized, this ended the Court case, but Kilroe 
warned him "to watch his steps in the future". 
It is said that there are more Coloured Churches than 
white ones in America, according to the population ratio. In 
the lingering past religion was thought to be a solace for Negroes 
also an opiate, so white people subscribed readily to building 
funds. 
Usually Prayers were quiet or loud appeals to God for 
something desired. Few observed the meditative manner of 
the East and the invocation for spiritual strength to overcome 
obstacles, and for daily guidance in all things; for who knows 
beforehand what is good or bad for us? This beggar's approach 
to prayers created false hopes of expectancy. As they prayed 
and hoped for small things, even so they hoped to realize their 
big desires of the wider aspects of life. Typical of this attitude 
is the follO\ving statement from a young man: "America is our 
home. The only home we know, and the history of our loyalty 
34 Garvey and Garveyism 
to the flag, and our willingness to die for it has bean written in 
deep crimson. Our hopes are high for the ultimate success of 
the spirit of Liberty". 
Hope should be the feeling that after doing one's best to 
hopefully expect good results. In this instance expectancy 
should be based on historical precedence, contemporary world 
happenings, human stubbornness and bitterness towards change 
of the old order of things. In order to break down prejudice 
one has to be self-assertive in new thinking and living, and 
thereby force others to change. Because prejudice is largely 
conditioned by inequalities: poverty and squalor which creates 
contempt and hate on both sides. Prejudice warps the minds 
of men - it retards progress: in its virulent form it saps the 
vitals of manhood. It takes more than wishful prayer to re-
move it. 
Garvey incurred the enmity of most of the Northern Col-
oured Newspapermen because he condemned their policies of 
a spread of social actiIVities. no serious reading matter, nor any 
coverage of international happenings, displays of skin-bleaching 
advertisements, and our people were referred to as "Race-men" 
and "Race-women", 
Among the newspapers that lashed back at him, not on the 
points he condemned, but personal and venomous attacks was 
the "Chicago Defender" published by Robert S. Abbott - a 
black man. The statements published formed the basis of sev-
eral libel actions by Garvey in 1919. The Black Star Line won 
one case in New York, but just a token damage. The other 
cases in Chicago and New York were listed for the FaIl Calendar. 
At the end of the summer Garvey and other Officers of the 
U.N .LA. on a tour of branches visited Chicago. A man was 
sent to decoy him into selling him a stock which he insisted 
that his wife wanted, saying "you know how women are, when 
they want a thing they must get it". Garvey never handled 
stock books or cash, so he gave him the address where the 
Company's Clerk was staying, and forgot all about the inci-
dent. That evening while on the platform at a crowded meet-
ing two white men and a coloured man came and arrested him 
for "violating the Blue Sky Law", - selling stock in a Company 
that was not registered in the State of Illinois. It was the first 
time he and many other persons knew of the existence of such 
a law. • 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 35 
He was released under two thousand dollars bail; but to 
the great satisfaction of his enemy he was prevented from speak-
ing to the vast crowd in the auditorium, and humiliated by be-
ing dragged off to jail. In Court an Attorney pleaded his 
• ignorance of the law, he was fined one hundred dollars. Before 
leaving Chicago he was served a summons for libel, but no 
particulars were stated by Mr. Abbott. So the Attorney said it 
might be just an attempt to scare Garvey, who gave him a re-
taining fee and told him to notify him when it came up for trial. 
The Attorney told him that the calendars of the courts were 
so congested that they may not come up for years. 
Early in 1921 he wrote to tell his Attorney of his intended 
trip abroad, who told him he did not think the cases would 
come up during that period. While he was away his enemies 
worked hard and succeeded in keeping him out of the country 
for months. On his return he was told that his cases had gone 
by default, and in the case of Abbott against him, judgment was 
taken by default for five thousand dollars, for which Abbott 
had taken out a body execution warrant. He sought to have 
the cases re-opened but was not permitted to do so. This is an 
example of the Coloured man's way of striking back at an Op-
ponent. "Face a grin, but knife a throat". While Garvey in 
defiance said: "For me there is no fear, but the fear of Almighty 
God. Cast any other fear to the winds, Negroes, and go for-
ward to your own creative destiny." 
• 
CHAPTER 6. 
It was customary for Garveyites coming from out of town 
and abroad to want to see Garvey personally after transacting 
business and inspecting the various departments; they just 
wanted to shake his hand, so that they could tell the folks back 
home, they held his hand and he sent greetings and good wishes. 
One day in October, 1919, from downstairs came an in-
sistent voice demanding to see Garvey; so he went to the head 
of the stairs, and said, "You really want to see me?" The 
answer from the man who had come toward the foot of the 
stairs was, ''You Garvey? Well, I come to get you". Drawing 
his gun he started firing at him. The first shot went wild, but 
in that flash he saw the figure of his Mother, who motioned 
him "to duck". He did so, and the second bullet passed so 
near his temple that the skin was seared. The third bullet hit 
his leg as he had ducked. 
The would-be assassin seeing him fall, felt that he was 
dead, so he ran, but was caught by the switch-board operator 
and others who were downstairs the building. The man wa. 
arrested, seemed rather dazed, and taken to jail. He gave his 
name as Tyler. In the meantime Garvey was put in an ambu-
lance and taken to Harlem Hospital. Bea.use of a report that 
a bullet had hit his head, the newspapers featured him as being 
in a dying condition. 
By the time this news reached Tyler in jail the following 
day, having slept off his dopey spell, he believed Garvey dead. 
He told his cell·mates that he was "sent to get Garvey", he 
had taken something to nerve himself up; now that Garvey was 
dead he alone would not take the rap; in Court he would tell 
everything. But Tyler never lived to tell who instigated his 
attack. When the case was called up, the Court was told that 
he had committed suicide by jumping from a second floor win-
dow while being escorted by two guards along a corridor. This 
man came from the South, was unemployed, and had no relatives 
in the City. Garveyites who went to the morgue to view the 
body said he looked as if he was sleeping, and showed no signs 
of being smashed or bleeding, as was expected of a man jump-
36 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 37 
ing from such a height to a paved courtyard. After Garvey 
was out of hospital, and able to walk around, a Committee of 
members impressed on him the importance of protecting him-
self against future attacks by carrying a gun. Said he to them, 
"I am so lost in thoughts at times, that I would not even re-
member I had the gun when I should use it. Vsing it is an-
other question, I don't think I could kill anybody. As a boy I 
couldn't bear to see chickens killed, that is why I never eat 
them. When I see a chicken trussed up on the table, it re-
minds me of my people - innocent and carefree in the back-
yards of the world; then suddenly some are pounced on, caught 
and carried away to satisfy the greed of others", He sighed at 
the thought, and said determinedly, "No gun for me, if I am to 
be killed, then maybe it is my destiny". 
The Committee selected Marcellus Strong, the switch-board 
operator, as his bodyguard and he carried a gun. Strong was 
born in Georgia, he remained a faithful companion to him, 
He did not go with him on speaking trips; then the local branches 
took care of him. 
I had heard many conflicting reports about the V.N.I.A. -
what it stood for, and what Garvey intended to do - so one 
Sunday night during the summer I went to Liberty Hall, After 
the meeting was over, I went and congratulated him on his fine 
oratory. There were many points he did not cover in his 
speech, on these I questioned him for the answers; as I told 
him, I not only wanted to be convinced that he was right, but 
to be able to argue on my conviction. His answers seem to 
call forth more questions, so he made an appointment at his 
office, where he would have more time to talk, and show me 
around the place. 
Discussing international topics was nothing new to me, as 
I was the product of my father, who, in his early years, lived 
in Cuba and spoke Spanish fluently; at one time stayed in Balti-
more. He bought foreign newspapers and periodicals; on 
Sundays, I - being the eldest child - had to join him in reading 
them. He explained that this would improve our knowledge 
of the world and its happenings outside our small Island. 
I kept the appointment, and he convinced me on the 
worthiness of his programme, and stressed the fact that the 
skin-colour class system of Jamaica did not exist in America, as 
all strata of the Race were treated as one; the slogan being -
"Any Nigger is a Nigger". Therefore it was necessary for the 
• 
38 Garvey and Garveyism 
educated and better equipped to join with the masses in a strODg 
uplift and onward Movement. 
He showed me around the Offices, and asked my opinion. 
1 told him quite frankly that he needed a daily reporting system 
from each department so that at the end of the day he would 
be able to tell from the reports how much business was dODe 
in each department, and if the Treasurer received the moneys. 
In answer to this he said, "I am placed in an awkward poSition 
here, I have to employ all-coloured Staff, many of whom have 
never had the advantages of working in business offices; it 
takes time and patience to train them, and in the meantime I 
suffer. ,. 
He opened a large cabinet in his office and showed me 
stacks of mail. Said he, "these accumulated wltile I was on a 
speaking trip. I haven't the time to help and teach some one 
to open, sort and put notations on them, before handing the 
moneys enclosed to the Treasurer. You see the awful predica-
ment 1 am in for lack of qualified honest people". 
I promised him 1 would come in the evenings and in-
augurate the system, which I did, and will now describe same 
as this played an important part in his first indictment later on. 
A bonded Mail Clerk in the President General's office re-
ceived all letters. A mailing slip was pinned to any monetary 
enclosure, and particulars filled in - date, name, address, 
amount, whether cash, cheque or draft. To what department 
intended, if amount is to be divided between two or more of 
them, then three slips are attached. The Treasurer received all 
moneys and slips for the Black Star Line, and the Chancellor re-
ceives what is intended for the U.N.I.A. and the "Negro World". 
They receipt the totals received. All letters are taken to the 
Secretary-Genera!'s department to be answered; if they are not 
routine, then he consults with the President-General or the 
Assistant. 
The Treasurer keeps stock books that are signed by 
President and Secretary, in his safe, and Salesmen have to sign 
for same, and a record kept of all serial numbers. Cash returns 
are made to the Treasurer, and the Secretary re-checks books. 
All cheques are signed by President and Treasurer, on the pre-
sentation 01 a voucher signed by President and Secretary. The 
head of every department sends in a daily report to the Presi-
dent-General's office, with remark column filled in if he had 
any recommendations to make. In this wanner every cent that 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 39 
came in could be easily traced, and Garvey did not handle any 
money. 
He thanked me profusely for what I had done, but said 
he was unable to check all reports, as he was overburdened 
with work, and had to be away from office so often on speaking 
tours. He had tried to get a Secretary, but it was most difficult 
to get a competent person who had enough strength of character 
to report discrepancies, even if an Officer was involved, or to 
be able to act in any emergency in Iris absence. After much 
pleading, I took the job, only to find that because of my ability 
and capacity for work, I was over-worked. 
The following year I had to get a gun, as one of the Clerks 
threatened to throw me down the stairs. He lost a stock book 
of signed up certificates. I promptly reported same to the 
Directors, who acted in the matter. At the trial of the Black 
Star Line case, it was evident that he had been "planted" there 
to get information. 
At this time Japan was considered the leader of an awakened 
Asia - striving to throw off foreign domination, and build 
modem, materialistic States on her own. Tlris being a threat 
to wlrite supremacy was called the Yellow Peril by those who 
saw the potentiality of Asia's numbers, technical training, in-
dustrialization and possible revenge. Leo Walmsley in an article 
in the English Daily Sketch, November 10, 1919, warned the 
world of the Black Peril, because of a speech of Garvey's, whose 
words were: "we have been used to fight in every war, but the 
time has come when we will fight for ourselves, we will fight 
to make the Negro free". Tlris was distorted by Reporters, and 
Mr. Walmsley quoting it from a "British daily paper", stated: "I 
call upon 400,000,000 blacks to give your blood to make Africa 
a Republic for the Negrol Wild words and wild threats no 
doubt, and of course not to be taken seriously. Why? Who 
could take the 'Nigger' seriously ... Tom from Iris home in 
the African forests, driven in chains to the coast, tortured in 
the stinking holds of slrips, transported to a foreign land, and 
worked as no animal would be worked, the negro was released 
from Iris slavery only to become an object of contempt and 
racial hatred by the wlrite man. 
"Instead of a merciless bondage of the body, has been sub-
stituted a relentless slavery of the soul, for in the average human 
estimation the negro is a moral outcast; and even the lowest 
• 
40 Garvey IIDd Garveyism 
type of 'white' blackguard is more than a shade higher up the 
social scale than the best of black men. 
"To say that the apparent white man is touched with the 
tar brush is infinitely more insulting than to charge him with 
stealing from a church poor box. 
''To say that the negro has no feelings indicates a complete 
ignorance of his psychology." 
He closed his article with this warning: "Don't under-rate 
either the intentions or strength of your enemy". Our inten-
tions have never been revenge, but most white people show a 
guilt complex toward organized Negroes. We are too busy 
building for ourselves to waste time trying to destroy others. 
God is our Avenger". 
Mr. R. V. Selope-Thema, Secretary to the South African 
Deputation in London at this time, in reply to Mr. Walmsley's 
article stated, under this head - "Why a Black feels like fight-
ing - Conviction that whites respect nothing but brute force", 
the following facts: 
"In South Africa today, under the British flag the black man 
finds himself dispossessed of his land, prohibited by law to buy, 
hire or lease land in the country of his ancestors, excluded from 
participating in the government and affairs of his country; 
heavily taxed, in spite of the principle of 'no taxation without 
representation', and barred from entering into all the cbannels 
that lead up to advancement and civilization. 
"Against this cruel exploitation he has made constitutional 
protests both to the South African and the Imperial Govern-
ments, but to his horror and disappointment these constitutional 
protests have not brought about the amelioration of his con-
ditions of life. 
"It is because the white man relies on his military superi-
ority which modem scientific progress has conferred on him 
that he has refused or neglected to pay attention to the black 
man's cry for justice and liberty, and consequently some of the 
educated black men have been forced, much against their will, 
to come to the conclusion that what the white man respects, is 
not consititutional and peaceful appeal, but brute force. 
"Hence Mr. Marcus Garvey's threatening appeal to the 
400,000,000 Africans to prepare themselves to fight. This 'wild 
tllfeatening language' comes from a broken heart that can no 
longer tolerate the exploitation of Africa and her peoples. 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 41 
While he was in Harlem Hospital, Amy Ashwood - a Ja-
maican friend from Panama, then Secretary of the New York 
Local - removed his belongings from his furnished room to her 
flat. End of December they were married. 
The following year, about three mont.'1S after the event, on 
his return from a trip, he called Miss Henrietta Davis, Assistant 
President-General and myself to a conference. Said he wanted 
us to know before the reporters had it their own way. That he 
had decided to separate from Iris wife and get a divorce after-
wards. He had given the matter deep thought, and felt that 
he was acting in the best interest of his work - which came first 
in his life - and his own peace of mind. Continued he, "I have 
to travel up and down the country, I can't drag my wife with 
me. I can't pay her the personal attention as the average hus-
band. In fact, I have no time to look after myself. My life can 
either be wrecked because of her conduct, or embellished by 
her deportment. I must have her sympathy and understanding 
of every action of mine." 
He moved into a flat at 129th Street with an elderly coloured 
member as housekeeper. ,He offered Miss Davis and I to share 
a room there; we accepted because we would be better pro-
tected at nights coming from meetings. 
Later on that year his elder sister, Indiana, wrote to him 
that she was married, her husband was out of work, would he 
send for them. He had not seen nor heard from her for years, 
he thought she was dead. Now she had heard of the famous 
Leader - her brother. She got his address from the "Negro 
World", and was anxious to be with him. 
When they arrived in New York City, he put her in charge 
of the flat, and gave her husband a job in the steam laundry 
of the Negro Factories Corporation. She was just like her 
Mother in looks and disposition - a timid soul, so was her hus-
band. She never dreamed that fame could bring so many ex-
acting duties and so much misery, and grieved silently. After 
a time she tried to shut it out from her vision, by withdraWing 
to her room when her brother was home; she persuaded her 
husband to do the same. She .howed a resentment to those 
closely associated with his work. To her way of thinking they 
"were encouraging him in that thing, which will soon kill him~. 
In 1922 on his return from a tour of the branches, he dis-
covered that both of them had packed up and sailed for Jamaica, 
without even leaving a note for him. Said he in comment, "at 
• 
42 Garvey aad Garveyism 
least I won't see her pitying eyes looking at me from the shadow 
of her room door. I don't want pity, I want help," 
In the same year, Garvey, irritated by the tactics of his 
enemies, all of his own race - and their apeings of white people, 
said, "we are the only people in the world who laugh at the 
misfortunes of their own, and show no interest in our collective 
selves." 
In another speech he warned them: "If Negroes are not 
careful they will acquire all the low habits of a hustling indus-
trial country, and ruin their character as a people; since the 
worst in the race is usually given publicity, 
As to the future wars he said: "The battles of the future, 
whether they be physical or mental, will be fought on scientific 
lines; and the race or people who are able to produce the high. 
est scientific development will ultimately lead the world," 
Reflecting on the causes of anarchism he wrote: "Most of 
the isms that plague the world are the direct result of the crude 
and unprincipled acts of selfish and unworthy representatives 
of Government inflicted upon innocent people; who, conscious 
of their innocence, and cognizant of the injustices done them, 
resort to measures of their own for justification, that generally 
result in the formation and promotion of new policies, ideas, 
or means for the administration of justice, by the overthrow of 
existing systems, Those who suffer like themselves, eager to 
obtain what is being denied them, join together and give 
strength and expression to the n,e w adventure. tt 
, 
• 
CHAPTER 7. 
Early in 1920 Samuel Duncan, a West Indian born, natural-
ized American citizen, who left the U.N.I.A. during the split 
in 1918, wrote a letter dated March 4, 1920, which he sent to 
all Colonial Governors, Overseas Dominions and Consulates of 
Colonial Powers. 
The follOwing is the text of the letter, so th",t the Reader 
may be able to realize the enormous injury and damage done, 
not only to the U.N.I.A. and its allied activities, but to the free-
dom of travel of Coloured people: 
"The West Indian Protective Society of America, 
Main office 178 West 135th Street, New York, N.Y. 
"His Excellency the Governor of St. Lucia, 
"Sir; I beg to convey to you conlldentially the follOwing 
information and suggestions to the end that peace and good feel-
ing shall continue between His Majesty'S white and colored sub-
jects within the British Empire, and especially in the British 
West Indies. 
"There is in this city an organization known as the Uni-
versal Negro Improvement Association and African CommuniJ.. 
ties League, at the head of which is one Marcus Garvey, a 
Negro, a native of Jamaica. This organization is not only anti-
white and anti-British but it is engaged in the most destructive 
and pernicious propaganda to create disturbance between white 
and colored people in the British possessions. 
"This organization employs as a medium through which to 
carry on its propaganda a newspaper published in this city and 
known as the Negro World. So inciting and inflammable and 
purposely colored are the news and editorial articles in this 
paper that the authorities in several of the islands have been 
compelled to take energetic action to deny its admittance to 
those islands and prevent its circulation among the colored 
people thereof. It was the known radical attitude and friction 
creating policy of the Negro World that was responsible for the 
drastic newspaper ordinance recently enacted in British Guiana, 
St. Vincent and other West Indian Islands. 
43 
-
44 Garvey and Garveyism 
"Another medium for carrying on the propaganda of the 
Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Com-
munities League is the Black Star Line which owns the steamer 
"Yarmouth" (soon to be known as Frederick Douglas) of greater 
importance to Garvey and those associated with him in pushing 
this world-wide pro-Negro and anti-white and anti-British pro-
paganda than the making of money through freight and pas-
sengers is the effect and impression that the presence of this 
ship of the Black Star Line is expected to exert on the colored 
people of the islands when it calls at their ports. 
"Yet another and perhaps the most effective way of carry-
ing on its propaganda is through the members of the Universal 
Negro Improvement Association and African Communities 
League and stockholders of the Black Star Line who leave this 
country for the West Indies, and who are expected to stealthiiy 
work among the natives and stir up strife and discontent among 
them. These members and stockholders of the above-named 
OrganiQ:ation faithfully perform the work that the suppressed 
Negro World cannot do, and thus sow seeds of discontent among 
the natives of the island to which they go. The recent bloody 
strikes in Trinidad, when several persons were killed and 
wounded, and much injury caused to shipment and other in-
dustries can be traced to the subtle and underhand propaganda 
work of the agencies above referred to. 
"I venture to suggest that Your Excellency would be serv-
ing well the cause of the empire and contributing in no small 
way to the promotion of peace and good feeling between the 
white and colored people in the West Indies should you cause 
to be carefully scrutinized and precautionary measures taken in 
the case of all colored persons coming into the colony from the 
United States and the Panama Canal with a view of ascertaining 
whether such persons are members of the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association and African Communities League, sub-
scribers to and readers of the Negro World, stockholders of, or 
in any way connected with the Black Star Line, and upon af-
firmatively establishing any of these facts to exercise your of-
ficial discretion as to their admission into the colony. 
I have the honour to remain, 
Very truly yours, 
Samuel Augustus Duncan. 
"Executive Secretary of the West Indian Protective Society of 
• 
Garvey ad Garveyism 45 
America, the only society in the United States looking after the 
interest of colored people of foreign birth". 
After this Jan Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, com-
municated with the necessary Authorities immediately to pre-
vent Negroes from the West Indies and America from departing 
for Africa. 
The inherited slave complex of telling the Master what was 
happening on the plantation dies hard with some of us. 
Our people love to sing; it is said they sang their way out of 
slavery, through their Spirituals, which expressed their sorrow, 
and the fum belief that God was leading them, as He had led 
the children of Israel through the Wilderness, and Daniel out 
of the lion's den. So Garvey outlined a set of meaningful 
Hymns, and Burrell and Ford of the Music Depall"'ent, put 
them into proper verse and set them to music. 
In singing them the words impressed on the minds of the 
listeners and the singers, the intents and purposes of the Or-
ganization. So that although zealots and fanatics may arise in 
their midst in this far-flung Brotherhood which he could hardly 
control, the singing of these Hymns would sober extreme utter-
• 
ances. 
The Ritual used at ReligiOUS services was mort inspiring. 
The follOwing prayer was chanted, and in some case. recited by 
the Chaplain, the congregation joining in the closing lines: 
"Almighty God, we beseech Thee to assist us with Thy 
Heavenly Grace, and to prosper the Godly aims and endeavours 
of this Association in bringing peace, justice, liberty and happi-
ness to our Race. Grant us wisdom and discretion in alI our 
undertakings, patience under our difficulties, triumph over our 
enemies, and a happy issue out of all our struggles. Save 
us, we pray Thee, from the great danger of unhappy divisions. 
Take from us envy, hatred, malice and whatever may hinder 
us from union and concord; that as there is but one Body, and 
one Spirit, and one Hope of our calling, One God! One Aim! 
One Destiny! so we may be all of one heart and of one mind, 
united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, 
and may with one mind and mouth glorify Thee; through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen". 
The letter-heads of branches carried this Biblical reminder: 
"He created of one blood alI nations to dwell upon the face 
nf the earth". 
G.G~ 
46 Garvey and Garveyism 
The first big event of Convention month - August - is the 
Parade. This was care£ully planned by the Minister of uniformed 
ranks. All Units of branches were uniformed according to r ... 
gulations and drilled, in order to vie with each other. The 
Police Permit was obtained well in advance, and the "Irish Cops· 
enjoyed being on duty, as orderliness was always drilled into 
the minds of all participants. 
The Parade was miles long, twelve bands in attendance, 
all well spaced; ths Drum-Majors were magnificent, and the 
admiration of the crowds, who lined the route. Mounted 
legions regulated the marchers under the direction of the Min-
ister of Legion. The officials of the Organization rode in open 
cars, identified by streamers. 
Branches, Fraternities, Churches etc., carried their identify-
ing banners in front. Other banners were carried - black let-
tered on white background, some read: "Down with lynching, 
Uncle Toms dead and buried, join the fight for freedom, and 
Africa must be free." At the head of a Woman's Auxiliary were 
two women bearing a large banner marked: "God give us real 
men". The Red, Black and Green flags were dOminant, but the 
Stars and Stripes, were there in honour of the principles on 
which the country was founded. 
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in, and watched 
the parade from windows (for which many had to pay) and 
sidewalks. The onlookers could not help but catch the spirit 
of the occasion; they clapped, waved flags and cheered them-
selves hoarse as thousands of coloured men, women and children, 
smartly uniformed, with heads erect, stepped to the martial 
strain of good music. Here indeed were New Negroes on the 
march, with a goal to be reached, and a determined look in their 
eyes to achieve it. 
For months ahead of August a department was created 
under the guidance of the Registrar of Convention to plan for 
all phases of activities of the thousands of delegates also visi-
tors to see the Parade and the opening Sessions. Nothing was 
overlooked, and the marvel was that the huge crowds could be 
so well regimented. 
The first International Convention of the Negro Peoples of 
the World held its opening meeting at night at Madison Square 
Gardens - the largest completely covered auditorium in New 
York. The first half of the programme was musical, and the 
best talent in the Race took part. The second half was devoted 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 47 
to speeches. White newspapers estimated the crowd inside and 
outside as between 22,000 to 25,000 persons; it was like an in-
vasion of the white section. The thousands who could not get 
in the Auditorium just stayed around the adjacent streets, and 
discussed the day's happenings as something they never thought 
possible. 
The other Sessions were held at Liberty Hall for thirty 
days, strenuous days for the Speaker-in-Convention. The first 
item on the Agenda was reports from Delegates on conditions 
in their localities and Territories. For the first time in history 
all peoples of African descent sat together in brotherly under-
standing and sympathy to listen to the awful conditions and 
handicaps under which they were born, lived and worked. Even 
this privilege and the results were worth the enormous costs in-
volved. 
Spanish and French interpreters helped those who could 
not speak English fluently. Africans were helped by others to 
write their speeches in basic English. Committees were ap-
pointed to deal with various matters; their terms of reference 
were investigatory, planning and advisory. This saved time, 
and the best informed aIid trained persons were given oppor-
tunities to serve in their particular line. The Committee on 
Africa had to hear certain delegates privately, who had to re-
gister nnder assumed names, and whose freedom and lives might 
be endangered if they openly exposed conditions in their home 
territories. 
The culmination of this work was the Declaration of Rights 
of the Negro Peoples of the world, which commenced with a 
preamble, then twelve causes for grievous complaints of in-
justices, and fifty-four demands for future fair treatment of our 
people everywhere. The U.N.I.A. held sessions for members 
only, at which the Association's business was discussed, consti-
tutional amendments made, and Officers elected. 
At this Convention the Delegates created the follOwing top 
posts: Potentate, Deputy Potentate, Provisional President of 
Africa, an American Leader, and two Leaders for the West In-
dies - Eastern and Western Caribbean areas. To some the of-
fice of Potentate was a sinecure. Ostensibly he was likened to 
the Pope. He was the Spiritual Head of the Organization. He and 
his Deputy were born Africans. No other Negroes were eligible, 
and they were to reside in Africa. 
• 
48 Garvey and Ganeyism 
There were other duties that these two High Officers could 
be destined to perform, if and when they caught the full sig-
nificance of the task ahead. These plans were never known 
or discussed at Executive Council meetings, barely hinted at in 
Privy Council. Feelers were made to test the individual's cour-
age and capacity to serve Africa under adverse conditions, know-
ing that peaceful penetration had to be done secretly by men 
and women on the spot. The Potentate was given wide powers, 
he could create Fraternal and Secret Orders among tribes as 
the exigencies of a particular area demanded. 
The ruscussions and decisions reached at the Convention 
were having grave effects on big world issues. In America at 
this period the Asiatic Exclusion Act was temporized by a token 
quota, allotted to Japan, whose migrants congregated in the 
Pacific States on farms and orchards. Because of their fecun-
dity and thrift they produced crops at less cost, and could under-
sell the white farmers, whose wing standards were higher, and 
whose family and social life were more costly. Further influx 
of Japanese en masse was viewed with alarm, especially in Cali-
fonlla. 
Some friends of Race-equality interpret their friendship in 
different ways. The Nation magazine voiced the opinion of 
other friends of Japan in advocating that America should open 
her Pacific door to Japanese; thinking only in terms of a pro-
gressive nation - Japan, - the Editor omits any advocacy of 
opening the Atlantic door to West Indians. "The Globe and 
Commercial Advertiser", August 17, 1920 takes "The Nation" 
to task by pointing out the "dangerous implications" of this 
policy - free-marriage and a con.cession to Asiatics to over-run 
America and thereby possess it eventually. The Editor calmly 
reasoned out the question. In part he stated: 
"The New York Nation, under 'No more Race Diocrimin-
ation', proposes to open America to Japanese immigration, and 
sanctions inter-marriage between Japanese and Americans ... 
"This quotation is for the most part sensible in its state· 
ments, but it is questionable in its implications ... It does not 
follow that, because we should be prepared to treat Negroes 
and Japanese with courtesy and fairness we should regard the 
discouraging of colored immigration as silly, or the dislike of 
racial intermarriage as unsound . .. 
"According to Governor Stephens of California Japanese 
are entering the United States despite gentlemen's agru". .e nts. 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 49 
If given free access they would arrive in much larger numbers. 
A Yellow group now numbering little more than 100,000 might 
be millions by 1950. In China and India there are at least a 
hundred million coolies who could be spared, and who would 
find better opportunities here than in their own lands. If we 
accept the lOgic of free immigration we must accept its ultimate 
possibilities. 
"Nor is the question of intermarriage as simple in practice 
as in principle ... Physically, races of any color can amalg~ 
mate. Our own South is suggestive of such a possibility. Arabia 
and India show the mingling of men with different complexions. 
In Abyssinia color ranges from white to black. Indeed, the 
question is whether with the presence of a sufficiently large 
colored population the making of one race of intermediate color 
or colors can be prevented. History indicates that intermixture 
has been the habit of the past. Free immigration and free inter-
marriage thus hold the possibility of an American Abyssinia. 
"Colored races on whose territories whites have encroached 
have always protested against encroachment. This encroach-
ment has often been economical in its earlier stages. Even now 
the Negro viewpoint with regard to Africa is being expressed 
by the Universal Negro Improvement Association: 'We believe 
in the freedom of Africa for the Negro peoples of the world, 
and by the principle of Europe for the Europeans, and Asia for 
the Asiatics, we also demand Africa for the Africans, at home 
and abroad. We believe in the inherent right of the Negro to 
possess himself of Africa, and that his possession of same shall 
not be regarded as infringement on any claim or purchase made 
by any race or nation'." 
The writer concluded his article by stating that white 
America would then be conceding more than the Coloured Races 
- Yellow, Brown and Black - would concede to them. 
• 
CHAPIER 8. 
The main points of Garvey's speech at Madison Square Gar-
dens were: 
"We Negroes are determined to suffer no longer. For over 
500 years we have suffered at the hands of alien races. What 
is good for the white people is good for us. 
"For democracy the nations of the world wasted Europe 
in blood for four years. They called upon the Negroes of the 
world to fight. After the war we were deprived of all of the de-
mocracy we fought for. In many instances in the Southern 
States colored soldiers in uniforms, returning from the battle 
fields of Europe, were beaten and a few lynched; before they 
were demobilized they were mobbed in this land of the brave. 
But we shall not give up. We shall raise the banner of demo-
cracy in Africa, or 400,000,000 of us will report to God the rea-
son why. 
"I know that America is the greatest democracy in the 
world, nevertheless, wherever I go, I am given to understand 
that I am a Negro. We pledge our blood to the battlefields of 
Africa, where we will fight for true liberty, democracy and the 
brotherhood of man. 
"The Negro is not contemplating the initiating of the fight-
ing, but we must protect our interests. W e are going in for 
mass organization. In the past we have worked separately and 
individually, now we are going to organize. 
"We are not distributing arms. We are not supplying im-
plements of war. We are preparing the Negro race mentally 
and physically, and the Negro will win out by evolution." 
This speech was interpreted in the Press in headlines such 
as these: "400,000,000 Negroes sharpening their swords for next 
world war, Negroes called to arms, Negroes urged to take 
Africa." While delegates assembled in Convention mapped out 
extensive programmes of work for the ensuing year to change 
conditions, not by bloodshed, but by constitutional and en-
lightened methods. So they sang and meant every word of 
their Hymn: 
so 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 51 
Shine on, Eternal Light 
To greet our souls this day; 
Dispel the gloominess of night 
And drive our doubts away. 
Our longing eyes prepare 
When war and strife shall cease, 
To view the mom soon to appear 
The 'New Era' of Peace. 
Thy Temple, 0 our God, 
No kingdom can remove 
Made without hands, this blest abode, 
The Harbinger of Love. 
Of all the gifts that flow 
From Thy great throne above, 
We ask Thee on our hearts bestow 
The gift of 'Perfect Love'. 
My soul the light receives 
And dares the Truth to prove, 
Not in blind ignorance believes, 
But knows that God is love. 
Come Love, and give new birth 
To man's destructive mind. 
Spread where confusion reigns on earth 
Goodwill to all mankind. 
Shine on, Eternal Light, 
Thy penetrating ray 
Shall turn the hour of darkest night 
Into Eternal Day. 
In rebuttal to Garvey's "Africa for Africans", the theme of 
coloured politicians and others was, "We ain't lost a thing in 
Africa". Garvey's retort was, "you have lost everything, even 
your manhood". The Northern exponents of "satisfaction" were 
usually born Southerners who had run away from the horrors 
and uncertainty of life there. In the "New York Globe" of 
September 7, 1920, Oscar Walters - of the Coloured Bureau of 
the Democratic Party, a Southerner living in Harlem, one of the 
Negro sections of New York City - made this statement: "As 
a property owner, I want to say that the better element is per-
, 
52 Ganey aDd Ganeyism 
fectIy satisfied with conditions in America ... The Negro doesn't 
know any place on God's earth, but America - and he doesn't 
want to know any other place". 
On the contrary a Minister gives us some of the reasons 
why the Negro is not satisfied, and exhorts his hearers to con-
tinue the fight for full freedom. Rev. G. Miller, Pastor of St 
Augustine Presbyterian Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, September 
1920, spoke from Judges 11 verses 5-6. Subject, "Struggling for 
Liberty". This smmon was reported in the "Brooklyn Eagle". 
He said in part: 
"Garvey is the most remarkable man of our times. He may 
be laughed at and ridiculed, but he has done more to emphasize 
the restlessness of the black people than any other man. His 
hopes may not be realized in a millenoium, but his spirit is 
worth more than the compound spirit of the ministers who have 
attacked him, and who have nothing to do but to fall in with 
the spirit of those who oppress them. A person is not justified 
in being I.,.. than a man at any time. It is a noble man who 
will lay down his life for his country. The Black House Presi-
dent is demonstrating to the world that the black people are dis-
satisfied with their condition, that they know their rights 
whether they get them or not; that they are not contented to 
be underlings forever. The manly man everywhere believes 
in a spirit of independence. Ideas conquer all things, they 
must preoede aotion. Harriett Beecher Stowe, Wendell Phil-
lips and Wf\liam Lloyd Garrison did not contend for war, but 
for ideas ... 
''The treatment of Hayti at the hands of this Government 
is something terrible. The United States is not in the League 
of Na:ions, Hayti is, yet thls country holds sway there. It is 
not a question, it is a duty, to rise to the occasion. Let us let the 
world know that the black people of America are not satisfied." 
The Coloured "Norfolk Journal and Guide" of Virginia in 
an editorial, August 21, 1920, stated: 
"We have felt that 'no bunch' of paupers ever existed be-
fore with more nerve and isolence for capital than the Garvey-
ites, who fill so much of the public eye, and have for some 
time. The following may be honest but ignorant ... 
"They can't conquer and repatriate Africa and build up 
and maintain a steamship line between African ports without 
consulting the Christian Nations which own and dominate Africa 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 53 
and its ports, and Garvey and his lieutenants know that. So 
do we." 
In the "Baltimore American" of August 8, 1920, a contri-
butor under the pen-name "Ex-Attache" stressed the importance 
and danger of a united Negro world; he wrote: 
"Although there seems to be a very general disposition in 
this country to treat the thirty days Convention of the Negro 
Race now in progress in New York in the light of a joke; yet it 
is engaging the very serious attention not only of the Admin-
istration at Washington, but also several friendly governments, 
notably those of Great Britain and France ... We are already 
confronted by the Pan-Asiatic specter, to which we have given 
the name of the Yellow Peru. We are now being brought face 
to face with a Black Peril in the form of the Organization of a 
Pan-African Union of all the Negro tribes and nationalities ... It 
is a species of Christianity quite in keeping with the name of 
'The Church of Ethiopia', and which in the Dark Continent at 
any rate, is to such an extent in touch with certain forms of 
Mohammedanism, and retains so many elements of former 
Pagaru.m that it does not constitute any obstacle to the co-
operation of the blacks of every creed and denomination against 
those whom they are more and more coming to regard as 
their common enemy, the whites." 
After this Convention the world recognized the birth of 
the New Negro, who said most emphatically: "I am no longer 
'a boy', but a real man. I am now a Negro with a capital "N", 
not just 'a Nigger' to be pushed around I or "a Coon", playing 
the fool to make white folks laugh, but a serious man on my 
own serious business". 
Leading white Editors realized this. The Massachusetts 
'Lowell Courier-Citizen", September 2, 1920 in a Leader stated: 
"Don't make too much fun of these earnest colored people 
who have a notion of an Mrica for the Negro. What reads to-
day like the libretto of an opera bouffe may tomorrow be an 
act in the great international drama ... 
"The Negro is far from being as hopeless of progress as 
some of our southern negophobes would like us believe. It 
means that, given advantages for development, he might in a 
century or so create in Africa a style of civilization half or three-
fourths as fine as our own. In that event one wonders how 
many white men would annually be roasted alive in Monrovia 
and the Congo." 
, 
54 Garvey ADd Garveylsm 
The World's Work magazine had a feature writer - Tru-
man Hughes Talley - devote much time observing the oper-
ation of the Organization, by visiting various departments, and 
talkiog with officers and employees. The result was two long 
articles, published in its issues of December 1920 and January 
1921. This Magazine is published in English and Spanish. As 
a sub-head, the Editor noted: 
"The most striking new figure among American Negroes is 
Marcus Garvey. His significance lies in the fact that he em· 
bodies and directs a new spirit of independence among the 
Negroes. Whatever may happen to his grandiOse schemes of 
finance and politics, he is the best point at which to study what 
is going on inside the heads of ten million colored people in 
the United States. They are thinking and doing many things 
that are unsuspecting by the public at large". 
"The New York Times" under the caption - "Another 
Builder" explains the reason for Garvey's fearlessness when he 
stated in its issue of August 3, 1920: 
"Garvey's origin probably explains the Empire scope of his 
ambitions - the quality of his 'nerve'. All through the West 
Indies the Jamaican Negro has a reputation for thinking weD 
of himself, and his self-esteem, it must be admitted, is not with-
out excuse. Between him and the Barbadian Negro honors are 
about even, when it comes to capacity for racial leadership; but 
the Jamaican asserts superiority, and it is usually admitted -
except in Barbados". 
Berlin Press report to the Associated Press predicted far-
reaching results of the Convention: 
"Berlin, December 24, 1920. Both reactionaries and radi-
cals in Germany unite in the opinion that the military education 
of Negroes in the French army is, in their opinion, a world men-
ace. German propaganda busied itself during the war with 
tales of the outrages perpetrated by the Negroes. At the same 
time, the condemnation of France could not be made sufficiently 
strong because 'she took these innocent abOriginal children and 
slaughtered them in a white man's war'. 
"General Mangin's article in the latest issue of the 'Reue 
des deux Mondes' demands that France increase her blaclc army 
and bring pressure to bear on Belgium under the teIDlS of the 
l'1ranco-Belgian military convention to conscript 2,000,000 
natives in the Belgian Colonie.• . 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 55 
"This French Colonial Officer doesn't suspect the results 
which are already beginning to be apparent from the use of 
black troops in the World War", comments the Deutsche AIle-
meine Zeitung, the Gennan Government's official mouthpiece. 
"ABPreciation of the effects is beginning to dawn on 
America however ... As a result of the first meeting of the In-
ternational Negro Improvement Association in New York, the 
slogan was adopted, 'Africa for the Africans'. The speakers at 
this convention await a new world war within the next twenty 
years. Then the African Negro will fight neither under the 
banner of France nor of England, but under the banner of 
liberty to conquer the African continent themselves while the 
white races are otherwise engaged. In the meantime, the lead-
ers will continue their propaganda. In this connection, it is to 
be remembered that at the beginning of this year, their own 
publication, the African and Oriental Review in London, ad-
vised the co-operation of the Africans and the Asiatics". 
Albert Guerard, a Frenchman writing in March's issue of 
Scribner's Magazine, 1925, revealed the thought behind France's 
attitude when he stated: 
"Native troops have always been used by France, and by 
all Colonial Powers. There is something soothing to the moral 
sense, in the thought that if Negroes had to be killed at all, 
they had better be killed by men of their own Race; besides it 
is cheaper." 
Mon. Guerard in closing his article admitted Nordic's 
supremacy in scientific destruction of human beings, which jus-
tifies Garvey's feverish and persistent warnings to our people to 
"Be prepared". He stated: "A few white Scientists can do to-
day more harm than a million armed blacks ... when it comes 
to atrocities the supremacy of the Caucasian, and particularly 
of the Nordic, is beyond cballenge". 
In commenting on the 1920 Convention, the Editor of "The 
Monitor" analysed the plans and work of Garveyism as a social 
phenomenon. Under the head "The Garvey Movement", he 
wrote: 
"Whatever one may think about it, or how fantastical it 
may seem, the fact that a man has sufficient genius, magnetism, 
or what you will to assemble a convention of 20,000 people of 
African descent to formulate plans for a great Pan-African em-
pire or republic, is an unparalleled and unique social pheno-
menon which demands serious consideration. History has pre-
, 
56 Garvey and Garveyism 
sented similar social movements, among other etbnic groups, 
but not among the African group. That this widely separated 
people - for the Garvey Movement is far-flung and embraces 
members of our race not only in the United States, but in the 
British West Indies and Africa - should be influenced by the 
spirit of unrest and dissatisfaction with certain conditions of ex-
ploitation of which they have been, and are yet victims is by 
no means strange. It only proves the unity and solidarity of the 
human race, and that the demand for justice is fundamental with 
mankind and that ultimately it is bound to assert itself. 
"That Marcus Garvey has been able to interpret this de-
mand for justice and self-determination on behalf of thousands 
of the black race to the extent that he has, shows that the time 
is ripening, if not already ripe, for the development of an inter-
national race-consciousness which can be turned to good ac-
count, or ill, for it has both these possibilities in world business, 
commerce, and politics. Granting that there are many imprac-
ticable and fantastic ideas connected with it, granted that the 
man who is its moving spirit may be a fool, fanatic or dreamer, 
it must be conceded that the so-called 'Garvey Movement' is 
a tremendously significant social phenomenon which may have 
an importance and influence beyond imagining. Into what it 
may grow and develop who can say?" 
"The Philadelphia American" in its issue of September 11, 
1920, asks this question: 
"WHY SO MUCH MARCUS GARVEY IN PUBLIC 
PRINT? 
<'There has appeared almost daily in the public press for 
the past month something about Marcus Garvey, the African 
Communities League, the Universal Negro Improvement As-
sociation and the Black Star Line. Why alI this hysteria? What 
has Garvey done, or what is he doing? Some of the papers give 
facetious accounts) some burlesque. some are vindictive, but all 
of them more lie than truth. We are advised that our chicken-
hearted Attorney General of the United States, A. Mitchell Pal-
mer, has been disturbed in his pleasant dreams and has dis-
patched two of the best Secret Service men attached to the 
Department of Justice to shadow Garvey day and night, and 
make a complete record of everything he says and does and 
everywhere he goes. Photographers snap him on every comer. 
All the machinery of justice and annoyance has been let loose 
on Garvey and his associates. Why alI this consternation? Have 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 57 
Dot Africa and the Africans the right to organize a Communities 
League? Will anybody deny the Negro's right to uplift and 
improve himself by orgaruzation? If the Black Star Line sees 
fit to incorporate, purchase and build ships to engage in the 
business of transportation upon the sea, whose business is it? 
Nobody questions the right of the White Star Line, the Red Star 
Line, nor would they raise a Single objection to the Green Star 
Line. But everybody seems excited about the Black Star Line. 
"In an article published in the Literary Digest, September 4, 
1920, entitled, "The Purple-Robed Champion of 'Africa for the 
Africans'," this sedate and presumed intellectually edited weekly 
descends to the level of the most of its color-fobia, scurriJous 
and defamatory contemporaries, and with bristling bitterness 
and ridicule in almost every line, seeks to belittle the efforts of 
Garvey and his associates. In this article is published a sup-
posed interview with Garvey by one Michael Gold, representing 
the New York World Magazine, during which interview Gold 
is supposed to have asked Garvey the follOWing question: 'Do 
you think the whlte nations of the world will tolerate a Negro 
Empire? Garvey replied: We are four hundred million strong: 
This question seems to indicate the source of all their nervous-
ness. Garvey is far more practical in his real ideas than most 
people think. These journals are engaged in 'shadow fighting'. 
Whether Garvey is serious about his African Colonization idea 
or not, matters little. We are all familiar with its failures here-
tofore. The principle upon which the three organizations 
founded by Garvey rests is sound and practical, and while we 
may not agree with his modus operandi, we see nothing wrong 
in the united effort of persons of African descent to repel wrong 
and oppression here and elsewhere. Nobody questions the 
Irishman's right. In fact he is secretly assisted in his revolt 
against the English Government. 
"We think that the principle of Garvey's Movement is all 
right. He has no doubt, in our mind, successfully concealed 
his real object from the Sight of his detractors; so that they 
have mistaken the citadel and are shelling the woods. Make 
them work overtime, Garvey". 
, 
CHAPTER 9. 
In order to help pay for the fourth ship of the Black Star 
Line, which was to be re-named the "S.S. Phyllis Wheatly", 
Garvey planned a trip to Central America in February 1921. 
He took an Express train from New York City down through 
the South to Key West, Florida. On account of the sudden 
change in temperature, he contracted a cold with a pressing on 
his chest. His next stop was Havana, Cuba, where he was receiv· 
ed by President Menocal, and the large and enthusiastic member-
ship packed the meetings to hear him. He journeyed by train 
right through the Island, speaking at large towns, such as Moron, 
Camaguey, Nuevitas, Barnes and Santiago, looking after divi-
sional matters in the day, and interviewing prominent persons 
on behalf of the West Indian population. 
From Santiago he travelled by the "Kanawha" (Antonio 
Maceo) to Kingston, Jamaica. There he saw a Doctor, who told 
him he had asthma. The neglect of the men had caused dam-
ages to the boiler tubes of the ship. He wanted to payoff 
some of them, and take on new oneSj but the ship was under 
American registry, so he had to take them before the American 
Consul, prefer charges through the Captain, who was not the 
type of man who could control his men, as they did not respect 
him, and he did not want them to "gang-up" against him. The 
Consul adopted the attitude that Negroes had no business trying 
to run ships anyhow, and if they wanted to break it up, well, 
why should he stop them. With this combined attitude Garvey 
was powerless under Maritime regulations. The more he 
argued, the more animosity he created. He just had to pay 
the enormous bills for repairs, also for shore leave allowance 
for the officers. 
He took another ship to Port Limon, Costa Rica. His ar-
rival meant a holiday for all West Indian workers on banana 
farms and those loading ships. The Fruit Company seeing the 
inevitable stoppage of work contributed their goodwill by pro-
viding an excursion train from Port Limon to San Jose - the 
capital; stopping at big towns on the way. It was a festive 
season for the time he was there. Halls could Dot hold the 
58 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 59 
crowds that came to see and hear him. After he left native 
Costa Ricans had a better respect for West Indians because at 
last "Les Negros" had a Leader. 
He went on to Bocas-del-Taro, where he had a wonderful 
reception, and the admiration of the Spanish people. Among 
the many who welcomed him in poetry and song was John 
Smith of Changumola who wrote a sonnet with the opening 
lines: 
"Blest be thou of Afric's Race, 
Ye son of the Isle of Springs I 
Blest, thrice blest, 'tis echoed back 
The woods of the Homeland ring." 
While here he was informed that he would not be allowed 
to land on the Canal Zone - American territory, furthermore 
he would not be permitted to re-enter the United States of 
America; all this information was substantiated. So he hired 
a launch, at the risk of his life, which took him to Colon, while 
the American authorities watched at the wharves where ships 
£ame in. This increased his popularity even more; white Amer-
icans came to the meetings to see "that smart Cuy". He spoke 
right through to Panama City. Where Liberty Halls could not 
hold the crowds, he spoke at theatres, and bull-rings, even 
those were packed to overflowing. In all the Spanish-speaking 
countries, many natives attended the meetings, some out of 
curiosity, also readers of the Spanish section of the Negro 
World"; therefore it was necessary to have Spanish interpreters 
for parts of his speeches. 
He returned to Jamaica where the same American Consul 
he had encountered previously refused to vise his passport for 
his return to America. He wrote his fellow Officers asking 
them to make representations to Washington officials on his 
behalf, as head of the Company and other Allied Organizations, 
it was imperative for him to return to look after their business. 
During the two months of waiting for the vise, he travelled 
and spoke in all the Parishes of Jamaica, resuscitating and set-
ting up branches of the U.N.I.A. From here he went on to Bri-
tish Honduras, where he was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah 
Morter - ardent members of the Organization. After his 
speeches people joined the local branches in large numbers. The 
Black Cross Nurses under the capable training of their Head 
Nurse were later recognized by the government for their splen-
did work. 
60 GarTey and Garnyism 
From Belize he went to Guatemala, landing at Puerto Bar-
rios. He went up to Guatemala City. The Fruit Company here 
also facilitated their workers in having an enjoyable time. He 
returned to Jamaica, where he wrote the Secretary of State set-
ting out his reasons for the urgency of his return to America. 
While waiting for an answer the American Consul was trans-
ferred, and finally he got the vise from the newly appointed Con-
sul. He could not secure an early passage to America, so he 
had to go back to Puerto Barrios and took passage on a "Banana-
ship" to New Orleans. 
While in Jamaica a boyhood friend asked him to accompany 
him to the Easter Races to see his horses run. Urging him, he 
said, "I know you love horses, and it would be a day off from 
your worries". This remark brought back memories of the 
time he used to spend with a bachelor uncle. He went to the 
race meet, which to many in the TropiCS is just a day's outing -
ladies go there to show off their finery; the Governor and his 
wife are usually present. When he had forgotten about it, and 
engrossed in his worries and perplexities, the Coloured Press 
featured him as being a habitue of the race track, squandering 
the Black Star Line's money. At the Trial in New York City, 
a Government witness also referred to the incident in this man-
ner: He who had denied himself recreation, because the only 
Race in which he had any interest was his Race. They had 
been so heavily handicapped for so long that they were known 
as "Non-Starters", he had to give them day and night training. 
even to place them. 
On arrival at New Orleans, he was detained, and got in 
touch with Washington Officials, and his Associates; he was 
eventually allowed in. The necessity then arose for him to be-
come an American citizen, so he took out his "First Papers'" 
which really signifies one's intention to become a citizen after 
a probationary period. 
Before leaVing Jamaica he wrote a long letter to the "Daily 
Gleaner" June 2, 1921 on his impressions of the people, and sug-
gested remedial measures of reform as follows: 
"1£ Jamaica is to be saved, if Jamaica is to take her place 
among the progressive and successful nations of the world, then 
we must have a change of policy. Jamaica is void of that 
national spirit that should characterize every country, such as 
the nationalist spirit of Canada, Australia, India, etc. Everybody 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 61 
in Jamaica seems to be looking to the 'Mother Country' for 
everything ... 
"Those of us who have been trained refuse to admit that 
we are children. We feel that we are quite competent to handle 
the affairs of our country, and now all that we ask is a chance, 
but if we don't get a chance, we should take a chance, and I 
am here advising the people of this country to adopt a more 
aggressive attitude in handling the affairs of t.'>e island ... 
"Jamaicans - as I see them - worship too much that which 
comes from abroad, and from anywhere. If a thing, a man, or 
an ammal is imported, it is supposed to be better than the native 
product. How silly! I recommend that the poorer classes of 
Jamaica - the working classes, - get together and form them-
selves into unions and organizations and elect their members for 
the Legislative Council. With few exceptions, the men in the 
Council are representing themselves and their class. The work-
ers of Jamaica should elect their own representatives and if the 
Government here will not pay the Legislators, as is done in 
England and America, then the Unions and Organizations should 
pay these men, so that they can talk out without caring whom 
they offend. The Legislators in Jamaica should be paid at 
least five hundred pounds per annum. If this was done you 
would ha\'e had a better class of Legislators and more inde-
pendent ones. Poor, honest men like Messrs. Wint, Lightbody, 
Young and Smith can't afford to waste four and five months 
annually away from their work and paying high living expenses 
without feeling it; that suits the wealthy Legislators of today ... 
"The people of Jamaica want advanced religion now. The 
religion that will prepare them for heaven by having them live 
clean, healthy, happy and prosperous lives down here. No 
hungry man can be a good Christian, No dirty, naked, civilized 
man can be a good Christian. No shelterless civilized man can 
be a good Christian for he is bound to have bad wicked 
thoughts, therefore, it should be the duty of religion to find 
physical as well as spiritual food for the body of man; so when 
your preachers ignore the economic condition and moral de-
pravity of the people, they are but serving themselves through 
preachings and not representing the spirit of God . . . I feel 
that Jamaica wants a political awakening, and it should come 
from within, and not from without . .."  
During his enforced stay in Jamaica, a white Minister of 
the Gospel and a few other gentlemen of means wrote letters 
0.0.-8 
62 Garvey and Garveyism 
to the local paper against what they called "Garvey's propa-
ganda". A correspondent who Signed himself as "Vic - the 
Roman", in a letter dated June 9, 1921 to the "Daily Gleaner", 
writing on the subject, offers an alternative programme to the 
British Government, in the development of Nigeria, Sierra Leone 
and the Gold Coast by West Indian Negroes; also the Con-Fed-
eration of the West Indies, with a development plan: 
"Very few of your correspondents seem to grasp the sig-
nmcance and magnitude of Marcus Garvey's dream and his ef-
forts to make that dream materialize. Why is it so few attempt 
to examine the Movement in the light of comparative history? .. 
"Is it not constantly being told you, because you are blaclc, 
that you had better go and plant? ... However as Jamakans 
you and I are expected to be hypocrites to pretend that this 
intangible, yet ever present barrier does not exist - we must 
harp upon the glorious tradition of fairplay and justice and 
golden opportunities we enjoy (in dreams mostly) in this ancient 
and loyal colony .. . 
"Garvey aims at pulling the scales from the eyes of aU 
Negro peoples, that tlley may see light and truth. Cecil Rhodes, 
Alfred Beit, Sir Harry Johnston, and several others, have made 
Africa their field to wealtll and fame, and they had no more 
right to its natural resources than the man of the North Pole; 
then why should not Garvey and any other ambitious Negro? If 
the energetic, far-seeing, progressive, determined Negroes of 
the world back Garvey he will succeed in making Liberia a 
great and prosperous country ... 
"Our hope is, if the British Government tluows open Sierra 
Leone, ti,e Gold Coast and Nigeria to development by Negro 
citizens of the Empire, giving them full citizenship rights, equal 
opportunities and salaries with the white citizens; there would 
be splendid chances for tI,em to do in these portions of British 
Africa the very things Garvey is aslcing their c(}ooperation to 
accomplish in what is now a foreign country. British Negro 
enterprise would build and own railways, steamship corporations 
and shipyards; build roads and bridges, towns and cities, own 
and operate electric light and power plants, telegraph and tele-
phone systems, banks, insurance companies, newspapers, 
churches and the tllOusands of big and little things that malee 
for a progressive and prosperous people - like the Canadians 
and the Australians; and Negro brains and energy and ability 
would be conserved to the Empire and enhance its greatness. 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 63 
The Con-federation of the West Indies, along with the actual 
removal of the color bar would also bring greater chances for 
employment and the development of skilled ability and talent 
in the individual would surely be a stabilizing factor with the 
Negro population ... 
"The men who dare are the men who do; the men who do, 
get results - whether it be floating a steamship company as did 
Samuel Cunard, planning a trans-continental railway system like 
Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, expanding and adding to the 
glories of an Empire as Cecil Rhodes, or remodelling a nation 
as Cavour and Bismarck - the present day conditions demand a 
change. Garvey is daring the path millions fear. Since he 
dares, he may achieve his end, and the results may be - even 
though some jeer and scoff at it now - the foundation of a 
powerful Negro State." 
, 
CHAPTER 10. 
In August, 1921 the Second Convention was heralded by 
a monster Parade which was preceded by Prayer Meeting in the 
morning conducted by the Chaplain General. 
The Fifteenth Regiment Band lead the Parade. This Regi-
ment is known as the "fighting 15th", because of the glorious 
achievements of its Negro soldiers overseas. The first Mass 
meeting was held at the Twelfth Regiment Armory at 62nd St., 
which overflowed with the crowds. Resolutions were passed 
and cables sent to - Mahatma Gandhi, sympathizing with him 
in his efforts for a free India; to Eamon DeV alera, in his fight 
for Irish independence, and to King George V of England, stat-
ing that nothing would please the Negro peoples more, (except 
the freedom of Africa) than the emancipation of Ireland, India 
and Egypt, so as to prevent future world wars, and bring peace 
among freedom loving peoples. The banners in the parade also 
expressed those sentiments. Said Garvey in his opening speech: 
"If sixty million Anglo-Saxons can have 'a place in the sun', I 
don't see why 400,000,000 Negroes can't have a place - a big 
place too - in that same sun". 
The other Sessions were held at Liberty Hall, at which all 
Delegates reported, then followed discussions under the follow-
ing heads: Religion, Politics, Industry, Commerce, Education, 
Social Welfare, Propaganda and Humanity. They protested 
against Ex-Servicemen being recruited by Spanish Consuls in 
·London and New York City in the Foreign Legion to fight the 
mbes of Morocco. 
At one of the Sessions Mrs. Stokes, a Pacifist, was allowed 
to speak. The "New York World", August 20, reported under 
the follOWing headline: "Negroes refuse to indorse Bolshevism 
- One thousand Delegates in the Convention of the Universal 
Improvement Association which claims to represent the 
400,000,000 Negroes of the world, last night heard Rose Pastor 
Stokes proclaim the glories of Bolshevism at Liberty Hall ... 
When she asked for an indorsement of the Soviet form of gov-
ernment, however, they declined to commit themselves. In an 
interview with the New York Globe Reporter, Carvey said, "w~ 
64 
• 
Garvey ud Garveyism 65 
will fight for any nation which guarantees us political status." 
In answer to a New York Times Reporter, he said, "we have 
much to accomplish before the time is ripe for mass migration, 
but it is bound to come. Maybe fifty years or eighty years, who 
knows? The wars of the future will time our evolution." 
It was decided that the Potentate should hold a Court Re-
ception during this Convention. The main purpose of which 
was to train and demonstrate a better social behaviour than for-
merly, and to show respect and recognition within our own Race. , 
It took months of preparation by a Sub-committee, working 
under the Registrar, who sent out mimeographed instructions 
from time to time to all branches, who formed similar Commit-
tees. Men's and women's meetings were addressed by Medical 
men, Specialist Nurses and Social Service Workers. So that be-
haviourism wonld stem from clean liVing. Even the details of 
showing invitees how to answer their invitations were not omit-
ted. Among the many brief replies was this one - Against the 
R.S.V.P. were - D.S.C.C. (dam sorry can't come). 
The Hall was transformed into a magnificent tropical set-
ting, with lighting effects, appropriate music being played. Each 
Dignitary was timed to arrive according to his rank, and an 
anthem or appropriate music played until he was seated. Poten-
tate Johnson - resplendent in his uniform - inspected the Guard 
of Honour. Young ladies were presented, and honours confer-
red on persons who had served the Race faithfnlly and well. 
Titles were: Knight Commander of the Ni:le, Distinguished Ser-
vice Order of Ethiopia, and the Star of African Redemption. 
Mter the ceremonies, supper was served; guests were seated 
according to rank. Then followed the grand Ball, with all the 
courtliness of training, natural gift for danCing and love of 
music. 
While the campaign against Garvey was bitter, its tactics 
to ridicule him crystallized into gross exaggeration, which to 
those who knew him, and to reasoning minds, the authors were 
themselves ridicnlous in their mischief. When he was kept out 
of America and forced to use other ships for speedy travel, they 
reported him as "Cruising on his yacht". They further des-
cribed him as "drioking, feasting, smoking and reclioiog on soft 
cushions \vith a harem around him". The description was al-
most identical in many newspapers, so it must have origioated 
from one source. He never eat chicken, duck, turkey nor pork, 
his favourite dishes were ham and eggs and roast beef. He ate 
, 
66 Garvey and Garveyism 
sparingly of lean meats, because he said, "a full stomach slows 
up my thinking machine". He did not drink liquor. His 
"Quenchers" were fruit juices, 'Virginia Dare", and other cider 
drinks. He never smoked until he contracted asthma, then he 
used Asthma cigarettes when necessary. He enjoyed a piece 
of plain cake, also home-made Ice-cream. In the summer-time 
assisted by Strong - his bodyguard, - he used to experiment 
with all sorts of fruits and flavours to produce a "Garvey Spe-
cial". I was only called in to sample the mixtures, Strong was 
tolerated because he would do as he was told; but I, - being 
"full of arguments and contradictions" - gave him a chance 01 
freedom in the kitchen. He really enjoyed himself, stirring and 
tasting his mixtures. He never wrote down his quantities, so 
on other occasions, in attempting to produce a simiJar flavour, 
it would turn out to be something different; this only delighted 
him, and once he said, "too bad I never had the chance to learn 
chemistry". But would he have had the required patience? 
In reporting the Court Reception, one of New York's big 
Dailies, dropped all semblance of truth, and dipped its pen in 
the same ink that most of the coloured newspapermen usually 
use, when it stated in its issue of August 11, 1921: 
"There were diamond necklaces, anyone of whose stones 
would have felled Goliath, which reached from the nape 01 
the wearer's neck to her knees; feathers which towered to the 
ceiling, feathers which trailed to the floor. Uniforms and gold 
laces in dazzling array ... Each Knight received a new sword, 
whose hilt gleamed with diamonds, sapphires and rubies"_ Per-
haps that Reporter was competing with his Coloured Colleagues 
for the Liar's medal, and this was a published entry. 
Garvey filed many libel suits in the Courts against News-
paper Publishers and Writers for the most vicious attacks on 
his character, but these cases were held back on the Court 
Calendars for "the Law to get him". Besides, in the minds 01 
white Judges, the character of a Coloured person is assessed 
by the standard character of his Race. What appreciable 
amount of damages can he suffer from the lying statements of 
another member of his Race? A rich Negro, an educated Negro. 
is still just another Negro anyhow. 
In order to get the help of European Colonial Powers in 
his campaign to get rid of Garvey, DuBois called a Pan-African 
Congress in Paris, at the rising of the Second International Con-
vention of the Negro peoples of the world in New York City. 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 67 
He sent out a Press Release as to number of Delegates and the 
purpose of the Conference. The follOwing are extracts from the 
leading New York City newspapers: 
The "New York Triblme," September 6, 1921, with this cap-
tion reported: 
"Garvey plan for Colored State repudiated by u.S. Dele-
gates. 
"Paris, Sept. 5. - Thirty American Colored men and women, 
Delegates to the Pan-African Congress in session here today, 
headed by Dr. W. E. Burghardt DuBois of New York, repudi-
ated the plan of Marcus Garvey, Provisional President of Africa, 
of 'Africa for the Africans'. 
"Dr. DuBois said, the Colored Americans carmot withstand 
the African climate. We cannot oust the European, and do 
not desire to do so". 
The "New York World" of the same date stated: 
"At Sunday'S session of the Pan-African Congress, M. 
Diagne, Negro Deputy from Senegal, and M. Candace, Negro 
Deputy from Guadeloupe decried the 'Africa for Africans' 
slogan, and denounced Garvey. 
"Dr. DuBois, one of the best known Negroes in the United 
States declared the African redemption plan was a chimera. The 
Colored American could not stand the African climate. He said, 
'we carmot oust the Europeans from the Dark Continent, and 
we do not desire to do so'." 
"The New York Sun" of the same date, under caption -
"Africa for the Africans, not Negro slogan", stated: 
"France's two Negro Deputies do not agree with Marcus 
Garvey's contention of 'Africa for Africans' ... If 1 were asked 
to choose, the Deputy said, 1 would reply, 'I am black, but 1 
am French firstl' Bellegarde, the Haitian Minister, who is here 
for the Negro Congress, corroborated the attitude of the Colored 
Deputies." 
"The New York Herald" of the same date repeated the 
statement made by Dr. DuBois and added: 
"Senator Aubert summed up the attitude of the Congress, 
when he declared, 'rather than return to Africa, and remain 
Negro, I prefer to remain a Frenchman'. 
"Garvey's, 'Africa for Africans' scheme was side-tracked 
, 
68 Garvey and Garveyism 
by a suggestion that the League of Nations be asked to remove 
the color line in all member states." 
The Editor of the "Rochester Weekly" of New York, com-
menting on this statement wrote: "They demand social equality 
... it is a mistake; intelligent colored people know it, Justice 
is what all men want .. . work for that." 
In order to understand the strange and unreasonable way 
of thinking of the Intellectuals of our Race, Dr. Woodson, in a 
statement to the Press on the psycbology of Negro leadership 
issued during Negro history week, and reproduced in the Negro 
World, February 7, 1931, explained: 
"Washington D.C. - In their own as well as in their mixed 
schools, says Dr. Woodson with respect to Negro History Week, 
Negroes are taught to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin 
and the Teuton and to despise the African. The thought of 
the inferiority of the Negro is drilled into him in almost every 
class he enters, and in almost every book he studies. If he 
happens to leave school after he masters the fundamentals, be-
fore he finishes high school or reaches college, he will naturally 
escape some' of this bias, and may recover in time to be of ser-
vice to his people. 
"Practically all of the successful Negroes in tills country, 
says Dr. Woodson, are of this type, or that of Negroes who have 
had no formal education at all. The large majority of the 
Negroes who have put on the finishing touches of our best col-
leges are all hut worthless in the uplift of their people. If 
after leaVing school they have the opportunity to give out to 
Negroes what traducers of the race would like to have it learn, 
such persons may earn a living, but they never become a con-
structive force in the elevation of those far down. 
"The explanation of this is a simple problem. The schools 
and colleges of tills country are so conducted as to produce this 
result. For example, an officer of Howard University, thinking 
that an additional course on the Negro should be given there, 
called upon a Negro Doctor of Philosophy of the facul tv to 
offer such work. He promptly informed the officer that he 
knew nothing about the Negro. He did not go to school to 
waste his time that way, he went to be educated." 
Edward Johnson, Ex-Dean of Shaw University Law School, 
agreed with Dr. Woodson, and said that, as far back as 1891, 
he was emphasizing the importance of Negro history in the 
schools, he had written books on the subject. 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 69 
Africans in America were quite disgusted with the state-
ments of Dr. DuBois in Paris, and four of them representing dif-
ferent Territories in Africa, wrote to the newspapers which pub-
lished same. In part they stated in repudie.tion: "Dr. DuBois 
and his Associates when they state that Africa is not for Africans, 
are unworthy of membership in the Negro Race, and should 
be eliminated from any consideration at the hands of the Masses 
of the Coloured people of the U.S.A." 
We read of M. Diagne again in August 1930 in a news re-
lease from Paris, under the caption, "African defends slavery, 
white Laborite oppose". It read: 
"Paris. - M. Blaise Diagne, Negro member of the French 
Parliament from Senegal, French West Africa, in a labor con-
vention at Geneva, recently, defended forced labor in Africa, 
holding that this was necessary for the welfare of the natives .. . 
"M. Diagne, who represented the government, was vigor-
ously opposed by M. Jonhaux, Socialist, and head of the French 
Labor Delegation, as well as by M. Bromley, head of the Eng-
lish Delegates, both white. 
"The clash between M. Diagne and his opponents came 
when the labor delegates proposed that a clause be inserted to 
the effect that forced labor, under whatever fonn, even if it be 
'in the public interest', be completely suppressed at once. 
M. Jonhaux replied that he valued as much as any otller the 
work that France is doing for her African Colonies, but that 
he also desired to weed out all defects. 
"Albert Thomas, Laborite and member of the MacDonald 
Cabinet, then proposed that forced labor be abolished in five 
years. Deputy Diagne proposed that tlle delay be increased to 
ten years, but the commission accepted the amendment of Albert 
Thomas. 
"Forced labor has been defined by the commission as 'all 
labor or service exacted of any individual under a penalty and 
for which the individual did not offer himself of his own free 
w ill,., ' 
The following comments - from white Newsmen on Gar-
vey and his Convention speeches - contrast with his Coloured 
rivals. "The Drifter", a Columnist in "The Nation", August 
issue, wrote: 
"We Americans are too race conscious to appreciate the 
riches that lie hidden in Negro songs and Negro speech. Per-
I 
70 Ganey and Ganeyism 
haps the American Negro himself is too eagerly seeking recog-
nition of his equality to wish recognition of an art much of the 
splendor of which lies in its primitiveness. The Negro too, is 
becoming standardized on second-band white models, and it is 
a pity. But there is nothing less second-hand than sucb speech 
as this of Marcus Garvey, wbo describes himself as President 
General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and 
Provisional President of Africa: 
'Some people, some foolish white men and ignorant Negroes 
- believe that Negroes should not talk big. Brother, I want 
to ask you where do you get that idea from? Where do you 
get that notion from that Negroes should not talk big? This 
is the time, this is the age for big talk. Talk on Lloyd George, 
I can hear you, I can hear you talking for the rights of English-
men. Talk on Charles Evans Hughes, talk on Warren Harding, 
I can hear you talking in the name of 90,000,000 white Amer-
icans. You would be untrue to your race if you did not speak 
for them. Talk on, Sonnino, talk on Orlando. I can hear you 
talking in the interests of millions of Italians. Talk on Ishii, 
I can hear you talking in the interest of 60,000,000 Japanese. 
I say, talk on New Negro, talk without stopping; talk on, talk on, 
and let there be a free Africa, and if anyone dares to stop you, 
use the power that God Almighty gave you to battle your way 
through the world'." 
In an article in "The World Tomorrow" , September's issue, 
Worth Tuttle gave this impression of Garve): 
"Until I met Mr. Garvey, I was a bit superciliOUS. I found 
hint surprisingly unassunting, even modest, with a very rare 
use of the perpendicular pronoun. His bearing is that of the 
educated West Indian Negro, who, neither pathetically humbled 
nor pathetically arrogated by the burden of prejudice in the 
United States, meets the white man on his own ground. He is 
a fo.r. ceful speaker, with a sincerity in his voice that is convinc-m. g. 
In accounting for Garvey's daring and boldness, it should 
be noted that the traits of an Islander - regardless of Race -
are inherent in him; besides the Tropical Islander is a natural 
migrant, he is brought up to know that his land space gets less 
and less by erosion from the sea that washes its shores, the flood 
rains, and primitive hill cultivation. It is ingrained in him 
that in order to make a better living, he must adventure forth 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 71 
unaided into strange countries, even among people who speak 
different languages; and wrest from them and their environments 
all he can to satisfy his needs and ambitions, and make a place 
for himself and his children. Thus, he develops a rugged, dogged 
determination and courage. 
CHAPTER 11. 
When the Conference on the Limitation of Armament as-
sembled in Washington D.C., Garvey sent a letter, dated Nov-
ember 11, 1921, on behaH of the 400,000,000 Negroes of the 
world, in which he said, that they were called together by the 
President of the Democratic Republic of the United States of 
America, to discuss the problem of Armaments, the settlement 
of which they believe will ensure perpetual peace in the world . 
. . . "At the Versailles Peace Conference, the Statesmen who 
gathered there made the awful mistake of legislating for the 
disposition of other people's lands (especially in Africa) with-
out taling them into consideration . .. the mistake is now ap-
parent ... 
"Peace not founded on real human justice, will only be a 
mockery of the Divine invocation, 'Peace, perfect Peace'. I 
trust your Honourable Conference will not fail to take into 
consideration therefore, that there are four hundred million 
Negroes in the world, who demand Africa as their rightful herit-
age, even as Europeans claim Europe, and the Asiatics Asia. I 
pray that your Conference will not only be one of disarmament, 
but that it will be a Congregation of the Bigger Brotherhood, 
through which Europe will see the rights of Asia; Asia and 
Europe see the rights of Africa, and in turn Asia and Africa see 
the rights of Europe; and accordingly give every Race and nation 
its due, so that there can be peace indeed." 
The Secretary General of the Conference replied November 
17, acknowledging receipt of the letter, and stated: 
"I am charged to express to you our appreciation of the 
interest and support which you have been so good to evince." 
Writing in his column "Today" in the New York American 
- a paper which describes itself across the top of its pages as 
"a paper for people who think" - Arthur Brisbane commented 
on the Conference, and pointed out: 
"The wise of the earth, including this Government listen 
politely to soft words of the Japanese delegates at Washington. 
Consider a remark to the Japanese Ambassador by the late Glad-
stone of England, who was no fool: 'Why should I pay atten-
72 
Garvey and GarveyisDl 73 
tion to what you say my dear Friend, when what you do sounds 
sO loud in my ears P' 
"Nobody threatens Japan, Korea is her slave, China is her 
farm, the rest of Asia doesn't count. Europe is seeking no 
quarrel on that side of the Pacific Ocean. Yet Japan spends 
half her total income getting ready for war." 
People who think were not being fooled into complacency 
while progressive nations prepare for defensive, and even of· 
fensive action in their own interests. 
There is an African.West Indian proverb which says: "Stone 
at river bottom, can't feel sun hot". This saying holds good 
in its application to the behaviour of the strong toward the 
weak, and powerful nations treatment of Colonial peoples -
smarting under scorching conditions. The dispersed Jews feel· 
ing the indignities and cruelties inflicted on them, when they 
had no nation, organized a quota system to finance the building 
of their National Homeland. A report from Europe, April 23, 
1921 stated: 
"Dr. Alexander Goldstein, Chief Rabbi in Bulgaria an· 
nounces that every Jew in Bulgaria will give a tenth of his 
capital and income towards the fund for rebuilding the National 
Home in Palestine." 
Garveyites allover the world had a greater task, as their 
subSCriptions started when the sleeping Race had to be awak· 
ened, right through to the development of our people to National 
consciousness and its attendant responsibilities. 
The follOwing news item from Geneva is another illustra· 
tion of the aptness of the foregOing proverb. The people under 
the Mandatory System were suffering all the ills common to 
those subjected to the will and pleasure of Rulers. Yet the 
Commission reports favourably to the League of Nations thus: 
"Geneva, Aug. 7. - The Mandate Commission of the League 
of Nations today finished its study of the reports of mandatory 
countries. It found that the clauses of the covenant of the 
League of Nations and the Peace Treaty relating to mandates 
had been generally respected by Mandatories, including the 
clauses calling for suppression of slavery and prohibition of traf· 
fie in alcohol.' 
Sir Harry Johnston commenting on the exposes made at the 
Convention by the African delegates, admits the truth of the 
74 Garvey and Garveyism 
appalling conditions in East Africa in a newspaper report as 
follows: 
"Conditions in East African Protectorate Invite Revolution. 
"London, Sept. 12, 1921. - An indictment of British treatment 
of Negroes in British East Africa is made by Sir H. H. Johnston, 
writing in 'The Observer'. ~Iany of the assertions made before 
the Negro conference in New York, he says, were 'wild and 
windy'; but it behooves our Colonial office to see plain justice 
done to the 4,000,000 of black and brown people in this colony 
and protectorate. Numerous instances of bullying, flogging and 
torture are cited by the Writer. 
The natives, he says, are slowly coalescing, Bantu with 
Nilote, Mohammedan with Christian and pagan, Somali with 
Galla, with hitherto despised Negro in their common hatred 01 
the invading white man, owing to the exceptional cruelties 
which have stained the white man's record during this period 
of 15 years. These are not cruelties of soldiers, or policemen, 
of goverument servants of any kind, but of individual settlers, 
British or Boer in origin. 
"Not only have murders, light-hearted murders, of natives 
taken place all too frequently, not only have revolting cruelties 
been committed, but when the white delinquents are brought 
up for trial white juries acquit them or white judges inflict tri-
vial penalties or rebellious public opinion forces a Governor to 
revise sentence. I doubt if capital punishment for murder has 
ever been imposed on a white man in East Africa. 
"Again, in the great war, thousands and thousands of native 
porters were compulsorily enrolled by our government or by 
the military authorities in the unhappily styled 'Protectorate', 
and the arrangements for their commissariat, their medical treat· 
ment, their lodging and clothing have been miserably inade· 
quate, with the result that some 23,000 to 25,000 of them (it 
was reported) died during the pursuit of the German forces. 
"The survivors have retained tongues and the power 01 
speaking; some, even, had been educated and when 'Dora' (De-
fence of the Realm Act) took her hand off the mail service they 
have stammeringly told the world outside Africa something 01 
their preventable sufferings and even of Singularly callous and 
sometimes cruel treatment at the hands of the military authori-
ties. 
"Now the culminating incident is this: Some months ago 
there occurred at Nduru, in British East Africa, cases of flogging 
Garvey and Garveyism 7S 
and torture, so severe that according to a medical officer's re-
port, in some cases, 'the flogged natives died from the torture 
and flogging: These crimes seemingly committed on a Europ-
ean's plantation_ The Ew-opean in what is now termed a 'co-
lony', apparently takes the law into their own hands and ad-
minister punishment as they please:' 
Of a truth is this African adage: Baclaa (whiteman) don't 
love Quashie him give him basket to carry water, then flog 
bim.". 
Failing serious criticism of Garvey by his flea-like rivals, 
he has been called, "a clown strutting around in gaudy uni-
forms_" The facts are that all the members of the Executive 
Council of the U.N.LA. wore academic gowns at special mass 
meetings and in parade only. The Potentate, also the Provi!-
sional President of An:ica (Garvey) had uniforms with matching 
hats; the Potentate's was more elaborate than Garvey's as he 
was higher in rank. These were full-dress uniforms and only 
worn in parades, and at opening of Conventions. 
It is strange tllat the High Exalted Ruler of a Lodge, to the 
Standard Bearer in uniforms and regalias, on parade, never 
• 
seemed ridiculous to those critics. Was it because they were 
copying white folks? 
The wearing of uniforms and robes of office by Garveyites 
had a deep significance and psychological effect. Had Garvey 
landed in Africa he would have discarded the uniform and 
Ew-opean attire for tribal gowns, to become a part of the 
masses, and thus impress them, while satisfying his inner long-
ing for Africanization. James H. Robinson writing in the 
"Christian Century", June 8,1955, stated: 
"Marcus Garvey captured the imagination of thousands, 
because he personified the possibility of the fulfilment of a 
dream latent in tbe heart of every Negro. I remember as a 
lad in Cleveland, Ohio, during the hungry days of 1921, stand-
ing on Central Avenue, watching a parade one Sunday after-
noon when thousands of Garvey Legionaires, resplendent in 
their uniforms, marched by. When Garvey rode by in his 
plumed hat, I got an emotional lift, which swept me up above 
the poverty and the prejudice by which my life was limited." 
• 
• 
• 
CHAPTER 12. 
Dr. DuBois - in his relentless fight as the Intellectual 
leader of the "Garvey must go" crusade - was persistent and 
bitter. He had entre to white magazines, and exploited these 
sources and personal contacts to the £ullest advantage. 
In an article in February's issue of Century magazine, 1922, 
he described Garvey as "a little fat black man, ugly, but witll 
intelligent eyes and a big head". According to the racial beauty 
standard of white people, this is a disparaging reference, used 
to ridicule a man; but coming from the pen of a Coloured man, 
it is he who looks ridiculous, as he belongs to a Race whose 
standard of beauty must be measured by the likeness of its 
majority. Therefore "black" is the logical reference, besides 
Coloured suggests adulteration - displeaSing to equatorial Afri-
cans. 
Contrast a Soutllern white Reporter's description of Garvey 
in the "News and Observer" of Raleigh, North Carolina, Octo-
ber 26, 1922, he stated: 
"He is a trifle heavy set, and the racial characteristics of 
his face are very marked. His cheek bones are high, his eyes 
are beady black. His voice rather high-pitched, and his words 
come rapidly, reminiscent of French or Spanish that they speak 
in the West Indies, where he comes from. His delivery is free 
from accent of any sort. It is a neutral voice, high-pitched." 
Each Race should see beauty in itself. All do, except some 
of the Coloured people in the Western World - who through 
propaganda -education are taught to think in terms of white 
superiority in all tllingS - seen and unseen. The impressions 
of a Chinese lady from the interior, seeing a white man for the 
Srst time is interesting. She stated: 
"The door was suddenly opened and a tall male 'foreign 
devil' stood there smiling all across his face. To my hor-
hor, his head, instead of being covered with human hair -
black and straight - like other people, had on it a fuzzy red 
wool. His eyes were blue, and his nose rose up like a moun-
tain from the middle of his face. Oh, a frightful creature to 
behold, more hideous than the God of thc North in the temple. 
76 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 77 
The foreigner made as if he would take my hand. I looked at 
it - large and bony, with long red hairs and black spots on it. 
My flesh shrank. I placed my hands in my sleeves and bowed". 
To Africans in the interior seeing a white man for the first 
time, they regard his pale skin as devoid of pigmentation, there-
fore leprous. The white man was created in a mold shOwing 
pale skin, thin lips, aquiline nose, and silky hair, to enable 
him to live in the cold regions of the earth. The black man 
was cast in a different mold, with black skin, thick lips, broad 
nose, and frizzly hair, so that he could live easily in the hot tropi-
cal clime. If white people had been made to withstand the in-
tense rays of the sun in West and Central Africa, they would 
have occupied the entire continent, after they had exhausted 
the natural wealth of Europe; because they would have been 
able to exploit its rich resources by themselves; then all of Africa 
would have been a white man's paradise. 
In the same article Dr. DuBois misinterpreted Garvey's 
Race pride programme as Race-baiting, which, he said, white 
superiority and human inequality were fanning into flames . A 
danger to America where, "~aces are living together. They are 
buying and selling, marrying and rearing children, laughing and 
crying". He closed his article with this challenging question: 
"which path will America choose?" 
America did choose to get Garvey out of the country. But 
after that the New Negro forced DuBois to change his way of 
thinking, to the point that during the "Red scare" he was ar-
rested and charged with "un-American activities". The charges 
were not substantiated, so he was freed, but up to 1957 in his 
90th year he is denied passport for foreign travel. 
American and foreign Statesmen were now weighing a Co-
lonialization plan for Africa, which would rid them of heavy 
war debts, and provide a haven for Coloured surplus populatiOn. 
The New York Times, Aprill7. 1922 reported: 
"Berlin, April 6. (Associated Press.) - Could the United 
States dispose of her surplus colored population by distributing 
it among the former German colonies in Africa under some 
agreement with the present European mandatories? 
"This question arose today in the course of a conversation 
with Dr. Heinrich Schnee, former Governor of German East 
Africa, in connection with a special despatch from Washington 
published in Berlin attributing to Senator France a suggestion 
that the Allied debts to the United States could be redeemed 
G.G--<I 
78 Garvey and Garn;rIsm 
by the transfer of the fonner Cennan colonies in Africa, now 
controlled by Great Britain, France and Belgium, to the United 
States. Senator France is reported to have declared that sucb 
a transfer would need as a complement a joint international 
plan for reconstructive development. 
"Assuming that the Senator means the transfer of the 
mandatory powers, and not annexation, the scheme would seem 
both feasible and desirable, provided United States control 
would mean a continuation of the American open door policy, 
admitting the co-operation of all nations, said Dr. Schnee. 
"This, he added, would be exactly opposite to the present 
regime, which excludes all but the nationals of the occupying 
powers. We still hope that our colonies, now held in trust by 
the Entente powers, sometime will be restored to us. 
"Doubtless the Gennan African colonies would be able to 
support thrice the present native population. Indeed there is 
room there for 50,000,000 colored people now, and there will 
be more room as development progresses. Gennan East Africa, 
Southwest Africa, Togoland and the Cameroons aggregate an 
area of more than a million square miles, rich in natural wealth 
and abounding in the raw materials the world sorely needs. 
Moreover, most of them have zones suitable for white settlers, 
but their tropical coast line regions are entirely suitable for 
colonization by millions of colored people. 
The largest zone, East Africa, consislli of 389,000 square 
miles, about the size of Alabama, Georgia, the two Carolioas, 
Florida, Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana combined, and has 
a population of less than eight millions. Next is Southwest 
Africa, with 326,000 square miles, and only about 90,000 popu-
lation; while the Cameroons has 809,000 square miles and a 
population of 2,500,000. 
"As a colonizing power, I have the greatest regard for the 
United States. I was able to observe American methods while 
Governor of Samoa. Their sanitary achievemenlli in Panama 
deserves the highest praise. 
"As regards the attempt to colonise Africa with the surplus 
American colored population, this would in a long way settle 
the vexed problem and, under a plan such as Senator France 
has outlined, might enable France and Great Britain to dU-
charge their debts to the United States and Simultaneously ease 
the burden of Gennan reparations which is paralyzing economic 
ille . .. 
Garvey and Garveylsm 79 
This colonialization of such vast areas in Africa, would 
mean the carrying out of Garvey's programme by the American 
government, the Coloured Politicians and Intellectuals realized 
this, and with parasitic desires to use the cause of the "oppressed 
masses" for their own selfish gain, also vote catching, they 
vigorously opposed Senator France's proposals. 
CHAPTER 13. 
In the Fall of 1919 Garvey's enemies goaded him on to 
acquire a ship for the Black Star Line. Tonnage was still high, 
and it was extremely difficult to get qualified Coloured Officers 
for an Ocean-going vessel. All these facts were ignored, and 
their slurs were to the effect that he was only trying to get 
enough money to go back to his "Monkey-Island". 
The average person regards a ship as a truck, which can 
be put in a garage until one obtains an honest driver; not so 
with a sea-going vessel; it is a world unto itself, and is gov-
erned by Maritime laws. A Marine Expert was employed part-
time to advise and negotiate all matters pertaining to the oper-
ation of the ships; a Marine lawyer was retained to look after 
legal work involved. The ships were under American registry, 
except one - Canadian. American seamen are the highest paid, 
and best rationed in the world. Every applicant has first to 
be taken before the Shipping Master at the port of embarkation, 
who examines his seaman's passport and records of qualification 
and service before he is "signed on". The Captain, who is in 
full charge of the ship attends to this, and the Officers of the 
Company have no say, they pay the bills. 
The change of name and registry of a ship - say from 
American to Nicaraguan - can only be obtained when bonds 
and guarantees are posted, then it is up to the goodwill of the 
Authorities to grant same, as they know too well that this means 
a great monthly saving in wages, subsistence, rations, and above 
all more sympathetic understanding and control by the Consuls 
on behalf of the Company. 
Passenger ships do not make money for the Line; the 
freight ships do. Most of the big white companies are subsi-
dized by their governments to carry mail on their passenger • 
ships. As soon as a ship is acquired, and when it is undergOing 
repairs a "skeleton crew" has to be kept on board. When cargo 
is contracted for, if the vessel does not sail on schedule, the 
Company is liable to pay heavy demurrage. Ships are inspected 
periodically, in order to get Certificate of Sea-worthiness and 
insurance. Before a ship leaves port on a voyage, the Port 
80 
Garvey and Garveyism 81 
Authorities see that everything is in order before granting a 
Clearance pennit, as also pennits for the ports to which it is 
destined, and a clean bill of health. 
The S.S. Yannouth, renamed the Frederick Douglas, was the 
first ship acquired. Purchase price was $165,000, of which 
$135,000 was paid. Captain Cockburn - the first Master of the 
ship, later a government witness at the trial, - admitted that 
he received $1,600 part of $8,000 divided between five of them 
to induce Garvey to purchase the ship for the Line; and Leo 
Healy - the Agent for the Vendor, also a government witness, 
said he knew at the time that the vessel was purchased that it 
was not worth $100,000. 
This ship made three trips to the West Indies, and Central 
America. The second trip the cargo consisted of whisky, which 
had to be taken out of port on schedule on account of prohi-
bition laws coming into effect. It is alleged that Captain Cock-
burn was compensated by the Shippers to get the cargo away. 
The ship sailed, and was supposed to have developed engine 
troubles. The Boatswain at the trial testified that the Captain 
stopped the ship, and ordered cases of whisky put on tugs at 
sea. The Captain brought tlie ship back to port with the bal-
ance of the whisky cargo, and thereby put the Officers of the 
Company into thousands of dollars of litigation, besides bills 
for repairs, which some of the loyal seamen on board said could 
have been avoided. That Captain's pay was $400 per month 
and $10 per day allowance when in port: When the Company 
was able to dispense with his services he became a Real Estate 
Broker. 
A river boat was acquired at a cost of $35,000, which ran 
excursion trips on the Hudson River. In this transaction the 
Vendor did not give the correct age of the vessel, until a down 
payment was made, and a search of the records made by the 
lawyer, which revealed that it was older than represented. 
The S.S. Kanawha was purchased for $60,000 and refitted 
for passenger service at a cost of $25,000. This ship was to be 
renamed the S.S. Antonio Maceo, and used for inter-Colonial 
service to link up the larger ships of the Line. The first Cap-
tain to take her out was Adrian Richardson - a man who ob-
tained his Captain's licence after he was employed by the 
Black Star Line. He exercised no authority over his men, drank 
and played card games with them. The engine was a twin-
82 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
screw one; not having sober men on watch her boilers were over. 
heated and dry, which caused a great deal of damage. Enorm-
ous repair bills were incurred; it is alleged commissions were 
paid by repairing firms. Captain Richardson was a government 
witness at the trial, and he seemed delighted with himself at 
the part he played as saboteur, and wanted a chance to get 
Garvey outside the Court to do to him physically what he 
thought he had helped to do him spiritually. 
Early in 1921 arrangements were made with the United 
States Shipping Board to purchase a large ship from them for 
the African trade. Vice-President Thompson was left in charge 
of the administration of the Company's affairs, when Garvey 
went abroad to help raise funds. He sent in moneys for stocIe.. 
sold, and was informed by Thompson that the Company had 
acquired the ship, and $25,000 had been paid on same. 
After five months, when he was permitted to return to the 
U.S.A. he found that no ship had been turned over to the Black 
Star Line, and that only $5,000 had been lodged with the Ship-
ping Board by a man named Silverstone, a Broker, to whom 
Thompson said he gave $25,000. The former asked him not to 
investigate the matter, as negotiations were at a delicate point 
In November he wrote to the Shipping Board, and was informed 
by them that $22,500 was on deposit for the S.S. Orion. In De-
cember the Massachusetts Bonding Company wrote the Black 
Star Line demanding payment of $11,000 borrowed from them 
through Thompson; then Garvey learned that this amount was 
used to make the $22,500 deposited with the Shipping Board. 
He started an investigation into the whole affair, preparatory to 
taking legal action to recover the sum of $13,500 balance from 
Silverstone, and to prove to what extent Thompson was negligent 
or implicated in handing over to Silverstone the large sum of 
money, and in trying to cover up the deScit by borrowing from 
the Bonding Company. But to his amazement, instead of get-
ting help from the District Attorney's office in the matter, he 
was indicted in January for using the mails to defraud. 
During the years of the Company's operations, stocIe.. were 
sold at $5 each. About $800,000 was collected. With all the 
protection white Shipping Companies had, they lost money in 
the operation of their ships. Naming just a few, the United 
States Shipping Board heads the list with a loss of billions of 
dollars. On the Hudson River alone were 120 ships tied up 
there belonging to government. The Green Star Line went into 
Garvey and Garveyism 83 
the hands of Receivers. The Polish Navigation Company's 
ships were sold for debts. 
The indictment was faulty as the Corporation had active 
Officers, who took part in its administration work as recorded 
in the minute book, and whose daily reporting system showed 
all moneys received were turned over to the Treasurer and dis-
bursed by him. In February Garvey and the following officers 
were indicted: Orlando Thompson, Vice-President, George 
Tobias, Treasurer, and Elie Garcia, Secretary. They were re-
leased on bail of $2,500 each pending trial. 
The District Attorney sent his Agents with a van and took 
away all books and records, not only of the Company, but some 
belonging to the U.N.LA. and the Negro World; when Garvey 
remonstrated with them, they defiantly threatened him with 
contempt of court charges. As Stockholders did not volunteer 
information against the Officers, the District Attorney used the 
Company's records to send out tricky questionnaires to them. 
Very few answered, for they were members of the U.N.LA. and 
knew that the Shipping Company was only incidental to the 
programme. The stocks were never placed on tlle general mar-
• 
ket, only confined to Organization members. 
Hurralls went up from the enemy camps at his indictment 
in 1922. Now they maligned him with impunity. The District At-
torney had a Coloured man named Amos, to do what he could 
not, and would not do. Some of the employees became care-
less in their work, they were being egged on and promised "pro-
tection" if they became government witnesses. He had to be 
on tour most of the time, speaking to the people whose loyalty 
and devotion was a source of inspiration and encouragement to 
him. However the pressures increased and the preparation for 
the Convention had to be made, demanding more of his per-
sonal attention than before. Thought he, if the trial was rushed, 
and the outcome adverse, what would he do? And what would 
happen to the Organization, since treachery was so well recom-
pensed? He must have some one who had the right to be his 
personal representative - to act on his behalf, and on his in-
structions. A Secretary would only be brushed aside as an 
employee, and dismissed too. He must get a wife. He wanted 
an American born, so as to please the people. The duty of 
sharing his turbulent life might have been requested of Miss 
Davis; he admired her, as she was dignified, charming, and 
an able Speaker; but she was older than he, and he had hopes 
84 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
of having a son to carry on his name. There were other eligibles 
among the membership, but they lacked the sum total qualities 
of what he wanted for a wife now - a stand-in, in an emergency. 
Again he turned to me, and very adroitly put the onus on me, 
stating tI,at it was in my power to help the Organization in this 
crisis. He had already obtained a divorce, so we were mar-
ried July 27, 1922. 
The Black Star Line being the most vulnerable point on 
which Garvey could be attacked, all laboured it, to destroy him. 
Some using the ships' officers, over whom Garvey had no con-
trol, to carry out their intentions. 
In 1921 when tlte S.S. Kanawha reached Cuba, Garvey dis-
covered tltat tlte Chief Engineer had been using salt water in 
tlte boilers and conniving witlt tlte Captain to cause damages 
to tlte ship, so as to collect off repair bills; so he had tlte Captain 
sign him on as Purser, thus hoping to be able to save the Com-
pany further loss. On his arrival in Kingston, Jamaica, tlte Uni-
ted States State Department, - tltrough its Consul, acting on 
malicious lies that Garvey was organizing Negroes against white 
people - tltreatened reprisals if Garvey's name was not remov-
ed from tlte crew list. This prevented Garvey from acting as 
an officer of ti,e ship, and protecting tlte ship's expenditures. 
Garvey had Lloyd's Surveyor at Kingston, examine the ship, 
and make a report, in which the Surveyor stated "that the engine 
and boilers were badly corroded from sea-water ... such a con-
dition could only be brought about tltrough sheer neglect." 
Witlt this report Garvey presented a twelve page complaint to 
tlte American Consul, charging tlte Captain and Chief Engineer 
witlt destructive mismanagement, and asked permission to dis-
miss tltem for "incompetence, neglect and conspiracy". Consul 
Latham dismissed tlte charges against tlte men as "absurd". 
The $22,500 deposited by tlte Black Star Line witlt the Uni-
ted States Shipping Board was never returned to the Stockhold-
ers and Creditors. In 1928 tlte U.S. Senate autltorized its re-
turn, but the House of Representatives failed to pass the neces-
sary concurring measure. 
Anthony Silverstone was never brought to justice by the 
District Attorney for the $13,500 he took, in negotiating with 
tlte Shipping Board for the new ship.  
• 
CHAPTER 14. 
After the painful, heart-breaking experiences that Black 
Star Line Officers had trying to operate the first ship, Garvey as 
President of the Line, if he were a cautious business man, would 
have counselled his Directors not to acquire any more ships for 
a time; even for the good of his own peace of mind; but he 
never considered himself, and felt that as he was pioneering 
in business for the entire race, he could not bow to obstacles 
that were man-made, and not the acts of God. He would keep 
pressing on, ever trying to overcome them, appealing to the 
Race to show to the world Negroes can sail the seas in their 
own ships. For, argued he, "all the material wealth that a 
Coloured person acquires can never compensate him for the 
loss of human dignity and all its attendant abuses". 
Coloured people are not inclined to take orders from their 
own, this was one of the handicaps under which the businesses 
of the Black Star Line and the Negro Factories Corporation 
suffered. Garvey pointed out the reasons, and stated that only 
political autonomy could entirely eradicate this attitude by civil 
disciplinary laws. He wrote: 
"The Negro in Western civilization, because of his environ-
ments that force upon him a complex inferiority, is the most 
stubborn individual to diSCipline within the race. He has but 
little, if any, respect for internal racial authority. He cannot 
be depended upon to carry out an order given by a superior of 
his own race. If the superior attempts, in his presence, to 
enforce the order he is undermined and accused of 'putting 
on airs'. If the order is entrusted to a lieutenant he in tum, 
changes the order to suit himself and endeavours to constitute 
himself the superior individual. 
"In my experience, as head of the largest serious Negro 
organization in the world, I have found that to every hundred 
orders given to be executed for the absolute good of the or-
ganization and the race, not 2 per cent of them have been carried 
out in their entirety. This lack of obedience to orders and dis-
cipline checkmates the real worthwhile progress of the race. 
This accounts for the Negro's lack of racial nationalistic ideal. 
85 
G.G.-7 
86 Garvey and Garveyism 
The only cure for !tim is his removal to an atmosphere entirely 
his own, where he would be forced under rigid civil and other 
discipline to respect himself and his own racial authority." 
It was suggested by some writers that Garvey should have 
invested the Black Star Line's money in real estate in the Nor-
thern States of the U.S.A. The U.N.I.A. - Parent Body and 
Local branches - own real estate, not only in America, but all 
over the world. Liberty Halls, office buildings, business pre-
mises and houses In America, around 1924 totalled more than 
half a million dollars. During Garvey's incarceration in At-
lanta, the New York Local's Liberty Hall was mortgaged by 
some of the Officers for $32,000 to pay fake claims for "back 
salaries" of their colleagues, whose judgments were obtained by 
default, because the cases were not defended. 
The main purpose of the formation and promotion of the 
Black Star Line was to acquire ships to trade between the units 
of the Race - in Africa, the U.S.A., the West Indies and Central 
America, thereby building up an independent economy by busi-
ness, industry, and commerce, and to transport our people 
whither they will - on business or pleasure, without being 
given inferior accommodation, and subject to questioning or reo 
fusal of any sort of accommodation. 
His efforts were not merely to find a good investment for 
people's money, let others do that; but his was the task to 
pioneer in shipping to remove the disabilities that hamper their 
trading contacts one with the other for mutual success. His 
whole concept of uplift, betterment and progress for the Race, 
was always planned to co·ordinate all units - all working, sub-
scribing, and struggling forward for their common good and 
well-being. 
That his over-all programe for African redemption and 
economic independence would be costly, year after year, he 
knew only too well; but surely an entire race could subscribe, 
even meagrely, to its implementation. 
In emphasizing ti,e urgency of his pleas in 1920 he por-
trayed the Negro Worker in the Northern cities of the U.S.A. 
as an industrial make-shift, when he wrote: 
"TI,e Negro's prosperity today, limited as it is, is based 
upon the foundation laid by an alien race that is not disposed 
to go out of its way to prepare for the economic existence of 
anyone else but itself; therefore our present prosperity, as far 
as employment goes, is purely accidental. It is accidental to-
Garvey and Garveyism 87 
day, as it was dw-ing the war of 1914-18 when coloured men 
were employed in different occupations, they never occupied 
before, not because they were wanted, but because they were 
filling the places of men of other races who were not available 
at that time. Negroes are still filling places, and as time goes 
on, and the age grows older, our occupations will be gone from 
us; because those for whom we filled the places will soon ap-
pear, and as they do, we shall gradually find our places among 
the permanently unemployed. Therefore the thing for the 
Negro to do, is to adjust his own economic present in readiness 
for the future. 
"A race that is solely dependent upon another for its econ-
omic existence sooner or later dies. As we have in the past 
been living upon the mercies shown us by others, and by the 
chances obtainable and have suffered therefrom, so will we in 
the future suffer if an effort is not made now to build our own 
economic structure." 
While they sought economic independence he warned them 
as Workers to beware of being used by the Communists and 
Trade Unionists to further their own ends. He stated: 
"I am advising the Negro working man and labourer against 
the present brand of Communism or Workers' Partisanship as 
taught in America, and to be careful of the traps and pitfalls 
of white trade unionism in affiliation with the American Fed-
eration of white workers or labourers ... 
"White Unionism is now trying to rope in the Negro and 
make him a standard wage worker, lout it is not as good as it 
appears on the surface. The danger is that when it becomes 
generally known that he demand.s the same wage as the white 
worker, an appeal or approach will be made to the white capi-
talist or employer to alienate his sympathy or consideration for 
the Negro, causing him in the face of all things being equal, 
to discriminate in favour of the white worker, as a race-duty 
and obligation. The Negro Workers' general position to which 
he is relegated is the uncertainty of being 'the last hired and 
the first fired: 
"The danger of Communism to the Negro, in countries 
where he forms the minority of the population, is seen in the 
selfish and vicious attempts of that party or group to use the 
Negro's vote and physical numbers in helping to smash and 
overthrow, by revolution, a system that is injurious to them as 
white underdogs, the success of which would put their majority 
88 Ganey aDd Ganeyism 
group In power, not only as Communists, but as white men. 
Fundamentally what racial difference is there between a wbite 
Communist, Republican or Democrat? On the appeal of race 
interest the Communist is as ready as either, to show his racial 
ascendancy or superiority over the Negro . .. 
"Since they are so benevolent let them bring about their 
own reforms, and show us how different they are to others. We 
have been bitten too many times by all the other parties ... 
Negroes have no right with white people's fights and quarrels, 
except, like the humble, hungry, meagre dog, to run off with 
the bone when both contestants drop it, being sure to separate 
himself from the big well fed dogs by a good distance, other-
wise to be overtaken, and then completely outdone." 
While Garvey's Coloured rivals were working over-time to 
get him out of the way, our people, not only in the South, but 
in the Northern industrial cities were being chased and killed, 
Simply because they were competing with white labour. All 
this gave Garvey greater justification and urgency for ships, 
factories and a national homeland. In an article to the Negro 
World, and reproduced in the "Philosophy and OpiniOns", 
under the head - Will Negroes succumb to the white man's 
plan of economic starvation?" Garvey stated, in part: 
"Protests against black cabarets were heard in all sorts of 
places in London recently. The Chairman and organirer of 
the Variety Artistes' Federation sent the Clerk of the London 
County Council a protest against the licence for a cabaret be· 
ing granted if Negro artistes were to be imported to act in it. 
Said they: 'We have no objection to white American artistes 
coming to England. In fact ninety per cent of those who come 
here join our federation. There are also in England Negro 
turns that behave themselves and keep their places. But we 
view with the greatest apprehension a cabaret where black 
artistes would actually mix with the white folk at the tables.' 
"While the prejudiced whites in England are depriving 
Negroes of the right to eam a livelihood, in the United States 
of America, the same methods are employed, but on a larger 
scale, and the plan of economic starvation is more vigorously 
and rigidly pursued. Who would have thought that the white 
man in America would have sought to compete with Negroes 
even in the occupation of picking cotton, but the follOWing news 
article speaks for itself: 
Garvey and Garveyism 89 
Caruthersville, Mo., March 2, 1923. 
'A carefully orgaruzed campaign of intimidation has driven 
more than 2,000 Negro workers from the cotton fields of South-
eastern Missouri within the last thirty days, according to com-
plaints made to local officials here. Negro leaders charge that 
threats and warnings were sent to the Negroes by white labour-
ers fearful of losing their jobs by the influx of Negroes into the 
recently reclaimed section. Ambrose Young, Negro, appealed 
for protection after he had received several warnings, 'Nigger, 
get to hell out of here; this is a whiteman's country: was one 
notice delivered by five hooded men. Young says, the next 
night I found another note on my front porch weighted down 
with a cartridge box, which said, 'Nigger, if you cannot read, 
run; if you cannot run, you are as good as dead'. 
"What happened at Caruthersville, Missouri, is what is 
happening throughout America, for instance: 
South Bend, Indiana, Sept. 12, 1923. 
'South Bend, once a haven for escaped Negro slaves from 
the South, is witnessing an exodus of Negroes as the result of 
a rurnour of a threatened face riot. A number of letters ad-
dressed to several Negro leaders on the west side of the city 
caused the flight. ApprOximately 2,000 Negroes - men, womeo 
and children are said to have fled, some leaving their belong-
ings. Shortly after this occurrence at South Bend, Indiana, a 
similar occurrence took place at Johnstown, Pa., an industrial 
center, where there had been a great deal of unemployment. 
The unemployed whites were waiting for an opportunity to run 
the employed and unemployed Negroes out of town, so as to 
brighten their prospects of employment. The opportunity pre-
sented itself when two policemen were shot in one of the lab-
our districts of the city. It is apparent that white labour leaders 
seized upon the opportunity of getting the Mayor to take im-
mediate action, which he did not fail to do. The result was 
that thousands of Negroes were driven out of town by order 
of Mayor Joseph Cauffiel, with the follOWing declaration as his 
ultimatum, which cannot be mistaken: 
Johnstown, Pa., Sept. 15, 1923. 
'I don't care what authority I have; for their own safety, 
and for the safety of the Johnstown public, the Negroes are 
going out of this city. Most of them are out, and the rest of 
them are going fast. If the rest of them don't get out soon, 
90 Garvey and Garveyism 
I'll ann the police and send them into the colonies to walk the 
Negroes out at the point of a gun.' 
"Similar occurrences have taken place in East S. Louis, 
Tulsa, and other industrial centres, accompanied by bloodshed 
and the burning of Negro homes and belongings, and is hap-
pening weekly, as the reaction sets in, in the American labour 
market ... In a short while, except where the Negro has cre-
ated for himself a job, and a haven of refuge, he will be a 
drifter." 
It had been the policy of the organization to allow its mem-
bers freedom of choice in religion and politics; the Officers of 
the local branches directed their own political activities. In 
1924 however, feeling the full onslaught of concerted opposition 
pounding at the Organization from all sides, a Committee in 
Convention decided that a political party could exert more in-
fluence by the power of the vote than propaganda could accom-
plish. 
The Convention acted on the committee's findings, and the 
Universal Negro Political Union was formed, under the Chair-
manship of the American Leader. The general principles were: 
- "men and measures". It demonstrated this by having on 
its ticket Republican candidate Coolidge for President, and for 
the 21st Congressional District of New York, Royal Weller, De-
mocrat, instead of Dr. Charles Roberts, Negro, who was opposed 
to the U.N.1.A. Garvey;tes in their respective localities de-
cided who best serve their needs and aspirations in legislatures. 
On the death of Lenin in 1924, Garvey sent a cable to 
Moscow, on behalf of the Negroes of the world expressing sor-
row at his passing. For despite the fact that he felt convinced 
that his race should not participate in Communists' activities 
in the U.S.A. or be used by that Party, yet Nikolai Lenin, as 
a leader of the masses of Russia deserved respect for what, in 
all sincerity, he tried to do for them. Said he, "the masses 
need peace, bread, liberty and land." 
CHAPTER 15. 
Liberty Halls, wherever located, served the needs of the 
people - Sunday morning worship, afternoon Sunday Schools, 
Public Meetings at nights, concerts and dances were held, espe-
cially on holidays and Saturday nights. Notice boards were 
put up where one could look for a room, a job, or a lost article. 
In localities where there were many members out of work dur-
ing the winter the Black Cross Nurses would organize Soup Kit-
chens, and give them a warm meal daily. The Legions would 
make portable screens for a comer of the Hall, where men who 
could not be temporarily housed with fellow members, could 
sleep on benches at nights. In the freezing Winter days stoves 
had to be kept going to accommodate the cold and homeless, 
until they "got on their feet" again. One of these "Stove-
warmers" later won some money in a sweepstake, and carne 
out to Jamaica to spend it. Another owned a fleet of buses; 
• 
they, like others, forgot the Organization that succored and in-
spired them. 
Many Preachers felt that the U.N.LA. was depleting their 
membership, and in revenge they informed their local police 
and political Bosses that Garvey was preaching hate. Once on 
a tour of the South, he arrived in New Orleans to be met by a 
despondent looking Delegation, who told him that a Coloured 
Preacher had caused the Police Lieutenant to order that "Garvey 
must not speak in town", 
He decided to speak. No one was to take a gun or black-
jack to the meeting. The Legions were to stand at the doors 
and see to this. Only members were admitted. The Choir lead 
them singing Hymns and Spirituals. As the singing progressed, 
the Lieutenant lead twelve of his men - heavily armed - into 
the building. Up the aisle they filed towards the platform. 
The Lieutenant asked in a commanding voice, "which one of 
you guys is Garvey?", who walked to the edge of the platform 
and said, "I am Carvey". 
"Did you get my message that you were not to speak here 
tonight?" queried the Police Officer, and Garvey in reply said, 
"Yes, Lieutenant, but I have a message for you to tell the white 
91 
9% Garvey lIJId Garveyism 
folks of this city. I have been longing to talk to them, but as 
they can't attend my meetings, and I can't attend theirs, we 
never get a chance to understand each other. This misunder-
standing has been the cause of most of the trouble in the South. 
Let me tell you what the New Negro under the leadership of 
our Organization wants". He paused, and saw the white men 
listening attentively, so he said, "gentlemen, please sit down, I 
have reserved these front seats for you". 
They sat down, and he proceeded to trace the Negro from 
Africa, in the hell-holes of ships to America; their contribution 
to its wealth during and after slavery. Surely, said he "the 
right to work and live peacefully here should not be denied 
him? The New Negro does not hanker after your women, and 
we are asking you to leave our women alone (smiles). We have 
the same pride as you have in keeping your Race pure and 
prosperous." He went on to explain more fully his programme, 
and closed by saying, "I hope that instead of hindering our 
plans, you will leave us alone to work out our own destiny." 
He spoke for over an hour, like a machine gun finding its 
mark, at the end of which the Police Officer said he sure liked 
the way he talked, and was sorry the whole Town did not hear 
him. 
"Mouthagram" can cover more distance among Coloured 
people than telegram; so the news of this incident spread 
throughout the South, which was won over to Garveyism. White 
people, too, wanted to see and hear this man. Some felt that 
his African programme would take awa} their best workers, and 
thus create a scarcity of skilled, reliable men and women. One 
of the most curious was the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux 
Klan - the largest white organization in America, commonly 
called "The Invisible Empire", with headquarters in the State 
of Georgia. He expressed a desire to see that "King George 
Nigger", and got a message through to the local office of the 
U.N.I.A. 
The K.K.K. excludes Roman Catllolics and Jews from their 
membership only, but is organized to keep Negroes in subjec-
tion, through their rabid Race purity idealism, which most 
Roman Catholics and Jews inwardly share. However the 
former have their exclusive Organization - the Knights of Co-
lumbus, and the Jews are protected by their Faith-bound Re-
ligious-economic Society. The only exclusive Negro Organiz-
ation was the U.N.I.A. 
Garvey 8IId Garveyism 93 
The whole atmosphere of the South wreaked of fear and 
hate. The poor whites, especially, feared the rising prosperity 
of the Negroes in the states where the latter are in the majority; 
their brutal efforts to keep them down, keeps themselves down 
economically, as they limit their expansion, fearing that "Negroes 
will get something out of it'. Their minds become so warped 
with animus that their dictums - regarding Coloured people -
are silly and lack reasoning. For instance a Southern white 
woman will refuse to sit beside a Coloured woman on a bus or 
train, yet she will get a "Black Mammie" to wet-nurse her baby, 
as she does not want to spoil her figure and miss social engage-
ments. The Coloured woman is thus fomed to neglect her child; 
yet she feels honoured to be chosen to mother a white one. 
Later in life that white boy may exhibit his latent love for that 
woman - whose breasts he suckled and whose arms nestled him 
in his infancy - by forming a liaison with a Coloured girl and 
produce a Mulatto child. On the other hand he may be weak 
enough to be so influenced by conventional prejudices as to 
join in lynching his black Mammie's son. This has happened. 
The "hooded Terrors" enveloped in long white gowns, 
white hoods, carrying torches at nights, terrorize and lynch our 
people, often setting fire to their homes. A wooden cross is 
carried in the lead of their nocturnal marches, as a symbol of 
their Christianity, by which they crucify a people. Many lynch-
ers do not wear masks, and the K.K.K. disclaim the high lynch-
ing record yearly as being their work. 
Lynching is a practical demonstration of racial hysteria; it 
is actuated through fear, a guilty conscience, or a retributive 
foreboding. White people envy the husky Coloured man for 
his strength, his laughter, when he should be sad, his endurance 
through every hellish condition; hate grows into frenzy, and 
presto! a mob is formed to kill him at the slightest provocation. 
"Let's string him up to a tree! Riddle his body with bullets, 
and get souvenirs; then pour gasoline on him and give him "a 
hot farewell'." The charge against the victim for attempted 
rape is time-worn and hardly ever true. What sane Coloured 
man living in the South would do such a thing, knOwing the 
consequences? Arthur Brisbane, the noted Columnist for the 
New York American - one of Hearst's publications - explained: 
"The fact is that the mob, at a burning, are not human 
beings at all, but, as Professor Shaler shows in his book on the 
G.G~ 
94 Ganey and Garveyism 
Mob, they are wolves with the spirit of the pack ... and no-
thing else." 
Into this atmosphere, in June 1922, Garvey went to see the 
Imperial Wizard. There are many doors before one sees the 
"Exalted Ruler", but he was met at the outer door, and ushered 
into an office. It is said that once a Jew knocked at that door, 
and was told he should know better than to come there. Said 
the Jew apologetically, "I only came on business, I wanted to 
see the fellow who buys the white sheets." 
Garvey had a long talk with the Assistant Imperial Wizard, 
telling him of Race relations in the West Indies and the Nor-
thern States, finally of his efforts toward colonization in Africa, 
which impressed the white listener, as a new and candid ap-
proach to the old question. 
To his surprise his enemies in the North interpreted his 
bravery as cowardice; yet most of them were afraid, even to 
visit relatives in the South. The startling news was flashed that 
Garvey had become a member of the K.K.K., some said he had 
formed an alliance. Both accusations were ridiculous and 
wicked. The implications were that he would encourage the 
Klan to brutalize Negroes, and cause them to want to leave 
America for Africa. At no time of his life did he plan mass 
migration, or forced or coerced migration. His definite plan 
has always been select colonization by pioneering people, with 
the means to establish themselves, and the initiative to help 
build up the Colony. 
Clarence Darrow, eminent white criminal lawyer, address-
ing a gathering of Negroes in Washington D.C. at the "Sub-
urban Garden", in 1928 commended the New Negro in his fight 
for full freedom; he pointed out: 
"If there is any class of people to whom whites owe a debt 
of gratitude it is the Negro; but it is a debt they never will pay. 
and they have no intention of paying it ... 
"You have only been a little way out of slavery. You could 
not do much in the beginning without the aid of men who 
wanted to help you. But now you are pretty well able to look 
the world in the face. and make your own plans, and do your 
own work; and I for one. am rather glad that you will be com-
pelled to do it; because it will give you strength. courage and 
energy. You will know that what you have got belongs to 
you ... You have got to make the fight for full equality your-
selves; you have got to win by your own efforts; you haven't 
Garvey and Garveyism 95 
-
got much money, but you need every cent of it for important 
movements ... 
"I know and believe that you are in a winning fight, but 
it is long and slow, it needs every bit of your courage and in-
dependence, and judgment to conquer . . . it will come about 
in no other way, for people who cannot make a fight for free-
dom, are hardly fit for freedom if they get it." 
CHAPTER 16. 
Before the third Convention assembled, William Pickens of 
the N .A.A.C.P. toured the states, speaking at meetings denounc-
ing Garvey and his African programme. Thousands of hand-
bills marked, "Garvey must go", were distributed. But all this 
only gained more sympathy for him among the masses. As an 
impartial observer said, "If Garvey must go, then who is to 
take his place? The time they spend chasing Garvey, they 
ought to start something that we all can follow." 
The Parade was grand as usual, also the opening meeting 
at the Seventy-first Regiment Armory. During the Convention 
Pickens went on with his campaign. In a letter to the New 
York Times, August 10, 1922, three Africans told him what they 
thought of him, and his kind: 
"As natives of Africa who are proud of our country, our 
hearts were made to bleed on last Sunday at Shuffle Inn at the 
assault upon Africa, our Motherland, by one Dean William 
Pickens, who, from his complexion, is a descendant of Africans. 
We never realized how far Western civilization had demoralized 
the Negro until we heard the address of this supposedly edu-
cated Negro. He spoke of Africa as a heathen land, where life 
is not safe on account of cannibals. 
"We wish to inform the good professor that life and pro-
perty are safer in Africa, but for the white usurpers, than in 
any part of the United States. Cannibalism in Africa is all fic-
tion. While we appreciate any help offered us by those of the 
Western world who have had certain advantages of school, 
Africa would be better off without such Negroes as Dean Wil-
liam Pickens, and we trust until such have had a change of 
heart toward their Motherland that they will remain forever 
in this Western world. 
"Africa shall be free, for within her borders has arisen that 
spirit which shall not exhaust itself until Africa is free and her 
people are in possession of the land. 
"We have no ill-will toward this Dean William Pickens. 
We can only pity him and his kind, for they have been blinded 
by this Western civilization. They imagine they have, when 
96 
Garvey and Garveyism 97 
they have not; they think they see, when they are as blind as a 
bat. 
M. M. Martin, 
Sierra Leone, West Africa, 
Austin Dafora Horton, 
Sierra Leone, West Mrica, 
V. Quashie Lawson, 
Gold Coast, West Africa." 
Contrast the Race-destroymg activities of DuBois and Pic-
kens, to the importance white people attach to Garvey and his 
programme: 
"Johannesburg, S.A. - A Garvey paper published here and 
known as the African World, has created a furor among the 
whites. 
"Its platform of 'Africa for the Africans' has created con-
sternation both here and in England. The government has been 
asked to suppress it ... The avowed aim of the African World 
is to 'free Africa from the incubus of European control', and 
to 'instil the psychology and traits of Zaghlul Pasha in the Afri-
can race'. In its third issue, published on June 13, it has the 
barefaced impudence to refer to 'the imperishable message' of 
His Highness Marcus Garvey, Potentate of the Universal Negro 
Improvement Association ... 
"To detect and demolish the specious fallacy of the 'Africa 
for the Africans' argument is child's play to the European 
mm.  d. " 
The following letter from Cape Coloured people to the 
South African "Blackman" appealed to peoples of African des-
cent abroad to unite and help them: 
"We, the Cape Coloured citkzens of the Borough of Oudt-
shoorn and district, herewith tender our heartiest thanks to the 
Editor of "The Black Man" for publishing from time to time 
articles for the enlightenment, advancement and welfare of our 
non-European races. May those in authority and responsible 
for the publication of this brave little journal prosper and be 
successful in all their Wldertakings for the good cause. May 
the Almighty deem fit to instil in your mind the keen insight, 
fortitude and clear judgment which will render possible the 
building up of our poor and oppressed race. 
"Ye dusky sons of Africa, though distributed far and wide 
over the face of the Universe, baill The soil of Africa calls. 
98 
In the past we have been ignorant enough to allow aliens to 
dominate us ... 
"Today we find that instead of religion dominating the 
influence of the powers that be, they have become slaves of 
paganism. Nevertheless the dawn is breaking. Shall we hear 
the call and stand together once and for all, regardless of the 
different social sects, which more or less retard the progress of 
our noble race. To you who claim Africa as the origin of your 
birth shall this call go unanswered? You have proven your-
selves men to fight the battles of your oppressors in the past 
Why can't you show the same majesty of manhood and c0-
operate with those who are trying to show the European nations 
their wrongs and evils upon the subject races? 
"Africans! The time for dreaming is past. Now is the 
opportune time to join your efforts with those who have daunt-
lessly faced the common foe. Throughout the Union of South 
Africa this pest and insult will ever strike your face; 'Europeans 
only! Europeans only! Until we succeed in removing this 
degradation to the race, rest assured that no real and formidable 
progress can be laid down. Remember that it is you who de-
lay this progress of our race. It is you - the man who is doing 
well in bad times; you who live on the sweat and blood of 
the struggling, remember where your children will be when 
you are dead and gone. 
"God bless glOriOUS Africa!" 
During the Convention a well known Bible Society of-
fered to present each Delegate with a bible; put to the vote 
the House declined the kind offer as Delegates already had 
bibles. It was recommended that they be sent to sections of 
the South, and circulated among those obsessed with Race and 
religious prejudices. This was done as a protest to "let them 
know we are not Atheists. We are not rejecting God's Holy 
Book, but we disapprove their brand of Christianity," said Rev. 
Diggs, a Baptist Pastor. 
The substance of the discussions at the Session is expressed 
by R. T. Brown, Editor of the Negro World at a later date when 
he wrote: 
"Africans at home, like Africans abroad, have grown weary 
and tired of that false brand of Christianity, which teaches 
humility and subjection to the white usurper and exploiter, who 
at the same time is demonstrating an aggressiveness and over-
lordship that is bewildering and disillusioning. What Africa 
Garvey and Garveyism 99 
needs at this time are men and women, who counting the cost 
are willing to venture forth, in pilgrim fashion, to spread the 
gospel of Unity, with Infinity, and At-one-ment with Universal 
Mind. Men and women who are charged with the impelling 
urge to rouse their kinsmen from the slumber of ages, and work 
such a transformation in their souls, and in their bodies too, that 
the world shall acclaim them". 
One of the highlights of the Sessions was a message from 
the King and Queen of Abyssinia, which the New York World 
reported, August 29, 1922: 
"Liberty Hall was the scene of a wild demonstration lasting 
ten minutes yesterday, when a message from the King and 
Queen of Abyssinia was read to the convention of the Universal 
Negro Improvement Association. Men threw up their hats and 
women their hand-kerchiefs. Marcus Garvey, usually the per-
sonification of dignity, led in the cheering. 
"The message was delivered to the convention by H. H. To-
pakyn, Persian Consul General, who represents Abyssinia in this 
country. When the part of the message was reached in which 
the King and Queen invited members of the association to 
'come back to the homeland' the delegates yelled themselves 
hoarse. Parts of the message delivered by the Persian Consul 
General, particularly pleasing to the delegates were: 
"During a recent audience with these venerable and dis-
tinguished Rulers of a great historic land, I spoke of this ap-
proaching convention. The exalted Ruler quickly caught, as 
we do, the Significance of this gathering, and with visible emo-
tion he said: 
'Kindly convey our greetings, congratulations and best 
wishes to the assembly. Here their race originated, and here 
it can be lifted to its highest plane of usefulness and honor. 
Assure them of the cordiality with which I invite them back 
to the home land, particularly those qualified to help solve our 
big problems and to develop our vast resources. Teachers, arti-
sans, mechanics, writers, musicians, professional men and women 
- all who are able to lend a hand in the constructive work which 
our country so deeply feels, and greatly needs. 
'Here we have abundant room and great opportunities and 
here destiny is working to elevate and enthrone a race which 
has suffered slavery, poverty, persecution and martyrdom, but 
whose expanding soul and growing genius is now the hope of 
many millions of mankind. 
100 Garvey and Garveybm 
'Thus the King of Abyssinia speaks and thus the thoughtful 
all around the world speal<. for the black man is showing his 
grit and conquering genius today as never before in his history, 
and future ages will witness his higher ascent in the r""lm of 
science, law, literature, religion, industry and economics, and 
his growing contributions to the world-wide structure of liberty 
and civi1iz.ation.' 
"The convention unanimously voted thanks and cabled con-
gratulations to the King and Queen of Abyssinia. 
"Marcus Garvey was re-elected- Provisional President of 
Africa. In his speech of acceptance he said; 
'This is the most troublesome office in the world, declaring 
for freedom of Africa, when at this time it is coveted for its 
gold and other mineral wealth. It is like being elected to a 
powder house. Before many years roll by I hope we will have 
a real and active President of the Republic of Africa, whose af-
fairs will be admioistoced from New York, the United States 
of Mrica, instead of New York, the United States of America." 
Following up the proposal of Senator France that America 
take over the former German African Colonies and colonize them 
with Coloured Americans, the Delegates in Convention sent a 
Delegation to the League of Nations at Geneva, Switzerland, 
asking that Body to permit the U.N.I.A. to take control of the 
Colonialization. The Delegation consisted of; Marke, Deputy 
Potentate, Sherill, American Leader, O'Meally, West Indian 
Leader, and J. Adam of Haiti, Secretary and Interpreter. 
"L'illustre", 14th October, 1922 had a picture of them seated 
at a Conference table. 
The Persian Delegation, as member to the League, pre-
sented the petition on behalf of the Negro peoples of the world. 
The next year G. Marke was sent back to press the petition's 
appeal; but the big Colonial Powers side-stepped the issue hy 
adopting a new rule that nationals can only submit their griev-
ances and petitions through their own governments. 
A New York Post Reporter in an interview with the Or-
ganization's Secretary General, August 14, sums up the other 
activities of this Convention; 
"AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS". 
"This is the fundamental tenet of the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association which opened today, the fourth week 
of the annual convention at Liberty Hall, 120 West 138th Street. 
Garvey and Garveyism 101 
This slogan sums up all that the association i<; attempting to 
do, and to it can be traced all the discussions in the convention 
since it opened on August 1. 
"The desire to secure Africa for the Negro race explains 
the action of sending delegates to the League of Nations to re-
present the Negroes when the discussion of the African Man-
dates takes place; it explains in part the opposition which has 
met Marcus Garvey; it explains the association's attitude on 
lynching. 
"All these, and many other subjects have come up for dis-
cussion at the meetings, and in the final analysis all the discus-
sions have been based on the hope and expectation that in 
the distant future there will be a strong Negro state in Africa. 
"In the matter of lynching, the feeling of the association, 
as explained by Robert L. Poston, Assistant Secretary General 
of the Association, speaking for Mr. Garvey, is that legislation 
such as the Dyer anti-lynching bill will do little good, whereas 
the representations of a strong foreign power, such as it is 
hoped there will be one day will do much good. 
"Liberia, the Negro ReEublic of Africa, has also been much 
discussed at the convention, and the decision has been reached 
that Negroes in this country should aid in the proposed loan 
from the United States to Liberia. This country gives the race 
a real foothold in Africa, the speakers at the convention de-
clared, and to allow its destruction means the abandonment of 
the hopes of 'African redemption'. 
100 Garvey and Garveybm 
'Thus the King of Abyssinia speaks and thus the thoughtful 
all around the world speal<. for the black man is showing his 
grit and conquering genius today as never before in his history, 
and future ages will witness his higher ascent in the r""lm of 
science, law, literature, religion, industry and economics, and 
his growing contributions to the world-wide structure of liberty 
and civi1iz.ation.' 
"The convention unanimously voted thanks and cabled con-
gratulations to the King and Queen of Abyssinia. 
"Marcus Garvey was re-elected- Provisional President of 
Africa. In his speech of acceptance he said; 
'This is the most troublesome office in the world, declaring 
for freedom of Africa, when at this time it is coveted for its 
gold and other mineral wealth. It is like being elected to a 
powder house. Before many years roll by I hope we will have 
a real and active President of the Republic of Africa, whose af-
fairs will be admioistoced from New York, the United States 
of Mrica, instead of New York, the United States of America." 
Following up the proposal of Senator France that America 
take over the former German African Colonies and colonize them 
with Coloured Americans, the Delegates in Convention sent a 
Delegation to the League of Nations at Geneva, Switzerland, 
asking that Body to permit the U.N.I.A. to take control of the 
Colonialization. The Delegation consisted of; Marke, Deputy 
Potentate, Sherill, American Leader, O'Meally, West Indian 
Leader, and J. Adam of Haiti, Secretary and Interpreter. 
"L'illustre", 14th October, 1922 had a picture of them seated 
at a Conference table. 
The Persian Delegation, as member to the League, pre-
sented the petition on behalf of the Negro peoples of the world. 
The next year G. Marke was sent back to press the petition's 
appeal; but the big Colonial Powers side-stepped the issue hy 
adopting a new rule that nationals can only submit their griev-
ances and petitions through their own governments. 
A New York Post Reporter in an interview with the Or-
ganization's Secretary General, August 14, sums up the other 
activities of this Convention; 
"AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS". 
"This is the fundamental tenet of the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association which opened today, the fourth week 
of the annual convention at Liberty Hall, 120 West 138th Street. 
G81"fey and G81"feyism 101 
This slogan sums up all that the association is attempting to 
do, and to it can be traced all the discussions in the convention 
since it opened on August 1. 
"The desire to secure Africa for the Negro race explains 
the action of sending delegates to the League of Nations to re-
present the Negroes when the discussion of the African Man-
dates takes place; it explains in part the opposition which has 
met Marcus Garvey; it explains the association's attitude on 
lynching. 
"All these, and many other subjects have come up for dis-
cussion at the meetings, and in the final analysis all the discus-
sions have been based on the hope and expectation that in 
the distant future there will be a strong Negro state in Africa. 
"In the matter of lynching, the feeling of the association, 
as explained by Robert L. Poston, Assistant Secretary General 
of the Association, speaking for Mr. Garvey, is that legislation 
such as the Dyer anti-lynching bill will do little good, whereas 
the representations of a strong foreign power, such as it is 
hoped there will be one day will do much good. 
"Uberla, the Negro Republic of Africa, has also been much 
discussed at the convention, and the decision has been reached 
that Negroes in this country should aid in the proposed loan 
from the United States to Uberia. This country gives the race 
a real foothold in Africa, the speakers at the convention de-
clared, and to allow its destruction means the abandonment of 
the hopes of 'African redemption'. 
CHAPTER 17. 
In order to speed up legal action to support the "Garvey 
must go" campaign a long letter dated January 15, 1923, was 
written to Hon. Harry M. Dougherty, United States Attorney 
General, Department of Justice, Washington D.C., by eight 
prominent Negroes, namely: 
Harry H. Pace, President of the Pace Phonograph Co. 
Robert S. Abbott, Editor and Publisher of the "Chicago De· 
fender." 
John E. Nail, President of Nail and Parker Inc., Real Estate 
Agents. 
Julia P. Coleman, President of Hair Vim Chemical Co. 
William Pickens, Field Secretary of the N.A.A.C.P. 
Chandler Owen, Co-Editor of "The Messenger". 
Robert W. Bagnall, Director of Branches of the N.A.A.C.P. 
George V. Harris, Editor of the "New York News". 
The letter contained 29 paragraphs giving reasons why the 
Attorney General as Chief Law Enforcement Officer should use 
his "full influence completely to disband and extirpate this 
vicious movement" (U.N.I.A.) and that he vigorously and 
speedily push the government's case against Marcus Garvey for 
using the mails to defraud. They closed the letter by stating: 
"we sense the irruninent menace of this insidious movement, 
which cancer-like is gnawing at the vitals of peace and safety 
- of civic harmony and inter-racial concord", 
What appalled and puzzled Garvey all his life, as death-
thrusts were made at him was, that there was no act too low 
that his enemies - of his own Race - would not stoop to; there-
by sacrificing the prestige of the Race, in order to destroy his 
leadership. They demonstrated the old "crab-in-the-barrel" 
psychology - If I can't be on top, I will pull the other fellows 
down as they climb. That is why "good white people" had to 
select a leader for the Race, and take care of him. 
In December, 1926, while Garvey was in prison this same 
Harry M. Dougherty, now a former Attorney General, along 
with others, was tried on charges of conspiracy to defraud the 
government in connection with the transfer of alien property. 
102 
Garvey and Garveyism 103 
The trial was had before Judge Julian Mack, and resulted in 
the Jury disagreeing. In February the following year, objec-
tions having been made to Judge Mack, a new Judge and a 
new trial was ordered for Mr. Dougherty. Compare this to 
Judge Mack's denial to Garvey for another Judge in his trial 
to follow. We are reminded of the Nordic philosophy - "the 
black man has no rights that a white man is bound to respect." 
Messrs. Randolph and Owen in "The Messenger" - their 
magazine, - June, 1924, gave a clue as to why Mr. Owen Signed 
the notorious letter. They stated: 
"Exit the Agents of Injustice. 
"Good-bye Mr. Dougherty and farewell Mr. Burns. Peace 
be with yeo We are glad you are gone, and sorry you stayed 
so long. At last the government is rid of these two gentlemen 
of the political underworld. Mr. Dougherty, the erstwhile Uni-
ted States Attorney General is notorious for his crooked, shady, 
political dealings". 
In an attempt to counteract the wrong impressions created 
by the subversive letter to the Attorney General, Garvey held a 
Mass meeting at Carnegie· Hall, in down-town New York City. 
It was packed to overflowing; white people attended too, as 
it was well advertised in white newspapers, and by circulars dis-
tributed in the white sections. Items on the musical part of the 
programme were: Ethel Clarke, Soprano, singing Eckert's Swiss 
song, and Cavallo's Chanson Mimi; The Black Star Line Band, 
in smart uniforms, rendering Overture from Rigoletto and 
Mirello; New York Local Choir, fully robed, singing The Bridal 
Chorus from the Rose Maiden and "Gloria" from Mozart's 12th 
Massj The "Perfect Harmony Four" in Sextette from "Lucia"; 
Basso Packer Ramsay sang Handel's "Hear me ye Winds and 
Waves". The second half of the programme were speeches by 
the Officers of the Organization and himself. Subjects were: 
"The future of the black and white Races, and the building of 
a Negro nation", 
Garvey did many acts of kindness to relatives of his 
enemies. When asked how he forgot the past so easily, he 
said: "I have to forget such injuries; if I kept them fresh in my 
mind, the added ones would be harder to bear. I never en-
courage hate - it is consuming and weakening. Hateful think-
ing breeds negative action, which retards the positive work I 
have to do. If I tried to hate all the people whom I know are 
104 Garvey and Garveyism 
doing all they can to destroy me, I would be so busy hating and 
avenging that I would have very little time for good construc-
tive thoughts and actions." 
Garvey has been accused of hating Mulattoes but when 
Robert Bagnall of the N.A.A.C.P. described him thus: 
"Of unmixed stock, squat, stocky, fat and sleek, with pro-
truding jaws and heavy jowls, small bright, pig-like eyes and 
rather bull-dog like face", is it any wonder that Garvey should 
lash out at him and others like him, who see no comeliness in 
unmixed stock, and said: "These bastards hate the Negro blood 
of their mothers, and endeavour to build up a society based on 
colour of skin, and not on achievement and worth. II 
In an article to the Negro World, written August, 1923, from 
the Tombs prison, he exposed the Pink Tea Set, the Colonial 
Club, the Blue Vein SOCiety, and the N.A.A.C.P.'s policy in 
1916 to employ only persons of light complexion, as they said, 
"this was better for business". In this article he emphasized 
the policy of the U.N.I.A. in this regard as follows: 
"To draw together into one universal whole all the Negro 
peoples of the world, with prejudice toward none. We desire 
to have every shade of colour, even those with one drop of Afri-
can blood in our fold; because we believe that none of us, as 
we are, is responSible for our birth. In short we have no pre-
judice within the Race ... 
"For long we have been made to believe that the nearer 
we approached the white man in colour the greater our social 
standing and privileges ... we have been trying to get away 
from pride of race, into an atmosphere of colour worship, to 
the damaging extent that the whole world has made us its laugh-
ing stock ... But now we have reached the point where the 
entire race must get together, whether we are light, yellow, 
black or what not, and build up a mighty race ... 
"God made us in His own image, and He had some purpose 
when He thus created us, then why should we seek to destroy 
that identity? Let us not divide ourselves in castes. To change 
our race is no credit. The Anglo-Saxon does not want to be a 
Japanese and the Japanese does not want to be a Negro; then 
in the name of God, and all that's holy, wby should we want 
to be somebody else?" 
There is no white man that could be as aggressively proud 
of his Race as Garvey was of his own; and when that identity 
105 
was ridiculed, or pe1sons mistreated or discriminated against be-
cause they were black, he became fighting mad, to vindicate the 
Injured and the aggIieved. Everything he said or did denoted 
action, and speed to span the centuries of racial Inactivity and 
hibernatinn; In his zeal he never counted the costs In dollars 
and cents. 
In 1922 he published the "Negro Times" as an evening 
newspaper, and although it was a drag on the funds of the 
Organ/mtion, he kept publication going until 1924. Said he, 
"the benefits our people derive from daily Interpretation of 
national and world events, will more than compensate for the 
monetary losses". 
Impracticall Yes, he was, because he was obsessed with 
the idea of speeding up the awakening and education of the 
minds of our people and teaching them to think Independently. 
Every one must be geared to the need and speed of his work, 
or they would be brushed aside, or ignored. Every circumstance 
or Incident, even adverse ones, were used to illustrate and dra-
matire the urgency and dire necessity for militant advocacy of 
the cause of the oppressed. . 
Irrepressible, extravagant, even fanatical, he was dynamic 
in speech and action. He had a message to deliver to all his 
people everywhere - a redemptive, soul-searching, yet practi-
cal, comprehensive programme for his race's way of life, to pre-
pare them really to live as real men, and be partakers in the 
fnllness of the earth, through their own efforts and diligence. 
His aim was to preserve and develop the Negro personality, 
for said he, ''we have got to teach and show the world that dif-
ferent races and creeds can live on this earth, with envy and 
malice toward none, in the fair exchange and trading of the 
world's goods, and an acknowledgement of merited equality, 
not only before the law, but under God." 
As he travelled throughout the states of the Union, and 
observed the varying degrees of suffering and abuse that the 
masses of his people were still being subjected to, his mind 
was constantly agitated to find new outlets and opportunities for 
his work, as his enemies blocked his progress, but the changed 
attitude of the masses to their local problems, and the forth. 
right mann.... in which they were tackling them in unity and 
love, gave him impetus to carry on In the face of untold and 
often 1mseeu opposition. 
106 Ganey aDd 
No longer was his people seeing through the eyes of the 
white race, and speaking his thoughts which limited him to 
his low, restricted status, and their high estate; no longer was 
the collective creative spirit of the race warped. or largely 
crushed by the indoctrination that "nothing good can ever 
come out of the Negro Race." They were no longer a hypno-
tized race under the spell of the white man's material and mili-
tary power Wee the Zombie's of Haiti - living, but not being. 
Oh no, they had cast off the spell, they no longer believed that 
God cursed them, when He made them black, but that God 
blessed them when He gave them such an enduring colour, and 
such a wonderful physique. Indeed the most rewarding free-
dom, is the freedom of the mind. 
I will digress to explain how my legal training came about, 
which fitted me to better serve the Organization; and how des-
tiny, fate or a chain of circumstances brought it about As a 
High School girl I was being taught to play the piano, because 
music and music appreciation were considered a cultural finish· 
mg to a girl's education. I had no air for music, and have al-
ways felt that whatever I do, I must excel in it. So I was able 
to reason with my father to let me do shorthand and typewrit-
ing instead. He agreed, but warned me that it was only to 
he used to take notes when I was being trained as a Nurse in 
England - !)tis was his plan for me after I had taken the Cam-
hridge University School Certificate Examination. I finished the 
course, received a prize, and an offer from the legal firm to 
which my teacher was attached, for a beginner's post. My 
father graciously declined the offer. At home he said, "I do 
not want any daughter of mine to be exposed to the wiles of 
men in an office." 
He died suddenly from a stroke. Our Lawyer suggested 
to my Mother to send me to his office as a Clerk, in that way 
I could also look after my father's estate. I remained there 
four years, and finally could attend to every legal phase of the 
work, also a Fire Insurance Agency. However, I became rest-
less and decided to go to England, but when everything was 
ready, the ships would not take women passengers because of 
submarine warfare. I then decided to go to America in 1918. 
My Mother was SQ upset she had a conference of our Minister 
and the Lawyer to dissuade me, as I could not stay with her 
people: they all passed as white. Our Lawyer argued that I 
should remain and become a Lawyer, as America was no place 
Garvey and Garveyism 107 
for my type (this exodus had not started yet). I promised them 
to return in three months if conditions were unbearable. I 
really wanted to see this land of opportunity and limitations, ac-
cording to my father's description . 
• 
• 
CHAPTER 18. 
May 21, 1923, in the Federal Court of the U.S.A., in New 
York City was held the trial of the four officers of the Black 
Star Line. Judge Julian Mack presided with a Jury. Each de-
fendant was represented by an Attorney. As the trial fonnolly 
opened, Garvey - through his Attorney - made application that 
the trial Judge declare himself disqualified to try the case on 
• the ground that he was a member of, or a contributor to the 
N.A.A.C.P. - an Association, whose officers were actively op-
posed to Garvey and his Movement. Judge Mack admitted his 
connection with the N.A.A.C.P., but denied bias. The motion 
was denied, and the same Judge proceeded to try the case. 
After the first two days of the trial, Garvey's Attorney came 
to our flat after Court, and said he was acting on advice, and 
in Garvey's interest; as his Lawyer he advised him to plead 
guilty of the technical charge, he had reason to believe that he 
would be fined and admonished of future activities. Garvey 
was surprised at the suggestion, and told him he did not seem 
to understand the motives behind the prosecution. After a 
lengthy argument on the matter, which brought out other facts, 
Garvey felt that his Attorney was being used innocently to trap 
him, and asked him to withdraw from his court defence. In leav-
ing the Lawyer warned, "it will go hard with you". Garvey 
retorted, "I will prove to the Jury that I am not guilty of any 
fraud." 
He tried to get another Attorney, but it was almost impos-
sible, as he wanted one whose politics was Republican, besides 
no one could study the case over-night, and many were warned 
"not to handle the Garvey defence". Mter a week he retained 
Mr. Armin Kohn to advise him after court, and to question him 
as a witness. 
Party politics plays an important part in the State judiciary, 
as judges are elected on their selection by politicians. The cus-
toms of this system are at times reflected in the Federal judi-
ciary. Mr. Edward J. Flynn, formerly Democratic Leader in 
the Bronx, stated in his book, "You're the Boss", - Political lead-
ers have always maintained, not only in New York, but through-
108 
Garvey aDd Garveyism 109 
out the entire United States, that they have the right to speak 
on behalf of a client, to a Judge on the Bench. Ethically it is 
wrong; but practically the custom has always existed, and it 
would be difficult to eradicate". 
Among the renegades whom the Prosecutor listed as his 
star witness, "to testify against Garvey", was J. Eason - the 
first American Leader. Under impeachment at the 1922 Con-
vention, in his defence he said: "I am no Saint, when the Pres-
ident-General is talking about saints he is not referring to me, 
I must confess I love women, I am broke out with that; but 
when it comes to love for my people, no one can lift an ac-
cusing finger at me". Eason forced the U.N.I.A. to pay him 
back salary on the maximum scale. He campaigned through-
out the country against Garvey and the Organization that he 
had sworn to protect even with his own life. After one of 
these denouncement-meetings in New Orleans in January he 
was shot in an Alley, and died after. The Prosecutor said he 
had rendered valuable service. 
Most of the Government's witnesses were ex-officers or 
Ex-employees of the Corporation or the Organization; many of 
whom were dismissed. The officers suing for salaries they 
never earned. Their major roles were to irritate Garvey, laugh 
at him, call him names, challenge him to come outside the 
court for a socking. In his efforts to retaliate in cross-examin-
ation he became unnerved, haVing to restrain himself; all this 
lengthened the trial into almost four weeks. In the meantime 
the Prosecutor's henchmen circulated all sorts of rumours, such 
as this: that Garveyites had guns on them, so as to justify search-
ing them daily, and only allowing a few of them in the Court-
room. The climax came when a supposed anonymous letter 
was sent to the District Attorney's office, stating that one of 
Garvey's men was "going to get the Judge". The letter was 
released to the press, with the consequent exaggerated head-
lines. Bomb squad men and Secret Service Police were now 
daily in attendance at Court. After this Hugh Mulzac - a 
former Captain of the Black Star Line, and a government wit-
ness - reported to the Prosecutor that he was threatened hy 
Charles Lennon, not to testify against Garvey. The Trial Judge 
asked the Jury to withdraw, and sentenced the man to two 
months imprisonment, and to be held for Grand Jury action 
in $10,000 bail, despite the fact that Lennon denied the charge, 
G.G.-9 
110 Garvey aud Garveyism 
and said he was being taunted and called, "one of Carvey's 
fools". 
The entire attitude of the Prosecution is summed up in 
the District Attorney's plea to the Jury: "Centlemen, will you 
let the Tiger loose?" It was clear he was not prosecuting the 
officers of the Black Star Line, only Garvey. The morning after 
his summation, William Pickens of the N.A.A.C.P. came into 
the Court room, just before the Judge entered; he shook hands 
with the Prosecuting Attorney, patted him on the back, and 
glared at Garvey. Amos, the Coloured Agent of the Depart-
ment of Justice, remarked to a U.S. Marshal, " see I have started 
my fire-works". His daily loud remarks and jeers at Garvey 
were most irritating. On one occasion he remarked loudly to 
Attorney J oboson, "so you are defending Garvey". 
Garvey addressed tlle Jury at length, so did the other At-
torneys. H. Lincoln Johnson on Garcia's behalf, closing his 
plea, in a voice vibrating with emotion said: 
"Gentlemen, you can't have any idea what it means to be 
a Negro in these days - the ignominy of it. You can't havel 
If every Negro could put every dime, every penny, that he has 
earned into the sea, and if he might get in exchange the knowl-
edge tllat he was somebody, that he meant something in this 
world, that he had gained the respect of the world, he would 
gladly do it. The black man does not live, who does not hope 
that his children may be established in a settled business, who 
does not pray that this hideous curtain of hell and hate 
may some day be lifted from them". 
The Judge charged the Jury. After they were out eleven 
hours. they were called in and a second series of instructions 
given them, without their request, tl,e intent of which is evident 
when he stated: 
"Some men feel that having given their view in the begin-
ning, it is an indication of their firmness of character, their 
sound judgment, if they stick inalterably to it ... 
"Now the effect of a disagreement, whether it be as to 
one count, two or three or four of them, as to any particular 
count, means that as to such count or as to such defendant, or 
both, as to which you may disagree, the government is put to 
the expense, the public is put to the loss of time, and the Court 
and tl,e Jw)', and the witnesses, and the Defendants are put to 
the expense of having to go through the whole thing again". 
Garvey and Garveyism 111 
The Jury again retired, and in less than thirty minutes returned 
with a verdict of guilty against Garvey alone. 
The Judge said he would not pass sentence for a few days. 
The Prosecutor immediately asked that Garvey be held in cus-
tody, and not granted bail. He made the startling statement 
that Garvey had arms and ammunitions stored in Liberty Hall, 
and he was a menace to society. Garvey, in protesting his in-
nocence to the Court said: "I am disappointed that your Hon-
our has taken into consideration the remarks made by the Pro-
secutor, for whom I have nothing but contempt. His statements 
are utterly false, and this trial has been a conspiracy to ruin 
Marcus Garvey ... I am satisfied to let the world judge me in-
nocent or guilty." 
The Judge remanded him in custody, then several detec-
tives, bomb squad men and uniformed policemen closed in on 
Garvey and pushed him toward a freight elevator; he was con-
veyed in an armoured car to the Tombs prison. 
Government raids were made on Liberty Hall, and the of-
fices of the Organization, but not even a pistol or a cartridge 
was found. Newspapers had already carried scare headlines of 
the Prosecutor's allegations, not many reported the result of 
the raids. 
On the 21st June he was escorted to the Court room heavily 
guarded, and Judge Mack pronounced the sentence of five years 
imprisonment, $1,000 fine, and the costs of the case. His At-
torney gave notice of appeal, and his motion for bail was prompt-
ly denied. Garvey was hustled back to prison. 
The four defendants were indicted on two indictments, each 
of which contained counts charging various offences of using 
the mails to defraud, and each of which contained a count 
charging conspiracy to commit the substantive offence. All of 
the defendants were acquitted of the charge of conspiracy, and 
Garvey was acquitted of all the charges in both indictments, 
except the charge contained in the third count of the second 
indictment, that on or about December 13, 1920 "for the pur-
pose of executing said scheme and artifice Garvey placed in 
a post office of the Southern District of New York, a certain 
letter or circular enclosed in a postpaid envelope addressed to 
Benny Dancy, 34 W. 131 St. NYC." 
For the appeal he was represented by Kohn and Nagler, 
Attorneys, and George Gordon Battle and Isaac Levy of 37 
112 Garvey and Garveyism 
Wall St., Counsel. In their brief and Bill of Exceptions, which 
contained ninety-four errors, we note the following: 
"(b) The Court erred in refusing to comply with the request 
of the Plaintiff-in-Error to restrain persons attached to the Court 
from giving out to the press, news prejudicial to the Plaintiff-
in-Error. 
"(c) The Court erred in not declaring a mistrial after the 
Prosecutor referred to the Plaintiff-in-Error as a 'liar' in the 
presence of the Jury, upon the Prosecutor requesting the Plain-
tiff-in-Error to turn over to him certain papers, which papers 
the Plaintiff-in-Error stated had previously been turned over 
to the Prosecutor_ 
"3. The Court was unduly severe in its repeated admoni-
tion of Garvey. Time and again the Court appears to have sus-
tained objections that were never made. Time and again the 
Court suggested to the Assistant District Attorney that an ob-
jection would be sustained. 
"4. The attitude of the Assistant District Attorney toward 
Garvey during the trial was improper. The Assistant District 
Attorney had no just right to interrupt Garvey in his examin-
ations, except by proper objection to the Court, or to address 
remarks directly to Garvey . . . The whole situation was one 
that tended unduly to prejudice the defendant in the conduct 
of his case and to suggest an atmosphere of antagonism on the 
part of the Court, and the Assistant District Attorney that neces-
sarily was reflected in the attitude of the jury. 
"There is not a scintilla of evidence competent or other-
wise to establish the mailing of the indictment letter "An. The 
only exhibit offered in support of the mailing of the indictment 
letter under the Dancy count is the front and back of an en-
velope. 
"The envelope was offered in evidence on the testimony 
of Dancy that he recognized it. It was offered by the Prose-
cuting Attorney as follows: Mr. Mattuck; I offer the envelope 
in evidence on the ground it bears on tile back a stamp 'Black 
Star Line and it is a reasonable assumption that envelope con-
tained matter from the 'Black Star Line'. (fol. 2585) 
Point 111. 
"This case called for the finest discrimination on the part 
of tile jury, and tile most scrupulous consideration of the facts. 
It required tile jury to be constantly awake to the danger that 
it might be influenced by consideration outside of the record. 
Garv~y and Garveyism 113 
It was a matter in which every juryman had an intimate personal 
interest. While it is important that the Government should pro-
tect a class from the alleged schemes of their accepted leader, 
it is even more important that the people whose just aspirations 
Mr. Garvey represents should be left with the feeling that their 
leader has received a fair trial. It was peculiarly a case where 
the rights of the defendant should have received the utmost 
protection ... 
"In the claim that the jury was actuated not alone by pre-
judice, but by passion, we do not mean to imply that it was 
actuated by a purpose to commit an injustice against the indi;-
vidual Garvey. But we do mean to assert that the testimony 
was such as was calculated to make a most potent appeal to 
the feelings, the pasSions, and prejudices of the jury, and to 
put them in the pOSition, not of administering justice in the 
case of an individual, but of dealing with a general situation, 
represented to them as one fraught with great danger and many 
evils. It is as if Gandhi were to be tried by a jury of English-
men for his leadership of the people of India. It is as if De-
Valera were to be tried by a jury of Ulsterites for his leadership 
of the Irish people. It is as if a Zionist were to be tried by a 
jury of Moslems for his plans and activities in the establishment 
of a homestead for the Jews in Palestine. It may be that the 
system of laws prevailing in the jurisdiction where such a case 
might be tried would permit only such a trial. But it does 
undoubtedly present a situation where the courts must be care-
ful to scrutinize the result so as to determine whether the jury 
was guided by law, or was carrying out what it conceived to be 
a social or political remedy, determined by its own selfish inter-
ests. 
"In all these movements money is necessary. In all these 
movements great promises are held forth. No one who does 
not put himself in the place of the stricken and afflicted people 
to whom the appeal is made can understand or sympathize with 
the enthusiasm of the leader, and the trust and confidence of 
the masses. To treat such a situation as this indictment does, 
as a matter of dollars and cents and monetary fraud, and to 
judge it as one would judge a criminal transaction, or a specu-
lative mining enterprise, is to warp the facts, and to commit a 
travesty upon the truth. 
"No movement for the redemption of a people has suc-
ceeded in making money. The American Revolution was con-
114 Garvey and Garveyism 
ducted at a financial loss. During the years that the Revolu-
tion was fought, and before the Constitution was adopted, and 
the finances of the country placed upon a stable basis, any jury 
would have been justified in convicting the abettors of the Re-
volution and the Fathers of the country for a money fraud, 
when they induced people to invest in the loans upon the pro-
mise of repayment. It will not do to say that these matters were 
disposed of by the verdict of the jury. For that verdict is so 
inconsistent with the acquittal of all the defendants on all the 
other charges, that it cannot be defended as a verdict in accord 
with the facts and the law. The only explanation that can be 
made is that the jury proposed somehow to see that Garvey was 
stopped. The jury did not believe in Garvey and his move-
ment." 
• 
CHAPTER 19. 
Soon after we were married he borrowed $400 of my early 
savings, to meet an emergency for the Organization - a good 
Speaker attached to the N.A.A.C.P.'s Anti-lynching campaign, 
decided to join the U.N .LA. if he got an immediate advance 
of $400 to remove his family from St Louis to Cleveland, Ohio. 
He changed his mind after he received the amount. 
The day before being sentenced his Attorney advised him 
to make a Will, which he did. The following is the full text: 
"I MARCUS GARVEY, being of sound and disposing mind 
and memory, considering the uncertainty of this life, do make, 
public and declare, this to be my LAST WILL AND TESTA-
MENT as follows, hereby revoking all other and former wills 
or codicils by me at any time made. 
"FIRST, after my lawful debts are paid, I give, and be-
queath all my personal, real; and mixed properties including 
household effects, and chattels at 133 West 129th Street, New 
York City, New York, also all Bonds in the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association, and all wages that may be due me by 
the said Universal Negro Improvement Association for services 
up to the date of the termination officially of my service, and 
further all increments thereto appertaining to an Insurance 
Policy in the New York Life Insurance Company of New York, 
made payable to my estate, to my wife Amy Jacques Garvey, 
and said wife Amy Jacques Garvey is to be the only Beneficiary 
under this will and testament. 
"SECOND, That my wife AMY JACQUES GARVEY shall 
have all and exclusive rights to all the writings and speeches of 
MARCUS GARVEY and shall couple them and use same to her 
desire to the exclusion of all others. 
"THIRD, all my financial interest in all books, pictures, 
and pamphlets shall be included in this my bequest to AMY 
JACQUES GARVEY. She shall receive all monies, gifts, and 
considerations intended for me, and hold same as her own per-
sonal property. 
"On my death, the said AMY JACQUES GARVEY shall 
bury me out of the funds of my Insurance Policy as by her dis-
115 
116 Garvey and Garveyism 
cretion, and all gifts at such funeral by the Universal Negro 
Improvement Association shall be accepted by AMY JACQUES 
GARVEY to be disposed of to her discretion. 
"FOURTH, I hereby appoint AMY JACQUES GARVEY 
to be Executrix of this my last will and Testament 
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed 
my name and affixed my seal, the 20th day of June, in the year 
of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and twenty three. 
Marcus Garvey. 
Testator. 
WITNESSES 
John E. Bruce, 
Florence A. Bruce, 
H. Vinton Plummer. 
"Subscribed by MARCUS GARVEY, the Testator named 
in the foregOing Will, in the presence of each of us, and at the 
time of making such subscription, the above Instrument was de-
clared by the said Testator to be hi. LAST WILL AND TESTA· 
MENT, and each of us, at the request of the said Testator, and 
in the presence of each other, and in his presence, signed our 
names as witnesses thereto. 
Name John E. Bruce Residing 258 W. 139th Street, N.Y.C. 
Florence A. Bruce 258 W. 139th Street, N.Y.C. 
H. Vinton Plummer {56 West 135th Street 
June 20, 1923. 243 West 136th Street. 
While in the Tombs prison he continued to send his Front· 
page articles to the "Negro World", but these were now hand 
written, so they were brief. The follOwing paragraphs are taken 
from two such messages: 
"I trust you are not over worried and distressed over my 
continued confinement without bail; other than to realize that 
all those who make efforts to serve humanity are bound by the 
same laws of suffering and injustice. 
"I fully calculated the cost of service to my Race, and 
know that what is being done to me is only a part of the price 
I must pay for daring to arouse the consciousness of four hun· 
dred million Negroes. It is not likely that our African jails of 
the future will be as massive as the one in which I now have 
my residence, but there will be improvements I hope for the 
accommodation of those who will be in for good, and those 
who will be waiting their 'turn of justice'. 
Ganey ad Garveylsm 117 
"A few days ago my attention was drawn to the new slogan 
- 'Keep Africa for the white man'. In this slogan lies the plan 
of doom of our Race. Because I attempted to combat the sin-
ister effort with the retort 'Africa for Mricans' I find myself 
where I am. Keep your spirits high, and yield nothing in the 
6ght we are making to emancipate our Race, and free our 
Motherland. 
"With God's choicest bleSSings, 
I remain, your obedient servant." 
In his second Message, June 20, he again thanks the people, 
and commends me to them in these words: 
"I take this opportunity to return thanks to you for the 
splendid interest you have manifested in me during the trial 
of my case. I bear with me the kindliest feelings toward you. 
I commend to your care and attention my wife, who has been 
my helpmate and inspiration for years. She has suffered with 
me in the cause of service to my Race, and if I have any sor-
row, it is on her account, that I cannot be with her at all times 
to protect her from the evil designs of the enemy; but I com-
mend her to your care and keeping, and feel sure that you will 
do for her as much as you have done for me. Her tale of woe 
has not been told, but in my belief that truth will triumph over 
wrong, I feel sure that a day will come when the whole world 
will know the story of her noble sacrifice for the Cause I love 
so much". 
While in prison he wrote a few verses of a song - "Keep 
Cool" - sent it to Arnold Ford, Director of the Music Depart-
ment, who set it to a lively tune. The opening lines are: 
"Let no trouble worry you, 
Keep cooU Keep cooU 
Dont get hot like some folks do, 
Keep cooU Keep cooU" 
We made several applications for bail. Each time the 
Trial Judge refused to recommend same, so Garvey was kept in 
the Tombs prison for three months. When the Judge left for 
Europe on vacation, we tried again and was successful, but the 
bond was set at $15,000. The Officers of the Organization and 
I, also the trial Lawyer contacted the leading Bonding Com-
panies in the City. Some said, as they heard the name, "Sorry, 
just can't touch it". Others said frankly, "if we carried this 
man's bond, we would be blacklisted." We tried the smaller 
118 Garvey and Garveylsm 
companies, one of whom, at an interview promised to take it 
up, if we could put up part of the money in cash. 
The onus was now on us - he could be free as soon as 
we raised that cash. Feverishly we phoned, sent special d&-
livery letters, and travelled to members who responded splen. 
didly. We arranged with the Lawyer to fix a time with the 
Bonding Company to post the bond in Court; to our utter dis· 
may, we were told that the Company had changed its mind 
Said the Lawyer to us dolefully, "you will have to raise every 
cent of it in cash, that is the only way we can get him out". 
We had to go right back to the members, and raise the full 
amount of $15,000. This is how he was released from prison 
pending his appeal, after three months' confinement. 
The following is the first speech he made on his release, 
which proves his dauntless spirit: 
Subject: The future as I see it. 
"It comes to the individual, the Race, and the Nation, once 
in a life time to decide upon the course to be pursued as a 
career. The hour has now struck for the individual Negro as 
well as the entire Race to decide the course that will be pur· 
sued in the interest of our own liberty. 
"We who make up the Universal Negro Improvement As· 
sociation have decided that we shall go forward, upward and 
onward toward the great goal of human liberty. We have de-
tennined among ourselves that all barriers placed in the way 
of our progress must be removed, must be cleared away for 
we desire to see the light of a brighter day. 
"The Universal Negro Improvement Association for many 
years has been proclaiming to the world the readiness of the 
Negro to carve out a pathway for himsell in the course of life. 
Men of other Races and nations have become alarmed at this 
attitude of the Negro in his desire to do things for himseU, and 
by himself. This alarm has become so universal that organiz. 
ations have been brought into being here, there and everywhere 
for the purpose of deterring and obstructing this forward move 
of our Race. Propaganda has been waged for the purpose of 
misinterpreting the intention of this Organization; some have said 
that it seeks to create discord and discontent among the Races; 
some say we are organized for the purpose of hating other 
people. Every sensible, sane and honest·minded person knows 
that the Universal Negro Improvement Association has no sucb 
intention. We are organized for the absolute purpose of bet· 
Garvey and Garveyism 119 
tering our condition, industrially, commercially, socially, reli-
giously and politically. We are organized, not to hate other 
men, but to lift ourselves, and to demand respect to all humanity. 
We have a programme that we believe to be righteous; we 
believe it to be just, and we have made up our minds to lay 
down ourselves on the altar of sacrifice for the realization of 
this great hope of ours, based upon the foundation of righteous-
ness. We declare to the world that Africa must be free, that 
the entire Negro Race must be emancipated from industrial 
bondage, peonage and serfdom; we make no compromise, we 
make no apology in this our declaration. We do not desire to 
create offense on the part of other Races, but we are deter-
mined that we shall be heard, that we shall be given the rights 
to which we are entitled. 
"For the purpose of creating doubts about the work of the 
Universal Negro Improvement Association, many attempts have 
been made to cast shadow and gloom over our work. They 
have even written the most uncharitable things about our Or-
ganization; they have spoken unkindly of our efforts, but what 
do we care? They spoke Ul)kindly and uncharitably about all 
the reform movements that have helped in the betterment of 
humanity. They maligned the great movement of the Chris-
tian religion, the great liberation movements of America, France, 
England, Russia; can we expect then to escape being maligned 
in this, our desire for the liberation of Africa, and the freedom 
of four hundred million Negroes of the world? 
"We have unscrupulous men and organizations working in 
opposition to us. Some trying to capitalize the new spirit that 
has come to the Negro, to make profit out of it to their own 
selfish benefit; some are trying to set back the Negro from see-
ing the hope of his own liberation and thereby poisoning our 
people's mind against the motives of our Organization; but 
every sensible far-seeing Negro in this enlightened age knows 
what propaganda means. It is the medium of discrediting that 
which you are opposed to, so that the propaganda of our enemies 
will be of little avail as soon as we are rendered able to carry 
to our peoples scattered throughout the world the true message 
of our great Organization. 
"Men of the Negro Racel let me say to you that a greater 
future is in store for us; we have no cause to lose hope, to 
become faint-hearted. We must realize that upon ourselves de-
pend our destiny, our future; we must carve out that future, that 
120 Garvey and GarveyiJm 
destiny, and we who make up the Universal Negro Improve-
ment Association have pledged ourselves that nothing in the 
world shall stand in our way, nothing in the world shall dis-
courage us, but opposition shall make us work harder, shall 
bring us closer together, so that as one man the millions of us 
will march on toward that goal that we have set for ourselves. 
The New Negro shall not be deceived. The New Negro refuses 
to take advice from anyone who has not felt with him, and suf-
fered with him. We have suffered for three hundred years, 
therefore we feel that the time has come when only those who 
have suffered with us can interpret our feelings and our spirit. 
It takes the slave to interpret the feelings of the slave; it takes 
the unfortunate man to interpret the spirit of his unfortunate 
brother; and so it takes the suffering Negro to interpret the 
spirit of his comrade. It is strange that so many people are in-
terested in the Negro now; willing to advise him how to act, 
and what Organization he should join, yet nobody was inter-
ested in the Negro to the extent of not making him a slave for 
two hundred and fifty years, reducing him to industrial peon-
• 
age and serfdom after he was freed; it is strange that the same 
people can be so interested in the Negro now, as to tell him 
what orgaruzation he should follow and what leader he should 
support. 
"Whilst we are bordering on a future of brighter things, 
we are also at our danger period, when we must either accept 
the right philosophy, or go down by follOwing deceptive pro-
paganda which has hemmed us in for many centuries. 
"Many so-called leaders of our Race tell us that everything 
is well, and that all things \vill work out themselves and that 
a better day is coming. Yes, all of us know that a better day 
is coming; we all know that one day we will go home to Para-
dise, but whilst we are hoping by our Christian virtues to have 
entry into Paradise we also realize that we are living on earth, 
and that the things that are practised in Paradise are not prac-
tised here. You have to treat this world as the world treats 
you; we are living in a temporal, material age, an age of activity, 
an age of racial, national selfishness. What else can you ex-
pect but give back to the world what the world gives to you, 
and we are calling upon the four hundred million Negroes of 
the world to take a decided stand, a determined stand, that we 
shall occupy a firm position; that position shall be an emanci-
pated race and a free nation of our own. We are determined 
Garvey and Garveyism 121 
that we shall have a free country; we are determined that we 
shall have a flag; we are determined that we shall have a gov-
ernment second to none in the world. 
"Men may spurn the idea, they may scoff at it, the metro-
politan press of this country may deride us; yes, white men 
may laugh at the idea of Negroes talking about government, 
and let me say to you also that whatever you give, in like mea-
sure it shall be returned to you. The world is sinful, and there-
fore many believe in the doctrine of an eye for an eye, a tooth 
for a tooth. Others believe that revenge is God's, but at the 
same time we are men, and revenge sometimes springs up, even 
in the most Christian heart. 
"Why should man write down a history that will react 
against him? Why should man perpetrate deeds of wickedness 
upon his brother which will return to him in like measure? Yes 
the Germans maltreated the French in the Franco-Prossian war 
of 1870, but the French got even with the Germans in 1918. It 
is history, and history will repeat itself. Beat the Negro, scoff 
at the Negro, deride the Negro, it may come back to you one 
of these fine days, because tJle supreme destiny of man is in 
the hands of God. God is no respecter of persons, whether that 
person be white, yellow or black. Today the one race is up, 
tomorrow it has fallen; today the Negro seems to be the foot-
stool of the other races and nations of the world; tomorrow the 
Negro may occupy the highest rung of the great human ladder, 
as civilization moves in cycles. 
"When we come to consider the history of man, was not 
the Negro a power, was he not great once? Yes, honest students 
of history can recall the day when Egypt, Ethiopia and Tim-
buctoo towered in their civilizations; towered above Europe, 
towered above Asia. When Europe was inhabited by a Race 
of cannibals, a Race of savages, naked men, heathen and pagans, 
Africa was peopled with a Race of cultured black men, who were 
masters in art, science and literature; men who were cultured 
and refined; men who, it was said, were like the gods. Even 
the great poets of old sang in beautiful sonnets of the delight 
it afforded the gods to be in companionship with the Ethiopians. 
Why, then should we lose hope? Black men, you were once 
great, you shall be great again. Lose not courage, lose not 
faith, go forward! The thing to do is to get organized; keep 
separated and you will be exploited, you will be robbed, you 
will be killed. Get organized, and you will compel the world 
122 Garvey and Garveylsm 
to respect you. If the world fails to give you consideration, be-
cause you are black men, because you are Negroes, four hundred 
millions of you shall, through organization, shake the pillars 
of the universe and bring down creation, even as Samson 
brought down the temple upon his head and upon the heads 
of the Philistines. 
"So Negroes, I say, through the Universal Negro Improve-
ment Association that there is much to live for. I have a vision 
of the future, and I see before me a picture of a redeemed Africa, 
with her dotted cities, with her beautiful civilization, with her 
millions of happy children going to and fro. Why should I lose 
hope, why should I give up, and take a back place in this age 
of progress? Remember that you are men, that God created 
you lords of this creation. Lift up yourselves men, take your-
selves out of the mire, and hitch your hopes to the stars - yes, 
rise as high as the very stars themselves. Let no man pull you 
down, let no man destroy your ambition, because man is but 
your companion, your equal; man is your brother; he is not your 
lord; he is not your sovereign master. 
"We of the Universal Negro Improvement Association feel 
happy; we are cheerful. Let them connive to destroy us, let 
them organize to destroy us, we shall fight the more. Ask me 
personally the cause of my success, and I say opposition; oppose 
me, and I fight the more, and if you want to find out the sterling 
worth of I'he Negro, oppose him, and under the leadership of 
the Universal Negro Improvement Association he shall fight his 
way to victory, and in the days to come - and I believe not far 
distant - Africa shall reflect a splendid demonstration of the 
worth of the Negro, of the determination of the Negro to set 
himself free and to establish a government of his own" . 
• 
CHAPTER 20. 
The Tombs prison is, as its name implies, an unhealthy 
place; this had its effect on Garvey's asthmatic condition. His 
Doctor recommended a change in the warmer States. Much to 
the delight of the people out West he planned an itinerary that 
took him through the following States: New York, Pennsylvania, 
West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, 
Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California. 
He took me along, as the people in the Western States were 
anxious to see and hear me. We spoke in the Cities, and some of 
the Towns where large branches prospered. In most cases mem-
bers from smaller branches journeyed to the Cities to hear him. 
I used to contribute articles to the "Negro World", on 
this trip I wrote a series - describing the places, the industries 
that gave our people employment, the handicaps and insecurity 
of their lives, and just how netessary it was to have united action 
to help overcome such conditions. Everywhere we went he 
spoke to overflowing audiences; at times he had two meetings 
in succession. When Garvey came to Town, it was a gala day. 
Sometimes a Reception Committee had a small band outside 
the Railroad station; on his arrival they would strike up - "God 
bless our President". Some carried banners such as: "You can't 
keep a good man down, hail the conquering hero comes'. Each 
Branch had its own novel way of receiving and entertaining him. 
The Local Officers often had the Mayor, or a prominent white 
Politician to, either chair the mass meeting, or give the wel-
come address. 
We stayed in California about two weeks, taking in San 
Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, as far as San Diego. We went 
on location at one of the studios of Hollywood, and saw how 
motion pictures were being made. People came from far and 
near to see him, tell him their woes, or just to give him a hearty 
hand shake, and say, "God bless you, carry on". 
We returned by the Southern route - Ar~ona, New Mexico, 
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Caro-
lina, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, New 
York. In true Southern style the people received and heard 
123 
124 Ganey and Ganeylma 
him. While in Alabama we went to Tuskegee Normal and In· 
dustrial Institute. Primarily to pay homage to the late Booker 
T. Washington, at his monument erected to his memory in front 
of the Chapel. However we stayed two days in order to see 
and learn how the Youth were being trained. There are US 
buildings and 2,300 acres of farm land, 300 of which were given 
to the Negro Veterans' Hospital - an Institution in itself. Dr. 
Carver - the Scientific Wizard on the staff of the School, -
was the most interesting person to talk with, for notwithstanding 
his marvellous discoveries, he lived humbly, and was gracious 
and charming to all. 
At the first mass meeting after our return to New York, I 
was not on the programme, but my series of articles had cre-
ated so much interest and enthusiasm, that - just before he 
spoke, being the last speaker - they clapped and called out, 
"We want Mrs. Garvey." I rose, and when their cheering had 
died down, I had caught their infectious spirit, and responded 
in a speech, that came to its climax in a call to rededicate their 
lives for service to all. Before he spoke he said smilingly, "Now 
I have a rival, but I am glad she is my wife". 
He asked me to take over a page of the Negro World, which 
I did, g;ving the woman's viewpoint on all subjects of news. But 
my editorials were mostly on international subjects. I conducted 
this page for three years, and the fourth year I concentrated on 
feature articles. 
He had no time to read through newspapers and magazines, 
this was one of my many assignments. I used to cut out clip-
pings, date and identify them, under-line pointed statements, 
and pin on my comments. Whenever I thought his mind was 
clear and receptive, I gave them to him. Quite often he handed 
them back to me saying, "you tell me what they are all about". 
Settling himself in an arm-chair, or getting into bed, if the time 
was after a night meeting. On topics of International or National 
importance which warranted discussion, because we often dif-
fered on points, then we would argue until we could compro-
mise, or he would say, "O,K. 'Mopsie' you win, now let's get 
some sleep, for we know not what tomorrow will bring." He 
used these news material for his speeches and front-page 
articles. Sometimes he sought my opinion before going to 
Press, but he would not let me put my blue pencil through his 
copy where I found superfluity. Said he, "I am writing for the 
masses - people who have not been accustomed to serious read· 
Gaffey and Garveyi_ U5 
ing matter - I must hammer in what I want to impress on their 
mjnds'. 
He could not speak from notes, they handicapped his ready 
flow of thoughts. He was always the last speaker at big public 
meetings, so as to hold the crowds who wanted to hear him. 
To facilitate Reporters from big white dailies, he had the high 
points of his proposed speech typed, and given to them when 
the meeting was in progress. He memorized ouly the outlines 
of very important speeches. The "Negro World" employed 
expert shorthand Writers, who also served at Conventions, and 
Conferences. The art of the fluency of his speeches lay in the 
fact that he had something to say, which touched him so deeply 
that it constituted an out-pouring from his heart, which found 
response in his hearers. Wherever he went to speak he first 
got all information of conditions, these he weighed over in his 
mind, while sitting on the platform, waiting his turn to speak, 
and inhaling the perfume from his kerchief. He also studied 
the faces of his audience; in this way he was able to reach them 
with his message, and by using illustrations, which they under-
stood. He could speak for more than an hour without feeling 
for words. 
The Organization had many brilliant speakers, but most of 
them could not interpret international happenings as they af-
(ected our people. Some were too lazy, even to study local 
conditions, as they travelled from State to State, and from city 
to city, in order to be able to speak on same, not with just a 
passing reference, but with deep understanding and pronounce-
ment. Mainly, they studied set speeches, and delivered them 
with all the natural expression of pathos and humour of an 
emotional people. In this way many of them swayed Delegates 
to vote them into highly paid offices, but afterwards when called 
on to speak without preparation, they flopped, and often ex-
themselves from speaking at all. Unfortunately, too, 
these Speakers would not write (or the newspapers, and most 
Q~"Sfoapern,en were not good Speakers . 
.e re is a big difference between a hired Speaker, and a 
dedicated to a Cause. The latter is so keen, that he 
sense hostility in an audience, even if it is in the thought-
of a person, without any outward demonstration of it; in 
act there could not be in a Garvey meeting. Sometimes hired 
are there, then the Speaker must be gifted enough to 
his speech deplOring the baseness of the Judas's within 
126 Garvey and Garveyism 
the Race, when they should be serving to build, instead of help-
ing to destroy. 
During our trip from New York to California, the state-
ments in a leading white magazine contrasted so violently with 
that of a Coloured newspaper that I made them the subject of 
one of my articles, and he used them in his speeches. The Mid-
western newspaper stated: "The white man has made many 
concessions that it was thought he would not make. What is 
needed, is to teach the Negro to measure up to meriting the 
concessions he demands." 
This was the suggested programme for our people. On the 
other hand re-enslavement was proposed by H. L. Mencken, 
then Dean of American Writers, in December 1923 issue of 
"Smart-Set" - called the Aristocrat of magazines, published in 
New York City. Under the heading - "The crime of January 1, 
1863," he surveys the conditions of Coloured people from 
slavery up to date, and comes to a brutal, but frank conclusion: 
"The present parlous condition of the late Confederate 
States, with the native blackamoors emigrating to the rolling 
mills, illicit distilleries and jazz-palaces of the North by the 
hundred thousand, will probably give some pause to the sur-
viving proponents of the old doctrine that chattel slavery was 
economically sound. Was it? indeedl Then try to imagine 
Georgia under chattel slavery, getting into the appalling econ-
omic condition that it labours under today. One of the leading 
Bankers of the state is authority for the estimate that the de-
parture of field-hands will cost its cotton growers $20,000,000 
this year. Certainly they never suffered any such staggering 
loss under slavery. The slave may have been an indifferent 
workman, but he at least did some work. 
"The truth is that the plan of remedying the acknowledged 
evils of slavery by abolishing it altogether was as extravagant 
and imprudent as the plan of cutting off a man's head to cure 
his headache. As a matter of historical fact, it was not adopted 
with any such nonsensical intention; it was adopted simply as 
a device of haraSSing and punishing the confederates. Un-
luckily, it set a precedent which still harasses and punishes all 
of us ... 
"If, as was widely held at the time chattel slavery was 
full of defects, then the obvious remedy was to search them 
out and remove them. Most of them had been detected and 
cured 1,500 years before by the Romans. For example, the eus-
U7 
tom which allowed a slave-owner to separate a slave family. A 
few simple reforms of that sort, most of which would have been 
supported by the overwhelming majority of Southerners, and the 
slaves would have ceased to fret under bondage. As everyone 
knows, the complete freedom that was suddenly thrust upon 
them demoralized them almost unanimously, and brought upon 
them a host of woes. Before ten years had come and gone, the 
white Southerners, in self-defence, had to take their liberty away 
from them, again by extra legal devices - this setting another 
evil precedent. In most parts of rural Georgia today the black 
field-hand is almost as much a slave as his grandfather was on 
December 31, 1862. He is not permitted to exercise any of the 
common rights of Citizenship, he is deprived of equality before 
the law by being denied a trial by his peers, and now the alarm-
ed cotton-growers are even trying to take away from him his 
right to free movement. The only right that remains to him 
is the right to acquire and hold property. This right was en-
joyed by all slaves under the Roman Empire; many of them 
grew far richer than any Southern Aframerican is today. In ad-
dition these Roman slaves got honest justice in the courts, and 
many of them were permitted to travel. The free Aframerican 
is thus worse off than they were. More important still, his vain 
efforts to obtain his theoretical rights have caused him to be 
disliked intensely; the Roman slave was popular, and often rose 
to positions of public eminence . . . These blackamors shi'Ver 
when they hear the word SLAVERY, though the thing itself 
would unquestionably rescue them from most of their current 
troubles. They'd rather be "Free" chained to an upright rail 
with a pyre of fat pine-knots under them, than 'slave' in a com-
fortable cabin, with plenty of hog-meat in the smoke house and 
no tax bills to pay." 
The energies diSSipated to destroy Garvey, were badly 
needed to help build up our Race, and counteract racial reac-
tionaries. 
The phrase "Back to Africa" was a label tagged on to the 
U.N.I.A. in ridicule, as it implied mass migration, even of un-
desirables. In a Convention speech he explained the loyalties 
and rights of our people: 
"To fight for African redemption does not mean that we 
must give up our domestic rights for political justice and indus-
trial rights. It does not mean that we must become disloyal 
to any government or to any country wherein we were born. 
128 Garvey aad Garveyism 
Each and every race outside of its domestic national loyalty 
has a loyalty to itself; therefore, it is foolish for the Negro to 
talk about not being interested in his own racial, political, social 
and industrial destiny. We can be as loyal American citizens 
or British subjects as the Irishman or the Jew, and yet fight for 
the redemption of Africa, and complete emancipation of the 
Race," 
Then, he made the follOWing prediction: 
"Out of the unsettled state and condition of the world will 
come such revolutions that will give each and every Race that 
is oppressed the opportunity to march forward. The last world 
war brought the opportunity to many heretofore subject races 
to regain their freedom. The next world war will give Africa 
the opportunity for which we are preparing. We are going to 
have wars and rumours of wars. In another twenty or thirty 
years we will have a changed world, politically, and Africa will 
not be one of the most backward nations, but Africa shall be, 
I feel sure, one of the greatest commonwealths that will once 
more hold up the torchlight of civilization and bestow the bless-
ings of fre~dom, liberty and democracy upon all mankind." 
CHAPfER 21. 
In May, 1924, Dr. DuBois became so indignant and im-
patient that Garvey had not 'gone' yet, that he issued this edict 
to his Readers in the same month's issue of the Crisis - a mag-
azine, the mouthpiece of the N.A.A.C.P.: 
"The American Negroes have endured this wretch all too 
long with line restraint ... but the end has come. Every man 
who apologizes for, or defends Marcus Garvey from this day 
forth, writes himself down as un. ... orthy of the countenance of 
decent Americans ... Garvey is without doubt the most dan-
gerous enemy of the Negro Race in America and the world". 
Among many Communists workers trying to infiltrate into 
the ranks of the U.N.LA., and in so doing studied the Leader 
and the Movement was Robert Minor, who, writing in the 
"Daily Worker", while he covered the Convention for this paper 
in 1924, gave us a slant on the Coloured Intellectuals' attitude 
toward Garvey, he named DuBois and George Schuyler, and 
gave the following considered opinion: 
"The Negro intellectual, George Schuyler, writes in irony: 
'Like an inspiration from heaven, the idea dawned upon him 
(Garvey) one evening at dinner, and absently thrusting the re-
mainder of the pig foot into his overall pocket, he sat for hours 
in his favorite trash box' etc., etc., and 'still Mr. Garvey enjoys 
the enviable record of collecting more money in a given time 
than any other Negro. Nor was this from the idle, self-satis-
fied, wealthy, upper class Negroes. No, Sirl It came from the 
great masses; the washer women, porters, maids and other hard-
working people. That in itself shows whom this great man 
was looking for.' 
''This is intended as the most biting sarcasm. But the care-
ful reader will catch two important points: First, Garvey is ir-
resistibly associated with 'overalls'. Second, Garvey's followers 
are invariably classed as 'hardworking people', such as washer-
women, porters and hod carriers, day laborers, etc. When we 
discover this, we get a key to the Garvey organization, which 
is not the key its enemies intended to give us. 
129 
130 Garvey and Garveyism 
"And out of the sarcasm of the intellectual and genteel 
Negro leaders who despise Garvey, we get another key in the 
constant references to 'his five year semester in geology in the 
Federal University of Leavenworth', to use again the language 
of Mr. Schuyler, who finds a subject for humour in Mr. Garvey'. 
sixty days in the Tombs (prison), and the government's consent 
'to board him and furnish exercise at Leavenworth for five 
, 
years. 
"I would think long before I would dispute the judgment 
of the Negro scholar Dr. DuBois about Garvey and his or-
ganization ... But I get a different reaction from that intended 
by Dr. DuBois. I am obliged to look beyond the details at the 
apparent fact that a government which hates and despises the 
Negro masses, a government which hates the working classes, 
and which has never been unforgiving to grafting schemes, that 
such a government does not find a friend in Garvey. 
"And above it all towers the fact that the Universal Negro 
Improvement Association, the largest organization of Negroes 
in the world, is made up almost entirely of the working class. 
"I am waiting for some Negro leader who has organized 
more Negroes than Marcus Garvey has organized, to criticire 
Garvey, and I frankly confess that if such a leader has been 
given a longer term in Leavenworth than Garvey received, I 
will listen to him more attentively. 
"The lickspittles of capitalism in Washington do not love 
Marcus Garvey. This alone ought to make anyone of the work-
ing class think twice before condemning the man. His enemies 
say the government condemns Garvey for using questionable 
financial methods for the purpose of fleecing the masses of un-
educated Negro workers. But I don't think the Teapot Domers 
at Washington have any objection to the fleecing of the Negro 
masses. 
"I think their solicitude is based upon something else. The 
fact that Garvey is organizing many thousands of Negroes of 
the class that is destined to take over the earth, and make a mili-
tant demand for a sweeping international liberation of colonial 
peoples, seems to me to be a more likely reason why Messrs. 
Coolidge, Dougherty and, yes, Mr. Hughes of the State depart-
ment, have interested themselves in Garvey. 
"I heard Garvey speak last night. He is one of the most 
powerful personalities that I have ever seen on the platfOIlll-
He is of the rare type that history finds rising in every unsettled 
Garvey and Garveyism 131 
period to express new currents among the masses of men. For 
weal or woe, Garvey is of the stuff that Leaders (or every power-
ful misleader) are made of. Not the kind of leaders who rise 
in times of quiet and fit their environment as a fashion model 
fits the gowns of the day; but the kind of leaders that rise in 
times of storm and stress, who do not fit their environment, 
who look and feel and act out of place in the order of the day 
- who are called uncouth, who are jeered as misfits, and yet 
who may form the heads of the battering rams which smash 
down the walls of their environments." 
Eric Walrond, in an article in "The Independent" - a 
magazine, January 3, 1925, points out that DuBois's persistent 
attacks on Garvey had not had the desired effect on Coloured 
people, on the contrary, like a rubber ball, the harder he was 
hit, the higher he soared. Reasoned Mr. Walrond: 
"Garvey out on bail, while DuBois asked for his repatriation, 
held his Fourth International Convention of Negroes in New 
York, from August 1 to 31; to which came three thousand 
Negroes from various parts of the globe. Undaunted, unswerved 
by the enemy's fire, by an uncanny turn of Fate, Garvey -
so far as the black masses are concerned - is still at the helm. 
Steering the Negro Ship of State, and doing it with the old 
characteristic fire and spirit. Forever hitting at the high spots 
of the old international Negro problem. It is natural that he 
should excite the wrath of Negroes like DuBois in America, and 
Herbert George DeLisser in Jamaica - men who put national 
above racial consciousness. Yet, through some Divine mystery, 
Garvey is the Moses of the black masses. Instead of diminish-
ing, his power is growing daily. It is one of the anomalies of 
the complex racial problem of the age." 
CHAPTER 22. 
The fourth Convention was preceded by a Parade that had 
the people wondering how a man, out on bail, could retain the 
love and confidence of his followers. Paintings of the Ethiopian 
Christ - "Man of Sorrows", and a black Madonna and Babe, 
were borne in the parade by robed Choristers. The opening 
Mass meeting was held at Carnegie Hall. The Rev. Van Rich-
ards, Chaplain to the Senate of Liberia, was among the promi-
nent Africans in the parade and at meetings. The miraculous 
success of Garvey, despite all his enemies did to malign him 
and smash every practical effort of his, was past understanding. 
Now, there was a chance perhaps, that he might win his appeal, 
what then? He would be able to apply for his Final papers for 
citizenship, and could not be deported. 
On the 5th August, while the Convention was in full swing, 
he was arrested again, by the Federal District Attorney, this 
time for allegedly filing incorrect income tax returns for the 
year 1921, when he was kept out of America for five months. 
His Attorney succeeded in obtaining bail for him, at an addi-
tional $2,500. Did that lessen the prestige of Garvey because 
the Coloured press called him a fraud and a jail-bird? People 
joined the Organization by the thousands when Delegates 
flashed home news of what was happening in New York City. 
They felt it was an affront to the Race, and a deeply laid plot 
by many, using various means to destroy and disperse their 
Organization. Thus the work went on with renewed vigour, 
and a rededication to Garveyism, regardless of what happened 
to Garvey - the man. A white Reporter, summing up the atti-
tude of the man-on-the-street wrote: "Everybody is talking 
about Garvey - Garvey good, or Garvey bad - it is Garvey." 
At one of the sessions of this Convention, a letter was 
drafted and later sent to President Coolidge requesting an of-
ficial investigation into conditions in Haiti as described by the 
members of the Haitian Delegation. "The New York American" 
reported as follows: 
"Theodore Stephens, speaker for the Delegation from Haiti, 
spoke to the Delegates at length in an impassioned plea for 
132 
Garvey Garveyism 133 
assistance on the part of the Universal Negro Improvement As-
sociation on behalf of the 'down-trodden Islanders'. 
"It is sad to state, Stephens proclaimed, 'that the American 
Government, through its many representatives in Haiti, has, and 
even now is, in defiance of the protestations of the whole coun-
try, still violating and ignoring many of its prescriptions'. 
"The Haitian charged that the constitution which had been 
forced upon the people at the point of the bayonet, was being 
violated by American officials, and that the Commander-in-
Chief of the American forces. assisted lately by a High Com-
missioner from the American Government rules supreme; hiding 
his bands and responsibilities behind the shadow of a sham 
President. who himself was born of a French father. and there-
fore not eligible to the office he now holds. 
"Marcus Garvey yesterday addressed the Convention, 
urging that travel should be encouraged among the leaders of 
the Coloured race to better fit them for leadership. 'Lack of 
progress of the Negro in America', Garvey stated, 'is due 
greatly to the fact that the American Negro leader is handi-
capped in the knowledge of world affairs. As a rule he is 
known only in his own community. and he indignantly rejects 
the idea of reaching out beyond his own little sphere. This 
very lack of knowledge has been the chief cause for the oppo-
sition to the U.N.l.A. in its programme of international expan-
sion in industry. commerce. and politics for the Negro· ... 
Another subject which created far-reaching effect was, 
when the House resolved that - God is a spirit. as we all know. 
but when we visualize Him. He must be in our own image and 
likeness. Remarked an old woman from Alabama, "No white 
man would die on the cross for me". A Delegate from Mis-
s~~~:: said, "the Man of Sorrows ain't nothing else but a Col-
o Man". to which many said, "Amen. brother." Rev. J. Bar-
bour of AbYSSinia, referred to John caught up in the grand 
of God on the Isle of Patmos. describing Christ as "a 
man with feet that shone as polished brass. hair of lamb's 
wool. and eyes with flame of lire". Said a Delegate from Bos-
to a Newsman at the end of the Session, "We haven't let 
down. we have elevated Him in our minds, as the Spiritual 
erfEl<: of our sinful human selves." 
The discussion lengthened out into Religion generally. 
the Chair ruled should be discussed at another Session. 
this subject came up. and was thoroughly aired by both 
• 
134 Garvey and Garveyism 
Clergy and Laity, the pious and the worldlian, it was decided 
that, as there are Moslems and other Non-Christians who are 
Garveyites, it was not wise to declare Christianity the state Re-
ligion of the Organization; but by establishing the Temple of 
God in each heart, and letting our every word and action be 
motivated from that Source, we could reach a state of inner 
Serenity so as to enable us to establish on earth the Fatherhood 
of God and the Brotherhood of Man - a Belief which is the 
basis of recognized religions. Christians who were not mem-
bers of a Church, could join the African Orthodox Church; but 
all Church members should bear this in mind: that God is 
everywhere, not just in Churches on Sundays; that attendance 
at Church was for Cbristian fellowship, and rededication to 
righteous living. 
Many of the Coloured Newspapermen viewed the declara-
tion of God in one's own image with disfavour. They ignored 
the fact that it was a subject exhaustively discussed in the Con-
vention and decided on. To them, "the black Kluxer now 
wanted Coloured folk to worship a black God." But the white 
influential newspaper, the "New York Journal", revealed in its 
editorial the following: 
"Marcus Garvey, President-General of the Universal Negro 
Improvement Association, offers one reasonable suggestion. He 
says, 'God tells us to worship Him in our own image. We are 
black, and to he in our image, God must be black. 
"He insists, therefore, on a black God for coloured people, 
with black saints, and in addition demands the whole of Mrica 
for the coloured race. 
"Mr. Garvey's idea of adapting God to the racial color is 
not entirely new. Missionaries in Africa long ago showed 
divine personages with black faces in order to make it easier to 
convert the Africans. Their primitive minds could not in a 
hurry get used to the idea of a white-faced divinity. 
"Today, on the edge of the Mediterranean, in Northern 
Africa, you might see a famous holy image, jet black, offering 
comfort to many dark-skinned Christian mariners. The color 
pleases them and doubtless does not annoy any divine being. 
"Similarly, good missionaries among the North American 
Indians, in their preaching, emphasized those parts of the Old 
Testament telling of the Lord's battles and victories, and the 
great number KILLED on each occasion. They realized that 
Indians would be converted to a victorious FIGHTING god 
Garvey and Garveyism 135 
much more easily than to any peaceful, forgiving deity. 
Men WORSHIP what they RESPECT and what they consider 
to be fairly good imitations of themselves. 
"As to the blacks OWNING AFRICA, that's surely reason-
able. It's their country. 
"Incidentally they have owned it, all except a few thou-
sand years, for endless centuries. Even in Egypt, where the 
Ptolemies were merely 'new rich' and the Egyptians rank in-
truders, the black race ruled once. Their traits are proved in 
the Ethiopian face, the thick lips, high cheek-bones of the 
Sphinx. Mr. Garvey says, 'when the white men were living in 
caves, we Negroes gave them a civilization that they have 
snatched away from us'. There may be something in that. 
Some historians agree, in part, with Mr. Garvey. 
"But civilization belongs to him wbo has it, and knows 
how to use it. The Japanese seek to take it from us and im-
prove on it. Honor to them, if they make a better success of 
I' t.  " 
CHAPTER 23. 
Between 1922-24 the K.K.K. had gained a large following 
in the North as thousands of Coloured Southerners had left tho 
Bow-weevil cotton farms, and established themselves in tho 
Northern industrial towns and cities, where they had greater op-
portunities to work in factories and plants, better educational 
facilities, and "good times". 
The "New York Herald" of Sunday, March 18, 1923, in 
its magazine section carried a page of pictures of Northern 
Klansmen in full dress. Under the caption, "Ku Klux Klan.s-
men coming into the open'\ the news article stated: "The re· 
markable and unusual photograph reproduced above, shows 
hooded members of the George Washington Klan as they at-
tended services last Sunday night, their identity concealed, at 
the Grace Methodist Episcopalian Church in Newark, New 
Jersey .. . The Klansmen were welcomed by the Minister, the 
Rev. Paris E. Greenly, who introduced, 'The Exalted Cyclops' 
to the Congregation ... The Klan is gaining ground substantially 
in West Virginia, Maryland, New York and Northern States. 
The Department of Justice has no intention of moving against 
the Klan now. President Harding has manifested no special in-
terest. Assistant Attorney General Crirn sent the Attorney Gen-
eral, before he became ill, the names of more than three hundred 
Federal employees, who belong to the Klan, and recommended 
that he ask the President to dismiss them from the service. That 
report is still on the desk of the Attorney General." 
In Washington, IlProtectors of white neighbourhoods", after 
service at United Brethren Church, one thousand men and 
women singing, "Onward Christian Soldiers', with 300 auto-
mobiles and home-made weapons marched on homes of Negroes 
in North-Western section of the Capital. The pictorial section 
of another Sunday paper showed a Klan wedding in Youngs-
town, Ohio. 
There are different kinds of Kluxers, some wear masks. 
others do not. Some lynch Negroes, others starve them eco. .. 
omically. Some are registered members, others are active sym-
pathizers. Here is an example of the admiration of the K.K.L 
136 
Garvey ad Garveyism 137 
for the prosperous Jew: At Fairfield, Illinois, September 1924, 
15,000 white people participated in the Ku Klux Klan festivities 
in honour of Manny Steiner, local Jewish Merchant on the lat-
ter's fiftieth business anniversary. The Rev. H. G. Markley, 
Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and Secretary of the local 
Klansmen, made the principal address. 
Rev. Caleb Ridley, a white man, addressing an audience 
in Convention Hall, Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 11, 1921, said 
that the Klan was organized "to protect the weak, innocent and 
defenceless from the outrages of the violent, the lawless and 
the brutal" . . . But said he, "a white man is a white man, 
whether he lives in New Jersey, Indiana, Oklahoma or Georgia; 
and a white man's job is to see that civilization comes under the 
dominion of no inferior race, so long as he lives." 
"The Call," in its issue, May 19, 1923, sarcastically sug-
gested University courses in the Art of Lynching: 
"The channing tale of the lynching-bee at Columbia, Mis-
souri, the seat of the University of Missouri, with students as 
enwrapped and approving spectators of the gloriOUS deed, brings 
to mind a suggestion which we have often wanted, but have 
lacked opportunity until now, to make. We refer to the idea, 
wholly and proudly our own, that the art of lynching be made 
a regular part of the curriculum in the colleges and universities 
of this country. Every reason, at once of commonsense and of 
idealism, would seem to support the recommendation. Here is 
lynching a well-recoguized and thoroughly established institu-
tion of our American life. Patriotic citizens are again and again 
called upon to join lynching parties, and do their share in string-
ing up nooses, piling faggots, and shooting roasted corpses. It 
is inevitable, in lack of proper training, that the process should 
frequently be carried out in bungling and halting fashion. Hence 
the advisability, nay the necessity, of education in the artl Let 
every freshman in every institution of higher learning be made 
to take 'Lynching l' as a required course. Instruction should 
include the history of the practice, its unique relation to the 
democratic ideals of American life, its justification from legal 
and ethical standpoints, together with a survey of the best 
approved methods. Higher courses for juniors and seniors 
should take up such special points as how to roast the victim 
slowly, how best to torture women, laboratory tests for securing 
the maximum of pain and ignominy. Specimen 'Niggers' for 
practice tests could undoubtedly be secured in abundance from 
138 Garvey and Garveyison 
Georgia jails and Florida peonage camps. That the studen13 
would welcome an innovation of this kind is shown impressively 
by what took place at the University of Missouri, on April 29 
last. We might add that we have not copyrighted this idea, 
but pass it on gratis to our seats of learning East and West -
Unity." 
The Communists now conceived a plan how they could 
play Garvey against the Klan, then worm their way into his 
Organization. They had hand-bills distributed just before the 
August 1924 Convention, challenging him to declare against 
the Klan if he was not in alliance with them. Garvey's answer 
was, that since the Communists were organized to overthrow 
governments, and establish their own system, it should be very 
easy for them to uproot the Klan. They infiltrated in some of 
the branches, and secretly sent Delegates to the Convention, 
who moved a motion that the Organization, in the interest of its 
members, should declare war on the Klan. The majority of 
Delegates were in jitters, what would happen to them and their 
homes, when they went back South, if such a resolution was 
carried? Since the Government would not suppress, what was 
accepted as a legitimate Organization, Garvey and his followers 
would be committing suicide to declare war on them. Yet the 
Communists expected him to fall for their bait, and order his 
members to don black hoods and gowns and go into action. 
Tactfully he was able to put through a motion that was mild, 
yet not compromising, condemning the alleged atrocities com-
mitted in the name of the Klan. After this incident, the Com-
munists revealed their true intentions in the "Daily \\loIker," 
August 9, 1924: 
"The reason for our working with the Universal Negro Im-
provement Association, is because we desire to win over the 
masses, organizationally and ideologically follOwing this As-
sociation for the Communist program ... It is our task in work-
ing amongst the masses found here, to supplant the present 
weak, and hesitaot leadership, with a virile, class conscious, 
and aggressive Communist leadership. We are aiming to win 
over these Negro masses to fight under a genuine revolutionary 
leadership, to fight for the Negro Workers on a class basis. In 
the course of our propaganda and activity in this field we will 
not hesitate to expose and mercilessly criticize all those, whether 
it be Garvey, or any other of the present leaders, who stand in 
the way of the achievement of our fullest program - the Com-
Garvey and Garveyism 139 
munist program . . . under the leadership of the world Com· 
munist Party International". 
"The Black Despatch" later warned our people about being 
used as tools by Communists. The Editor pointed out: 
Communism offers graver dangers to Negroes, than to 
white people ... We are sure that those in control of the estab-
lished order would, in case of open physical conflict use the 
Negro as an object lesson for recalcitrant white folk. We should 
be slow to lead the mass of black folk to a slaughter house 
in attempting to replace the social and economic balance wheels 
of the nation". 
Communism was one of the many insidious oppositions 
Garvey had to combat; but the rectitude of his pleas gave him 
moral arguments that his Opponents dared not dispute on their 
merit, for fear of expressing the selfishness and personal hate 
that underlie their attacks, so they countered with subversive 
stratagems within and without the Organization. His life was 
so closely meshed with the fate of his Race, that every trial or 
triumph of his, was symbolic of the crucible through which the 
entire Race was passing. He was the living dynamo that moti-
vated the Negro masses of 'the world in thought and action. 
The Statesmen of Imperial Powers realized this, their financial, 
industrial and commercial supremacy depended on the raw 
material and mineral wealth of Africa. If they could silence 
him, it would take years before as powerful a duplicate could 
be found to create equal forceful activities and concerted action 
at the periphery, as at the centre of Negrodom. Asia was slip-
ping from their grasp, so Africa must be held at all costs. Thus 
the "Garvey must go" campaign had the backing of forces with 
millions at stake, and the prestige of European supremacy in the 
balance. But the minds of the masses were fully awakened, and 
producing local leaders. Ideas cannot be destroyed once they 
have become the ideals of millions of people. 
CHAPTER 24. 
In May, 1920, the Executive Council of the U.N.LA. decided 
to send a Delegation to Liberia to negotiate with the Govern-
ment regarding colonization over there. It was difficult to get 
passports in a hurry, as they wanted a reply for the August Con· 
vention; so only Elie Garcia was able to go as he had a Haitian 
passport. He was given the rank of Commissioner and em-
powered to negotiate all business. 
In a letter dated June S, 1920, addressed to Hon. C. King, 
President of Liberia, Mr. Garcia stated the purposes of his 
mission, and specifically stated that, "it is the intention of the 
U.N.LA. to establi,h trade routes through a line of steamships 
etc., to encourage emigration to build up the country, to trans· 
fer its Headquarters to Liberia, to bring with it medical and 
scientific units, etc. Therefore the Organization asks for a 
written assurance that every faCility will be given it to procure 
lands for business, agriculture and industrial purposes. In re-
turn the Organization with its vast membership will lend finan-
cial and moral support to the Government to help her out of 
her present economic plight". After many interviews, inspec-
tion of sites, and collection of statistics, the Government and 
people signified their happiness in having the U.N.LA. operate 
in Liberia. The following is one of the official letters, quoted 
in full because of what transpired later on: 
"Department of State, 
Monrovia, Liberia. 
June 14th, 1920. 
.. s·I r, Ref. 24S-L.  
The President directs me to say in reply to your letter of 
June Sth setting forth the objects and purposes of the Universal 
Negro Improvement Association that the Government of Liberia, 
appreciating as they do the aims of your Organization as out-
lined by you, have no hesitancy in assuring you that they will 
afford the Association every facility legally possible in effectu-
140 
Garvey and Garveyism 141 
ating in Liberia its industrial, agricultural and business projects. 
"I have the honor to be, 
Sir, 
Your Obedient Servant, 
Edwin Barclay, 
Secretary of State." 
The Convention Delegates were jubilant on receipt of the 
Dews, but Garcia also sent a long confidential report to Garvey, 
describing among other things, the character of the Officials 
of the Government, and the existing feudal system. Gabriel 
c§oln-M"ye>r of Monrovia, and Delegate to Convention -
was elected On returning home, at a banquet, Mr. 
President of Liberia College, proposed a toast to "Poten-
ate Johnson - the first Negro in the World." President King. 
and jealousy, lifted his glass and said, "I drink to the 
,eallth of the Mayor of Monrovia." Although they were related 
marriage the enmity started because of the feeling that the 
Organization would overshadow the Liberian 
After many detailed arrang~ments between the Government 
wu the Potentate for the Organization, a group of six men 
sent to Liberia. They consisted of: Marke, Deputy Poten-
ate; Critchlow, Secretary; McLeod, Surveyor; Henry, Agricul-
Officer; Lawrence, Pharmacist, and Jemmott, Builder. 
a~!:~;; and supplies were shipped with them, and subsequent 
il followed. Many Garveyites later joined the men. 
In order to get the Potentate out of Liberia, he was offered 
Consul Generalship at Fernando Po - the most lucrative 
He accepted, and resigned as Potentate. The indict-
IeOt and closing down of the Black Star Line slowed down the 
in Liberia. 
In December, 1923, the Organization sent another Delega-
to Liberia consisting of: Henrietta Davis, Assistant Presi-
eneral;· Attorney Van Lowe, and Robert Poston, Secre-
..,,-C:eneraLl, to malce arrangements for families, and a full scale 
programme. On arrival the Delegation was given 
and cordially treated. They had interviews with 
King and other Officials, in which additional agree-
were reached. A local Advisory Committee was ap-
by the Pre.idenl. They were: Arthur Barclay, Ex-Presi-
D. E. Howard, Ex-President, James Dossen, Chief Justice, 
melt Dennis, Dongba Caranda 2nd, and Dixon Brown, 
G.G.-lZ 
142 Glln'ey and Glln'eyism 
Comptroller of Customs, Secretary to the Committee. This 
Committee reserved the right to increase its numbers if reo 
quired, and sent a document dated February 16, 1924, by the 
Delegates setting out their recommendations to enable them to 
carry out their work. 
On the return of the Delegation to Headquarters, the Or· 
ganization through its Officers sent a long letter to President 
King, in which among other matters, they approved of the local 
Committee's recommendations, but in the matter of sites, asked 
for additional lands in other areas. The spirit of friendliness 
of the Committee's Chairman - Chief Justice Dossen, - is 
shown in a letter dated Feb. 28, 1924, to Garvey: 
"It was a pleasure to the friends of emigration to note the 
general enthusiasm ShOWD by our people in the program to 
send to Liberia Colonists of the Race in other lands, to help 
build up this nation, as well as to give an opportunity to Negroes 
abroad to enjoy the pure atmosphere of manly freedom. It is 
sincerely hoped that you will not fail to put over your great 
program ... 
"You will see that we have recommended that the first set· 
tlement be established on the Cavalla River. This locality 01· 
fers many advantages to Traders, Miners, Farmers and other 
men of industry. Besides the climate is healthy. Please con· 
vey to my good friend John E. Bruce my kindest regards, also 
Rev. Ellegor. Wishing you and your Movement all success." 
The local Liberian Committee sent a letter in May acknowledg· 
ing receipt of communications, and setting out their plans to 
receive a batch of Colonists in September. 
From December, 1923, when the Delegates reported by 
letters the Liberian Government's approval of the Colonization 
plans, Garvey went ahead with the formation of another 
Steamship Line called "The Black Cross Navigation and Trad· 
ing Company," also the purchase of one large ship to ply be-
tween Liberia and America, in keeping with the recommend· 
ations from Liberia. Later on they were to get a smaller 
Coastal ship to trade on the West Coast of Africa, as there 
was a great need for same; this ship would act as a feeder for 
the larger vessel. This new Company bought the S.S. G€:nera 
Goethals, paid down $60,000, and spent an additional 
fitting it up for passengers and freight. All stocks were 
by the U.N.l.A. which borrowed moneys from the members 
GtIrvey ud Garveyism 143 
.... _ of five to ten years for repayment. The ship was re-
christened the "Booker T. Washington." 
March 17, 1924, Garvey held two Monster Mass Meetings 
ill Madison Square Gardens, and launched the drive for this 
new venture, also to herald the return of the Delegates sent to 
Liberia. A Petition was drawn up and sent to the President 
of the U.S.A., the League of Nations, and to all recognized gov-
ernments, asking for consideration of the plan to found a nation 
ill Africa for Negroes. In his speech, Garvey said, that if 
America helped to establish this nation, they would be having 
in the future a partner in the Cause of real Democracy on the 
Continent of Mrica, and at the same time end the existing re-
sentment and bitterness of a suppressed and frustrated Coloured 
One of the speakers was Surrogate Judge John 
who said that many white people endorsed the plan, 
and admire the courage of Garvey and his followers in trying 
bring same to fruition. 
In June 1924 the U.N.I.A. sent out a Team of Experts to 
_palce camps for the Colonists, etc. They were: O'Meally, 
William Strange, Mining and Civil Engineer; 
Electrical Engineer; Walcott, Shipwright and Builder; 
Carpenter and Builder; Nicholas, Mechanical Engineer, 
:. . n~rt Christian, Secretary. With these men went thou-
dollars of material for ready use on landing. Additional 
on a later ship were contracted for, when they would 
able to house them. 
During this time, Dr. DuBois in the role of Garvey's No.1 
attended the second inaugural of President King in 
He seemed to have so played on the ego of the Pres-
that when the Experts landed they were promptly de-
1Ort:ed, and the shipment of materials seized. Chief Justice 
iQs!.en had died just a few weeks before, and regardless of the 
of the members of the Local Committee, President King 
~~: as he did - contrary to, and in utter disregard of all pre-
nl arrangements. He threatened members of his own Gov-
that he would take reprisals against them if they acted 
carv to his new instructions. Large sums of money had to 
ecl:ed immediately to send to the men, whose families 
Organization also had to support; these men had given up 
positions in order to serve the Organization. They had 
take any ship out of Liberia, then trans-ship. Two of them 
vere British subjects, and on their return to America were not 
144 Garvey IlDd Garveyism 
allowed to land, but were sent back to Holland. From there, 
the Organization had to pay their expenses, and ship them to 
their respective homes in the West Indies, and arrange for the 
care of their families, and their transportation to join them. 
The Delegates in August, 1924 Convention, despatched a 
letter to the Senate and House of Representatives of Liberia, 
setting out the entire arrangements made from the start, with 
copies of letters and documents attached, and asking them to 
right a wrong affecting the lives of so many people, and the 
tremendous financial loss and suffering incurred by them, 
through the actions of President King. 
In the meantime the Associated Press in Washington D.C. 
gave out this press release, August 26th: 
"The Government of Liberia, in a formal communication 
delivered by Ernest Lyon, Consul General, has advised the 
Washington Government that it is 'irrevocably opposed both in 
principle and in fact to the incendiary policy of the Universal 
Negro Improvement Association, headed by Marcus Garvey'. 
The note was signed by Edwin Barclay, Secretary of State for 
Liberia". The same man who wrote the letter of acceptance 
to the Organization's plan. At no time did President King or 
Secretary Barclay, notify Garvey or his Organization that they 
had changed their attitude and intended to cancel previous ar-
rangements. Their actions were timed to throw panic in the 
minds of the Convention Delegates particularly, and generally 
to cause the members to lose heart, but they took the blows 
bravely. 
Following up his pronouncement, Ernest Lyon, as Liberian 
Consul-General required of every person desiring a vise to 
"make an affidavit before a Notary declaring that you are not 
connected with the Garvey Movement". President King had 
all the machinery and materials shipped by the Organization sold, 
and kept the money; some of the supplies were spoilt, as they 
were not properly housed. He censored mails of those friendly 
to Garvey. 
The Organization's full page advertisement in the "New 
York World", 25th June, 1924, setting out the whole project -
sites and opportunities for Colonists - brought the most un-
expected turn of events, for white businessmen became inter-
ested in the minerals and rubber of Liberia. The forerunner was 
Firestone Rubber Company which negotiated and obtained a 
lease for ninety-nine years of concessions that were previously 
Garvey and Garveyism 145 
given to our Organization. The tenns of which reflect the self-
ishness, greed and utter disregard for the general welfare of the 
people of the country. Edwin Barclay bears this out, when on 
a visit to the U.S.A. in August 1925, the "New York Times" re-
ported him as havi!llg stated: 
''The Firestone Rubber Company has a concession of one 
million acres, and can have as much more land as it desires ... 
labor is very cheap in Liberia, and strong, healthy men work 
for 25 cents a day ... 
"Neither Garvey nor any of those who have been identified 
with him will be received in Liberia." 
Honourables King and Barclay had not only satisfied them-
selves, but America, by putting her in the rubber producing 
field enabling her to supply her factories. England and France 
as Empire neighbours were also satisfied in haVing Firestone (al-
though a competitor) on their borders, than Colonies of Gar-
veyites. President King was awarded an honour by France, 
and an English battleship took him on a trip to Sierra Leone. 
What he did not care to understand and appreciate was that the 
substance of freedom for any 'people is economic security. Even 
political control is reduced to a shadow Government, when the 
ownership and control of industry, commerce and scientific de-
velopment are in the hands of aliens. 
In view of the fact that the United States of America had 
established Liberia for all Coloured people in the Western 
World, the U.N.I.A. drew up a Petition to the President request-
ing him to negotiate with President King for an open-door in 
that Republic. Article 5, Section 13 of the Constitution of 
that country reads: "The object of fonning these Colonies being 
to prOvide a home for the dispersed and oppressed children of 
Africa, and to regenerate and enlighten this benighted continent. 
~o",e but persons of color shall be admitted to citizenship in 
Republic." This latter paragraph was amended later to 
·ea.:!, "Negroes or persons of Negro descent". 
Millions of persons signed the Petition, adding their ad-
resses and occupations; but it was not until September 3, 1934, 
a Delegation was able to have audience with President 
~oo and present same. The "New York Times" of the 
reported as follows: 
"Washington, D.C. - A Petition on behalf of 4,000,000 
to be members of the Universal Negro Improvement 
.ssoda of which Marcus Garvey is President-General, and 
146 Garvey and Garveyism 
concerning whose activities the Authorities of Liberia recently 
filed a protest, was presented to President Coolidge today. 
"The Petition was presented by C . Emonie Carter, Secre-
tary Ceneral of the Organization, heading a Delegation of six. 
It asked President Coolidge to submit to Congress at the next 
session a 'Message embodying the sentiment of this petition: 
aod asked the President to assist in creating 'through the Re-
public of Liberia, which was founded through the efforts of 
liberal white Americans, an open door' for the reception of 
Negroes from the United States. 
"The leader of this Movement, the Hon. Marcus Carvey, 
the petition asserted, has been Wickedly persecuted by agencies 
under the control of your government; and leave was asked to 
draw to your Excellency's attention the unfriendly act of two of 
your Excellency's recent Representatives in Liberia - Solomon 
Porter Hood and W. E. B. DuBois, in working against the interest 
of the Universal Negro Improvement Association in that country, 
being members of a rival Organization, and who used their Of-
ficial positions to create prejudice against our Cause, because 
of jealousy and rivalry. 
"The Memorial declares that ,vith the growth in numbers 
and efficiency of the Negro Race in the United States, race con-
flicts seem certain to arise, and it urges the President to use 
his good influence to repatriate American Negroes to Africa, 
and in the development of such independent Negro nations as 
are now existing." 
The following comments on the "raw deal" Carvey got was 
made by the Editor of the "New York Evening Bulletin", August 
29, 1924, when he investigated the matter at a high level. He 
stated: 
"The gang now controlling Liberia oppose Carvey's 
entrance and they want no one in his organization, fearing, of 
course, that their own game will be spiked. 
"Here are a few facts for you to consider: 
1. Liberia protests against Carvey to President Coolidge. 
2. Harvey Firestone, rubber tire King, goes to Plymouth 
with Edison and Henry Ford and plays a part in the 
'Old Sap Bucket' drama, enjoying the President's hos-
pitality on the 'Colonel's' farm. 
3. Liberia grants Harvey Firestone a concession, which 
gives him absolute control of 1,000,000 acres of land 
where crude rubber is procurable. 
Garvey and Garveyism 147 
"This land is the most valuable rubber-growing territory 
available in the world; the British Empire controls practically 
all the rest . . . When Garvey says there is something rotten 
in the state of Liberia you should not dismiss his allegations. 
Perhaps he knows what he is talking about. 
"He thinks Liberia's rubber supply should belong to his 
race, not to Firestone. Is there anything dangerous or men-
acing in that belief?" 
Some of the evils of President King's administration were 
brougbt to the attention of the world by the International 
Slavery Commission from the League of Nations in 1930. Dr. 
Christie who headed the investigating Committee in Liberia, 
in writing in the British Royal Geographical Society's Journal 
stated that "the U.N.LA. would have tremendously improved 
conditions in Liberia, and helped the country to progress on 
modern lines". 
The presence of the Committee in Liberia caused some of 
the detailed reports to come through the mails, which the "Negro 
World" published. Very briefly conditions were: At periods the 
Chief of each Tribe was tol<;J that he must provide as many as 
two hundred able-bodied men according to his population. These 
men were shipped to Fernando Po as labourers, most of them 
never returned. High Government Officials were paid for each 
worker supplied. If a Chief, because of sympathy for the men's 
families, refused to let some of the men leave, he had to pay 
ten pounds ($50) in lieu of each man, and sometimes was flogged 
before his followers, for 'disobeying the President's orders.' 
Under the protection of the investigating Committee on 
Slavery mass meetings were held all over the Republic, cul-
minating in a huge demonstration in Monrovia, at which the 
people, through their chosen Representatives, drew up a Peti-
tion calling for the resignation of President King and Vice-Presi-
dent Yancy. The detailed charges against them involved: 
"forced labour, slavery, gross mal-treatment of the indigenous 
populations, and Official misconduct while in office of bribery, 
extortion, dishonesty and other crimes". This document was 
signed on the 1st October, 1930 by: D. E. Howard, Chairman 
of Committee, Dongba Caranda, R. Van Richards, W. H. Blaine, 
J. E. Padmore, J. I. Weeks, and N. H. Sie-Brownell, Secretary 
to Committee. Copies of this document were sent to the United 
States, and other governments, and the League of Nations. 
At a League meeting, England's Lord Cecil - who had in 
148 Garvey and Garveyism 
mind a greater West Africa for his country - advocated a 
League Mandate for Liberia by "a country that can be trusted". 
Messrs. King and Yancy resigned, and Edwin Barclay became 
President, but the threat at the League made him more cautious 
in his administration. 
If the Liberian Government had honoured its agreements 
with the U.N.I.A., and the Colonization plans developed, Garvey 
never intended to live permanently in Liberia. He would have 
dropped the title of Provisional President of Africa, which was 
created to draw off watchfulness from the activities of the Poten-
tate in Mrica - "the more you look, the less you see". Nor 
did he propose to be the Administrator of the Colony, as he 
would always be suspected by Liberian Officials of having poli-
tical ambitions in their one-Party government. His intention 
was to retain his substantive position of President-General of 
the U.N.I.A., which, through Conventions, could empower him 
to act in any capacity, or create any office - without portfolio -
to enable him to travel everywhere and seek support for the 
Colony. For> said he, the world is my Province until Africa 
is free. 
He was a restless person, and did not like to be pinned 
down to detailed work. His thoughts were so rapid, as to 
agitate his mind. He was an Opportunist, in that he could 
sen.e an op~ning, where tl'e average person could not, and ex-
ploit it to its exhaustion. 
His answer to the question, "what form of government do 
you propose for Africa?" was - "the type of government that 
the people need, to speed up their development along all lines". 
Because, argued he, all the theories when put into practice fall 
short of expectations, for the temperament of a people and their 
enervating surroundings tend to vary the very intent of their 
prinCiples. Even Capitalism in a developed country of Anglo-
Saxon equanimity deteriorates under an exact class system, 
which tends to create a class without enough spending power, 
thus over-production. A rigid Socialist system among primitive 
people in an undeveloped country would not attract capital -
the lever of development. 
As our people in Africa emerge from Colonialism, they must 
evolve their own systems, taking into consideration the mental 
standard and temperament of the people of each locale; and not 
be hide-bound to white peoples' systems; for Races interpret, 
Garvey ud Garveyism 149 
even the Christian Religion to suit themselves and practise it 
accordingly. 
When opportunity is accepted as a charitable gift, it is 
usually used as a child's Xmas present - pleasurably and seldom 
usefully, with the belief that next Xmas another will be forth-
coming. 1£ opportunity is to be used wisely and effectively, 
it must be the tool one fashions out of the crucible of one's 
mind. 
CHAPTER 25. 
The attitude of the Coloured Press toward Garvey is clearly 
brought out in a letter of a Reader to the Editor of the "Amster-
dam News": 
"I have been a reader of the Amsterdam News for years, 
and have read the many attacks made on Marcus Garvey and 
his organization. 
"The Amsterdam News has ne,'er seen any good in Garvey 
and I have always passed up these attacks, because I understand 
the situation fairly well. But when the writer of your column 
'Colorful News Movies' made such a sweeping misrepresentation 
of this man it really seems the limit This writer, whoever he 
is, knows that he not only misrepresented, but told a deliberate 
falsehood, when he said: 'His (Garvey's) estimate of them (the 
Negro) was that they were inferior people, unfit to mingle with 
men as men and unable to comprehend the fulness of American 
freedom. It was his aim that they should be forever segregated 
from the society of the world, and unto themselves develop a 
land of which for generations back the Negro people of America 
knew nothing'. 
"It is true that Garvey has not tried to flatter the Negro of 
the progress he has made, as other leaders have, and as white 
folks like the Negro to believe. Would the Negro development 
of a land of his own mean to segregate him or would it bring 
hi.m in contact with all other nations and races and raise his 
status to that of a real man? But, suppose for argument sake 
he did not come in social contact with the white race. Why 
should one rather eat the crumbs from somebody else's table 
than eat a square meal from his own? 
"Garvey has never advocated inferiority, but has tried to 
impress upon the Negro the reason why he is accorded such 
treatment Garvey has never advocated segregation, but has 
tried to make the Negro understand the reason why he is segre-
gated. If that is advocating segregation, and inferiority, theD I 
our ministers are advocates of hell, when they try to show us 
the reason why we will go there unless we live certain lives. 
No man, no organization has done more to counteract the in-
150 
Garvey and Garveyism 151 
feriority genn than Garvey and his organization. They have 
taken the Negro away back to the ancient glories of Ethiopia 
to make him feel he is not inferior, their attitude and propaganda 
bave forced newspapers like the Evening Journal to admit edi· 
torially that the Negro gave civilization to the world. They 
bave challenged white audiences from Columbia University and 
other places. When Negro newspapers would abolish the term 
'Negro' and substitute 'colored', it was Garvey who came for-
ward, took the name Negro from the rut and said: 'They have 
given it to us, we will make it a name to be respected, and it 
was through Garvey that certain daily newspapers print tha 
word Negro with a capital 'N'. 
"I am sorry that Mr. Garvey's idea of the Negro building 
up his own social system does not meet with the approval of my 
friends. 
Yours truly, 
ULRIC MARSHALL 
New York City, Feb. 21, 1925. 
The white Editor of the "New York Evening Bulletin", 
August 2, 1924. chided the . ridicule of Garvey, and challenged 
Coloured men to equal his achievement: 
"It has been the favourite sport of some New York news· 
papers to make fun of Marcus Garvey, the Negro leader, because 
he is prone to adapt long and high-sounding titles and voice 
extravagant claims, and because some of his enterprises have 
come to grief. Despite all this, has any other man of his race 
in the past century succeeded in assembling a more representa· 
tive gathering of his people? Men and women from many coun· 
tries and from almost every state have met in New York at Gar· 
vey's call; they are willing to follow his leadership. And even 
the worst enemy of Garvey must admit that there was logic 
and truth in the statements he made to the convention. Here 
are a few of his sentences which merit consideration: 
'There is no value in flattery. I wouldn't flatter you to 
save my life. And unfortunately we are the most careless and 
indifferent people in the world. Must I flatter you when Eng. 
land, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain are all concentrating on 
robbing every square inch of African territory, the land of our 
fathers? 
'Must I flatter you when the cry is being loudly raised for 
a white America, Canada, Australia and Europe, and a yellow 
and brown Asia? I find all other peoples preparing themselves 
152 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
for the struggle to survive, and you, still smiling, eating, drink-
ing, dancing and sleeping away your lives, as if yesterday were 
the beginning of the age of pleasure'." 
When one follows closely the activities of World Powers, 
and learns the policies motivating their actions, then only, can 
we understand and value the intensity of Garvey's struggles, 
and the urgency of his appeals. The follOwing quotation from 
one of my articles to the Negro World, March 28, 1925, proves 
the point: 
H. H. Powers, a rather outspoken exponent of Imperialism, 
writing in the Atlantic Monthly magazine, February 1925, seeks 
to justify the actions of the Oppressor Race, when he stated: 
"Exploitation is the primary and legitimate aim of im-
perialism . . . The weak, the ignorant, and the slothful races 
cannot expect to remain undisturbed in their habitat. It is much 
that they are allowed to remain at all, a cencession rather to 
the humanity of their betters than to their own right. Interfer-
ence, guidance and control are the indispensable conditions of 
this tolerance . . . We cannot I&ave them to their indolent siesta, 
if they hold in accidental and unconscious keeping the energies 
needed for advanCing civiJization." 
The writer goes on to show that weak and oppressed peoples 
all over the world are clamoring for self-determination, then 
he asks the question : "what would be the result of this much-
invoked race-forbearance, save to give the child of the future 
a Hottentot for a father instead of a white man?" This is the 
crux of the whole situation. If white nations were to honestly 
and sympathetically help and train Negroes along the road to 
self-government, when they reached the highest possible perfec-
tion they would become the masters of the world. Their pbysi~ 
cal strength, prowess in battle, virility as a race, and adapt-
ability to strange surroundings, would tend in a few years to 
produce a splendid type of black humanity, whose very self-
sufficiency would cause him to say, "I call no man master." 
Instead of the child of the future being a Hottentot, the man 
of ti,e future would be a Negro. 
The Imperialist writer closes his article with the arresting 
thought: '''viII the world wait for child-peoples to grow to the 
measure of these requirements when it can displace them with 
better stock?" 
The white man is determined to have all the world and 
its resources if possible, for himself and his posterity. The yel-
Garvey and Garveyism 153 
low man has sensed this selfish purpose, and is marshalling all 
the physical, mental and scientific forces at his command, and 
marching abreast of the white man to glory and to power. The 
yellow man's challenge to the white man is, "what is good for 
you, is also good for me, and I am going to take mine". The 
brown man within the last few years has opened his eyes to 
the fact that he too, should organize his forces, at least to hold 
his native habitat, and protect it for all times. Lastly comes 
the black man, late though he be, and says, "we are also in 
the fight for the survival of the fittest. God Almighty made 
us a separate and distinct race, and apportioned to us the great 
continent of Africa with the command, "occupy until I come" ... 
If we must live, we must be strong. Power is the keynote 
of this age. When all races have acquired that, and reached 
a common plane of world achievements, each will grasp the 
hand of the other and say, BROTHER; until then, the struggle 
continues. 
CHAPTER 26. 
In January 1925, Garvey was informed by Counsel that his 
Appeal was listed on the Calendar to come up in March. As 
he had to pay thousands of dollars for legal expenses, he planned 
a speaking tour, and gave his Lawyer a copy of his itinerary, 
which noted dates, addresses, and telephone numbers. He took 
me on this trip. 
The case was pushed up on the Calendar, and when we 
reached Detroit he received a telegram that the Appeal was not 
allowed, and he must return and surrender. He wired back, 
"coming on first train out". He also telephoned his New York of-
fice, and asked that they phone the Lawyer's home, in case his 
office was closed. 
On rece;ving the messages the Lawyer contacted the Dis-
trict Attorney, and gave his personal undertaking that he would 
bring Garvey in the following morning, as he was on his way 
back to New York City, to this he agreed. The hours on the 
train were tense, although he anticipated a few days stay in the 
Tombs prison, and to appeal to the Supreme Court for a review 
of his case. As the train was pulling in to the station at 125th 
Street, New York City, two United States Marshalls - whom 
he understood boarded the train at a siding - came into our 
coach, and said to him, "you name Marcus Garvey?" Yes, he 
replied. Well you are under arrest, and immediately proceeded 
to handcuff him. Amos jOined them, and rnimiced Garvey as 
he was hustled off the train. "Good Lord that's a bandit", 
shouted a white woman, looking back at me in contempt. 
When I telephoned the Lawyer and the Officers of the 
Organization what had happened they were astounded. That 
night at Liberty Hall I had difficulty in preventing some of the 
members from demonstrating on the streets. I calmed them 
with the assurance, - which I doubted, - that justice eventually 
would prevail. 
The next morning he was escorted into Court handcuffed 
to Guards. His Lawyer asked for a stay of two days to allow 
him to adjust the Organization's business; this was promptly 
denied. He was committed to Atlanta Federal prison in the 
154 
Garvey IlDd Garveyism 155 
South. His Lawyer asked that he be sent to Leavenworth, Kan-
sas, instead, as conditions in a Southern prison were hard on 
a black man; this was refused . We were told that the order 
for deportation was ready, and would be sent to Atlanta, so that 
it would be executed at any time he was released. To our 
amazement the District Attorney announced that he had for-
feited the $15,000 bail bond. We had to engage Counsel to 
fight in the Courts, for months until the amount was released, 
every cent of which we returned to the lenders. 
He was taken to the Tombs prison to await a train for 
Atlanta. Some of the enemy newspapers carried the picture of 
him handcuffed, with captions such as "Good-bye Garvey, the 
Tiger bagged at last". The hour for him to be taken to the 
train was kept a secret, so members kept vigil outside the prison; 
the Head Nurse of the New York Local moved into Our flat. 
Legions took it by turns to watch the place. 1 packed an over-
night case, and gave it to a member to take to the Pennsylvania 
Station, and followed later. Another member bought a ticket 
for me. Others alerted all their Porter (Red Cap) friends to 
let them know what train he was going on, and to help me on. 
We waited hour after . hour, afraid even to go and eat. 
Sandwiches were passed around. At last word came through, 
they had him in a baggage room downstairs. Just as the Guard 
was calling out, "all aboard for Washington" . . . we got the 
signal. Bag, ticket and money were pressed into my hands, 
down the stairs 1 ran, as a kindly porter helped me into a 
Smoking car of the moving train. When he turned round and 
saw me, a triumphant flash of his eyes seemed to say, "I am 
glad you outwitted them". 
A white conductor who punched my ticket informed me 
that 1 must go into another car. 1 did not budge, and showed 
no signs that 1 knew what he was talking about, so he con-
cluded 1 was either deaf or did not understand English very 
well, and left me alone. Through the kindness of others in the 
coach he let me know that when we reached Washington, I 
should get a Drawing Room compartment in the Pullman to 
Atlanta. Fortunately the members had given me enough money 
at the station; as one has to pay for three tickets in order to 
get this completely private room with toilet attached. There , 
we were for the remainder of the trip. I had note books and 
took instructions for the Officers, and "Messages" for publica-
tion in the Negro World. 
156 Ganey and Ganeyism 
When the train arrived at Atlanta the following morning. 
in my anxiety, I rushed through the white waiting room, hailed 
a white taxi, but was courteously reminded that, " down here 
white men can't drive Coloured people". I got an old Cab 
at the Coloured section, and when close behind him tooted the 
hom a few times to let him know. On arrival at the prison, 
I went to the Office, and was told that I could not see him for 
two weeks, but was given all instructions as to how I could 
send him money, letters, telegrams, gifts, and clothes. I spoke 
at the Atlanta Division of the Organization, and returned by 
Express train to New York City. On arrival I telegraphed him. 
The blank cheque which he had given me to close his per-
sonal account at the Chelsea Bank, I gave to the Chancellor -
Mr. Bourne - to take to the Manager - who knew all that 
had happened - to have balance filled in, and cashed for me, as 
the rent was overdue and other household bills. To my amaze-
ment he brought back eight dollars, and a slip from the Ledger 
Clerk verifying this balance. I had to summon all my courage 
to face the situation, - raise money for his "Defence Fund", 
pay balance. due Lawyer and Counsel, and to have his case 
reviewed by the Supreme Court. 
A few days after my return home, I was summoned to the 
District Attorney's office, and to bring all bonds and securities. 
He was trying to collect the $1,000 fine and costs of the case. I 
went, and handed him the bonds and stocks certificates from all 
the Companies Garvey operated. Some were for cash, others 
for accrued salaries, for which I had attached yearly Signed 
statements from the Treasurer and Chancellor, counter-signed 
by the Auditor. He looked through them carefully, handed them 
to a Clerk, who made some notes and returned them to me; 
the hurt in my eyes were so eloquent, that he quickly dismissed 
me, saying, "you may go." 
I had to do everything possible to get money for his "De-
fence Fund", which was not only to pay legal expenses, but to 
keep him in that Southern prison in a manner that made his 
confinement tolerable. In order to prevent this money from 
being confiscated, I had to hide some of it in a Bank in a nearby 
state, and a small amount in another Bank in the old section of 
New York. In going to these banks to make depoSits, I had 
to rise early in the mornings, and go by devious routes, remain-
ing at Railroad and subway stations until the banks opened. 
Many a morning I spent anxious moments wondering if any 
Garvey aud Garveyism 157 
loiterer around was a detective or a thief. Sometimes the cold 
numbed my feet and hands, but concealed on my person was 
that precious money. 
In my speeches and newspaper articles, I had to interpret 
national and international events as they affected our people, 
with forcefulness and leader opinion. I treated his enemies to 
subtle, pitying sarcasm, that made them realize that they got 
"the law" to do for them, what they failed to do - "get rid of 
Garvey"; ironically Garveyism was strengthened by their vicious 
attacks, so it was time for them to examine its programme, to 
see what made it indestructible; then, they would come to the 
c-onclusion that Garvey was neither the fool, nor the rogue they 
had thought him. I won sympathizers and friends for him in 
hard core opposition circles, who now felt that he was misunder-
stood because of his demeanour. 
Every three weeks or so I went to Atlanta to see him; he 
planned itineraries for me to speak to raise money for his fund; 
besides I sent out collecting lists. His letters were censored, yet 
many people wrote him. Wherever I travelled I sent him tele-
grams of cheer and greetings from the members. At times he 
telegraphed for more money," or special gifts which I was al-
lowed to have sent direct from big department stores such as 
Macy's or Gimbels. When he wanted me to come at once, the 
suspense and anxiety until the Express reached there was awful. 
If there were any manoeuvres going on that made him suspicious 
and dull, then I had to spread joy and plenty of it. 
One of my most memorable experiences happened on a 
Southern trip. When I arrived in Baton Rouge the people 
were tense and nervous; there had been a lynching there the 
previous night; the detailed horrors of which were related to 
me. They advised that I should not speak, and take the next 
train out of Town, as they did not want anything to happen to 
me. True enough, but I could not run out on them like that, 
they needed comfort and cheer. So we agreed to have an early 
Service. After the prayers and singing of Hymns, I preached 
the Sermon. My text was from Isaiah 40, verses 5-6. "Com-
fort Ye my people". By the moans from the "Amen Corner", 
and expressions such as - "Tell it Sister, tell it! Hallelujah!" I 
felt that they were indeed comforted. 
After the Service a Doctor from a nearby Town escorted 
me to his car. Before driving off he placed his shot gun in 
a contraption he had erected through the open wind shield, 
G.G.-I) 
158 Garvey and Garveyism 
• took out a big pistol and placed that beside him; turning to 
me, he said, "Sister, get yours handy". I took out my "Colt". 
Now, said he, "we are ready to travel; remember if we have to 
go, we must take one with us." Silently we sped on, peering 
into the darkness, and listening for possible pursuers. At last 
we made it. His father-in-law said he would guard the house, 
just in case anyone prowled around looking for trouble. Early 
next morning on our way to the Station, Doctor said, "all of us 
can't leave the South, but those who stay must be prepared 
to fight and die too, for our rights." 
The journeys to Atlanta were long and tiring, although I 
used to take a business men's Special - extra fare Express -
leaving New York City at 11 p.m. which gave me time to do a 
full day's work, and perhaps speak at a meeting; leaving after-
wards in a tax> to Pennsylvania Station. Next morning we 
change engines in Washington D.C. and go through Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina, then Georgia, arriving there the 
following mOrning. One never knows wbat horrible incidents 
may occur on these trips as Coloured people have been dragged 
out of Pullman Coaches. 
At the prison a Guard is stationed in the room during inter-
viewsj we felt that a Dictaphone was there too, so we were 
careful in speaking. Federal prisoners are those who have 
broken Federal laws. In prison at that time were: a former 
Warden of the prison, Bankers, etc. One day I saw a thin, pale 
white man heavily manacled to Guards, walking through the 
corridor to the main door. On enquiry I was told, "that's Dil-
linger, the celebrated Mail-train robber, he escaped from here 
already, now he has to be taken in an armoured car to the 
hospital to have his lungs X-Rayed." 
A few months after Garvey was in prison he got a pass as 
Head Cleaner which enabled him to go around the buildings 
for inspection of the work. He wore his own clothes, attended 
mOvies, and ball games. He had a fine collection of books, 
which I ordered from time to time for him. Other prisoners 
did the chores for him and treated him as nicely as he did them. 
His appeal to the Supreme Court was denied, his only hope now 
of release was Executive clemency. 
Three months later he asked me to get together enough of 
his speeches, writings and extracts of the trial, and edit them 
for a book of about 400 pages; he wanted this done in a hurry, 
for if anything happened to him there was no record - other 
GmTey aDd Garveyism 159 
tban the Negro World - of his speeches and front-page Mes-
sages, as newspapers more or less carried garbled reports to in-
duce ridicule and contempt for him. 1 had already compiled a • 
collection, which was published as a first volume, and the 
additional matter he revised. The difficulty was to get a Pub-
lisher, as most of them did not want to handle "that stuff"; 
eventually I had to get the Negro World's Printer to do the 
printing and binding, but I had to do all the proof-reading. 
I thought I had done almost the impossible, when 1 was 
able to rush a lirst copy of Vol. II to him, but he callously said, 
"now I want you to send free copies to Senators, Congressmen 
and prominent men who might become interested in my case, 
as I want to make another application for a pardon". When 
I completed this task I weighed 98 Ibs., had low blood pressure 
and one eye was badly strained. Two doctors advised complete 
rest I stayed with Southern friends in Montclair, New Jer-
sey, but it was only part-time rest, as I telephoned the flat daily, 
and went at week-ends to clear up accumulated work. After 
two weeks he telegraphed me to come and bring all acknowl-
edgements of books sent; then he informed me that as soon 
as I was stronger, I should make a list of the favourable ones, 
and go to the Capital to lobby on his behalf, 
Of the many acknowledgements of the books received, 1 
cherish most the one from M. H. Gandhi - the Mahatma of 
India - dated May 12, 1926, from "The Ashram, Sabarmati, In-
dia". He addressed me as "Dear Friend". 
In Japan, K. Mitsukawa published a book - ''The Negro 
Problem", referring to Garveyism as the "African Freedom 
Movement". On one page was the Red, Black and Green flag 
in colours. Dr. Nkrumah, Prime Minister of Ghana (formerly 
Gold Coast), in his book "Ghana" made the following admis-
sion: "I tbink that of all the literature I studied the book that 
did more than any other to lire my enthusiasm was the Philos-
ophy of Marcus Garvey published by his wife". 
While in this prison he wrote what he called his "Poetic 
Meditations". He never learned versification, they were a col-
lection of poems revealing some of his thoughts at that time. 
Three of which were: 
First - "The Black Woman", written Februa-r"v  28 1927 the opening verse reads: , 
"Black Queen of beauty, thou has given colour to the world, 
Among other women thou art royal and the fairest, 
160 Garvey IIJId Garveyism 
Like the brightest of jewels in the regal diadem 
Shin'st thou Goddess of Africa - Nature's purest embleml" 
Second - was dedicated to me; strangely, he recites the 
many vicissitudes and bitter experiences in his life, but finds 
satisfaction in this verse: 
"But you have been a light to me, 
A fond and dear and true Arnie; 
So what care I for falsest friend 
When on your love I can depend." 
What did he ever give in return? The value of a wife 
to him was like a gold coin - expendable, to get what he 
wanted, and hard enough to withstand rough usage in the 
process. 
Third - prediction for Africa. The opening verse conveys 
the theme: 
"Hail United States of Africal 
Hail Motherland most glOriOUS, bright! 
States in perfect Sisterhood united, 
Born of Truth, mighty shalt thou ever be." 
CHAPfER 27. 
The question has often been asked, why did he allow the 
Convention to vote such a high salary scale for Officers; in fact 
this was regarded as "his biggest mistake". They had to be 
paid according to American wages, besides their salaries had to 
off-set the persistent approaches for them to become inside In-
formers. Garvey felt that if a man was well paid, he would 
only succumb to those temptations if he were base at heart. It 
was extremely difficult to get trained men with the spirit of 
altruism. After talking to an applicant for an hour on the 
ideals and activities of the Organization, the substance of his 
reply would be, "that's all very well, but I can't live on senti-
ment", or "what is in it for me? I have got to live good." They 
had imbibed the sordid materialism of the New Country -
America, but as a segregated people the multiple cultures of 
Europe, even in a composite.form, had not impressed their lives. 
Each officer, on being sworn in, had to subscribe to an 
Oath of fidelity to the Cause of African Redemption thus: 
"should I fail this Cause, may the Ahnighty Architect fail me 
in the purpose of life." They were voted into office by Dele-
gates in Convention to serve four years, and could only be re-
moved before expiry of this term, by impeachment at a Con-
vention; although the President-General as Administrator could 
suspend an Officer from duties, yet his salary had to be paid. 
Realizing the awfnI financial weight some of these lazy 
men were causing, it was discussed and resolved at the 1921 
Convention that Officers should be paid salaries at the minimum 
which was half of the maximum; and the maximum could only 
be reached by ability and fitness. The Secretary whose duty 
it was to edit and insert amendments to the constitutions before 
reprinting, omitted this vital clause. It was not until Ex-Officers 
sued for "back salaries" that this was discovered. Up to 1926 
(during Garvey's imprisonment) all the Officers - except Miss 
Davis and Bishop McGuire - had sued in this manner, obtained 
judgments against the Organisation, and seized its assets in 
satisfaction of their unfair claims. The "Almighty dollar" must 
have assuaged their guilty consciences. 
161 
162 Garvey and Garveyism 
While the assets of the Organi7<ltion were being frittered 
away, some of the Officers and members of branches sent to 
ask him if they could, at the calling of an emergency Conven-
tion, vote me into office as Assistant President - General, which 
would empower me to help save the assets through the CourtJ. 
"No," said he to me, "you would then be responsible for the 
acts of every rascal. It is a well-laid trap of my enemies to 
use the predicament of the people - into which they have 
manoeuvred them - to 'get you', as they have me. With you 
in prison, I would be left to rot in here". 
On another occasion the British Honduras branches wanted 
him to send me down there to, "restore the Government's COD-
fidence in the U.N.I.A." for, said they, since the series of law-
suits over Mr. Morter's estate (left 'for Parent Body U.N.I.A. 
for African Redemption') in Official circles and otherwise, it 
was being felt that African Redemption would be more dan-
gerous if it had at its disposal such a rich legacy; so we are 
under a cloud". Said he, "I would love for you to go down 
there and clear the air, but what would happen to me if you 
were out of the country, even for three weeks?" 
The Communist Party of America - regardless of their 
antagonism to Garvey, as he refused to endorse Commwrism, 
and prevented them from using his Mass Movement for indoc-
trination - now realized the repercussions this wanton rape 
of its assets were having on the morale of Negro Workers, sent 
out a signed Press Release in April 1925, through its Central 
Executive Committee of the Workers (Commnnist Party) of 
America, under the heading - "Importance of Organi7<ltion of 
Negroes", they declared: 
"The Workers (Commwrist) Party takes this occasion to 
point out to white workers as well as Negro workers the import-
ance of organization of the Negro masses of this country. The 
Negro population is composed almost entirely of wage workers, 
agricultural workers, and the most severe explOited class of 
farmers, often landless. In addition to the ordinary forms of 
exploitation and persecution under which the white workers 
and farmers suffer, the Negroes have to endure the terrible bur-
den of race persecution by which the capitalist class intensifies 
its class exploitation of the Negroes and also succeeds in divid-
ing and weakening the exploited classes. 
"In America and internationally, in the world-struggle 
against capitalist-imperialism, the Negro movement is destined 
Ganey and Ganeyism 163 
to play a tremendous part. The epoch of the world revolution 
which opened with the Russian revolution, is also the epoch of 
the rise of the darker races, and the two form one inseparable 
whole. A movement among the Negro workers and farmers of 
the United States must be considered, not only in the light of 
the class struggle within this country, but also in connection 
with the anti-imperialist struggles of the millions of West Indian 
Negroes and the 150,000,000 natives of Africa, and the awaken-
ing of the 400,000,000 of China and the 320,000,000 of India. 
"The widespread awakening of interest among American 
Negroes in international questions, as shown in the desire to 
take part in the strengthening of the African Negro Republic of 
Liberia, and the winning of independence for the natives of 
Africa generally, is a guarantee of this historical trend. 
"This newly awakened interest of American Negroes in in-
ternational affairs, which found confused but earnest expres-
sion among the rank and file of the Universal Negro Improve-
ment Association, was one of the causes of the government's 
brutal attack upon the Negro organization. The diplomatic 
Ministers of the United States, Great Britain and France brought 
about the outlawing of the Universal Negro Improvement Asso-
ciation from African soil. The PrQsident of the Liberian re-
public has publicly admitted that 'obligations to the great 
powers" had something to do with the exclusion of the Negro 
association from all activities in Liberia. A concession for rub-
ber lands, claimed by the Negro association, was withdrawn 
and given to a big American corporation (the Firestone Tire Co.), 
thru the machinations of an American diplomatic minister at 
the same moment that the United States government made its 
final assault to break up the Negro association. Here we see 
the sharp fangs of American imperialism determined to enter 
and ravage the African continent just as it ravages Haiti, Porto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands etc. 
"The Workers (Communist) Party composed of Negro 
workers as well as white workers, and standing for the solidarity 
and emancipation of the working class on terms of equality of 
all races, cannot stand idly by while the capitalist dictatorship 
attempts to destroy a mass organization of the exploited Negro 
people. We cannot consent that the Negro should be denied 
the right of organization. 
"The Workers (Communist) Party calls upon the workers, 
164 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
both Negro and white, to protest against the persecution of 
the Universal Negro Improvement Association. 
"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of 
Marcus Garvey. 
"We demand that Marcus Garvey shall not be deported. 
"We demand an end to the looting of the treasury of the 
Universal Negro Improvement Association by the courts of law. 
"We demand that Liberty Hall shall not be taken away 
from the Negro association. 
"We demand that the bloody hand of American imperialism 
shall not strangle the African peoples. 
"We demand that the full and free intercourse of American 
Negroes with their brothers of the African continent shall not 
be interfered with. 
"We call upon the Negro workers and the white workers 
to hold mass meetings and demonstrations together to voice 
their protest against the persecution of Negro workers. 
"We call for a united front of white workers and Negro 
workers as a guarantee and a promise of the solidarity of the 
working class, both black and white, which will bring the eman-
cipation of the exploited classes and races of the world. 
"Central Executive Committee, Workers (Communist) 
Party of America." 
Apart from local Schools supported by Garveyites, the 
Parent Body took over the Smallwood-Carey Institute of Clare-
mont, Virginia, U.S.A. in 1925, and conducted this Institution 
as a practical High School. They had hoped to develop same 
into a University; so they called it - "Universal Liberty Uni-
versity." Despite Garvey's imprisonment and financial straits 
of the Organization, they bravely carried on until 1930. 
The Negro Factories Corporation, which owned a steam 
laundry, hat shop, restaurant and lodging house, all were put 
out of business because of some lazy unscrupulous employees, 
or in the general undermining activities of his enemies. The 
most irreparable loss was when the S.S. General Goethals of 
the Black Cross Navigation Company - after making a trip to 
the West Indies - was sold for debts wilfully and designingly 
incurred, this distressed and grieved Garvey as the people had 
subscribed the money for this ship to vindicate their confidence 
in him. Sadly he said, "Negroes are their own worst enemies; 
it is a hellish task to get some of them to build, and a hellish 
Garvey IUld Garveyism 165 
sight to see others of them spitefully and enviously destroy the 
work of years." 
After his incarceration some of the comments of the Col-
oured Press showed a change of perception. However a Balti-
more paper voiced the opinion of the old Garvey Ejector Bri-
gade, it stated, "he got what was coming to him, it is better for 
the Race that this violent agitator is safely put away". 
The "California Voice", February 20, 1925 opined that, 
"even the bitterest enemy of Garvey must realize that a New 
Era in the life of the Race has been brought about by this man, 
who alone of all his fellows stood, and fell fighting for a Cause 
that was not popular, even with those of his own group." 
The "Pacific Defender", at the same time, called for 
"optimism even in failure', and warned - "The advent of failure 
is no signal for weeping. It is a call for renewed confidence 
and the resolution to continue to press forward. If every time 
a train was wrecked or a boat was sunk, the people ceased their 
intercourse via travel and transportation routes, what would be-
come of the world's business? When failures come, new units 
of business must spring up, ,,!,d must be supported by intelligent 
people who show some knowledge of world history and racial 
endeavour." . 
The Editor of the "Cotton Farmer", in true Southern style, 
under the head, "President Coolidge and the Gospel Truth", 
in its issue of February 21, 1925 portrays the enemies of Garvey 
and his programme as they really are: 
"It is passing strange, however, with as many men we have 
who have robbed we 'niggers' out of our lodges' money, grand 
lodge money, bank deposits, insurance and even the poor trea-
sury of the church, and lost it playing craps down at Sister 
Mamie Crawford's, and now strutting around with stove pipe 
hats, diamonds and silk shirts, that Marcus should be singled 
out for using the mails to defraud 'niggers.' 
"Who is it so solicitous about 'niggers' not being robbed, 
and what are their real motives? There is a rat in the meal 
tub, and the cat will soon catch him. One thing about Garvey 
and his gang, they are not fussing with white folks in an effort 
to associate with them. They are not with hat in hand begging 
the white folks for money for them to have a 'talking meeting' 
to save the race, and they are not fussing with white folks about 
the white man's ships; but were trying to have a ship of their 
166 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
own even if he failed. If President Coolidge would do the 
right thing, he would pardon or parole Garvey. It would be 
best to pardon him for they would frame him we fear. 
"Now, whether President Coolidge has the courage to par-
don Garvey - in the face of the opposition of that element 
of northern boiled shirt white collared colored curb statesmen 
who never have done a thing but have talking meetings at the 
expense of some white philanthropist, and yearn for the day 
to come when they could entirely divorce themselves from their 
own race and associate with white folks - is very doubtful to 
the mind of this cotton plantation paper. Garvey and his ilk 
today are better friends to the United States than his enemy 
pursuers, and time will prove it." 
CHAPTER 28. 
Garvey has been loosely criticized for stating that the 
Southern white man - who is usually brutally frank to the 
Negro on questions of the separation of the races - is incident-
ally more of a friend of the Negro than the Northern white who, 
because of courtesy and diplomacy either remain silent on the 
issue, or say that in time absorption of the minority will be 
the solution. But said Garvey, "I would rather be awakened 
to face a danger by a slap in the face than lulled to sleep by 
being told that I am secure from harm." 
In October 1921, President Warren G. Harding spoke in 
Birmingham, Alabama. On the question of race relations he 
declared: "There shall be recognition of the absolute diverg-
ence in things social and racial ... men of both races may well 
stand uncompromisingly against every suggestion of social 
equality ... racial amalgamation there cannot be." 
Garvey sent him a telegram of congratulations on his out-
spoken statement on the issues, and in an analysis of him after 
his death, July 1923, stated in the Negro World: 
"If President Harding did not openly do any good for the 
Negro it was because he was but a slave to system and environ-
ment, which took extraordinary courage to rebuff and surmount, 
with the intention of doing that which was right and justifiable. 
Not only Harding, but any President or leader who prefers to 
please his immediate acquaintances and human circle rather 
than the voice of God, speaking through the oppressed, is bound 
to do as he did in all things affecting human rights, liberty, and 
justice, without realizing his mistake. 
"Mr. Harding was not a Roosevelt, who would do what 
he thought was morally right irrespective of what his associates 
thought. He would not have dined a Booker T. Washington, 
if he believed it would have hurt him in the opinion of his 
friends and large numbers of people ... President Harding was 
no Reformer ... To do good, and that which must be permanent, 
we have to offend public opinion. No better example of the 
price one has to pay in doing good can be found than that given 
167 
168 G. . ,ey ... Gaate,. pi 
us by the man Jesus, who, in a life of public activity, _ 
that to do good is to offend, and to suffer th«efor". 
In October 1925 the Negro Press carried headlines sum _ 
"Garvey in prison forms new alliance; Prisoner Garvey 
with Race's enemies; Garvey and Anglo.Saxon Clubs - Alliance". 
How did this come about? Mr. John Powell of the Anglo-
• 
Saxon Clubs of America related in a speech at the New York 
City Liberty Hall that Major Ernest Cox had written a book, 
"White America". It was violently criticized by Northern C0l-
oured newspapers. The Author was surprised however to re-
ceive a letter from a Garveyite in Sl Louis stating that, while be 
did not approve of all he had read in the book, nevertbel II 
the feeling for race purity coincided with Garveyism, and lis 
principles also of integrity, and self-respect. He requested a 
letter from the Author to be read at a U.N .I.A. meeting. in whim 
he was to give the white man's answer to Garvey's "Appeal to 
the soul of white America". Major Cox's letter was so well 
received, that he was requested to enlarge on it, and publish 
same in pamphlet form; which he did, and entitled it, "Let my 
people go", and dedicated it to Marcus Garvey - the Negro 
Leader. 
Mr. Powell further related how, having to address the 
Georgia Legislature, he went to the Federal prison in Atlanta 
to meet, and talk with Garvey. When I saw him, said Mr. 
Powell, "I saw a man with head erect, with eyes open and 
clear, unashamed and unafraid, free from all bitterness, free 
from all rancour; not one word of complaint escaped his lips. 
not one word of bemoaning; his one thought was for you - his 
people, and his loyal followers ... There was nothing that Mar-
cus Garvey could not say frankly and freely to me without dan-
ger of misunderstanding, nor I to him, and I reali:red that I was 
in the presence of a man of the highest idealism, the noblest 
courage and profoundest wisdom. A man dedicated to a noble 
and sacred Cause - the Cause of the independence and integrity 
of his race." 
On his return to Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Powell reported 
to his Club the interview he had with Garvey, the Richmond 
Times-Despatch (white) published an account of his tall<_ The 
Norfolk Journal and Guide (Coloured) under headlines spread 
across the page, reminded their Readers that Garvey, who had 
formerly been a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and whose asso-
ciation was cut short by imprisonment, even now in prison, had 
Garvey and Garveyism 169 
taken occasion to ally himself with other enemies of the Race -
the Anglo-Saxon Clubs. That article was copied in the Negro 
Press allover the country, which caused a great deal of ill-
feeling against Garvey; but his followers knew that his enemies 
were just up to their old tricks. 
In the course of his speech, Mr. Powell made the following 
admission and statements of facts: 
"No decent white man in the South can hate the Negro 
Race, no sane man who can have naught in his heart, but feel-
ings of kindliness and gratitude toward the Negro Race"; then 
he related the heroic part played by the slaves in helping to 
build up the New Country; in protecting the women and chil-
dren on the plantations; raising the crops to feed the army that 
was fighting to enslave them. Said he, "there never was a 
people, who under hardship and oppression showed the spirit 
of kindliness and forgiveness which your people have shown." 
He admitted that in the South there was lynching, burnings 
and peonage systems, etc., but he pointed out that in Chicago, 
Springfield, East St. Louis and Johnstown, Negro homes were 
looted and burned; they were shot down, and run out of town, 
and told to go back south where they belong. But at Inter-
racial conferences you are being cajoled, while your birth rate 
decreases and your death rate increases. This can only lead 
to race suicide. Don't deceive yourselves, said he "people can-
not help their instincts, some of the wisest and best people are 
often the people who are most filled with prejudice and bigotry; 
we cannot take it out of them; what we can do is to realize 
as President Coolidge said recently that, 'we are all in the 
same boat'." 
CHAPTER 29 
There were many and varied efforts made to secure Execu-
tive Clemency for Garvey. In June 1925 a Committee, myself 
included, were able to secure an appointment with the Attorney 
General in Washington D.C. to whom we submitted a Memo-
randum asking for Executive Clemency for Garvey; each of 
us spoke on a different phase of the urgency for our plea. He 
advised us to tell Garvey to make his own application direct 
from the prison. This he did in a lengthy document, parts of 
which is quoted which have a bearing on the Black Star Line, 
and also embodies a petition to the President for African colo-
nization: 
"The Black Star Line was but one of the efforts towards 
carrying out a general plan that was joined in and endorsed by 
all the stockholders. As a commercial venture it may have suf-
fered, but the end is not yet reached, and therefore it is not fair 
to assume permanent failure . As a demonstration to the Negro 
people that it was possible to attempt and carry out an organized 
concerted plan to overcome certain of their difficulties, it was 
unquestionably a success; as an investigation among business 
activities of the Negro race \vill show, that since the promotion 
of the Black Star Line and its earlier successes, thousands of 
new enterprises among Negroes sprang up all over the country 
and the world, tending to the economic and industrial develop-
ment of the race . . . 
"Experience in such organization has a great value apart 
from the mere value of dollars and cents, and from this point 
of view, as well as from others, the Black Star Line was not a 
failure. Mere failure commercially to make a success is not 
evidence of fraud. The dominant question should be as a test 
of honesty and sincerity, how much of the large amount sub-
scribed for stock did I receive as salary? At what time did I 
receive a salary for services? Did I not accept a small salary, and 
for only a short period, and was I not the largest stockholder in 
the Corporation? Is it not a fact that the people with whom I 
dealt, and whose money was invested in the Black Star Line 
still have faith in me, and have of themselves subscribed for my 
170 
Garvey and Garveyism 171 
defence and protection? Who can possibly suggest a better 
test of the honesty and sincerity of one, than to appeal to the 
people whose money was invested in the Black Star Line, for 
they are in the best possible position to understand and sympa-
thize with the plan, and to realize that the Black Star Line was 
only a part of a programme, that that the feature of financial pro-
fits was unimportant 
"The enterprise was at best handicapped, due to the ob-
stacles that the unreasonable, unthinking and prejudiced of the 
white race naturally placed in the way of the operation of such 
a steamship line; and to the advantage taken of those of the 
race of frail character and manhood, who had to represent the 
company before skilled and experienced white men who prey 
upon the unwary and unsuspicious." 
After many paragraphs of arguments, he added the prayer 
for a pardon, for many reasons, among them were: 
"Because I am not guilty and one can only be truly con-
victed by his own conscience and Christian soul. 
"Because I have been 'framed up' for the indictment and 
conviction. 
• 
"Because I have been convicted on prejudice. 
"Because it is my belief that the President who represents 
the highest spirit and sense of American justice, as the Chief 
Executive of the nation, will give such careful and impartial 
consideration to the plea for justice in America's name, as not 
to allow the sacred traditions of the nation for justice and liberty 
to be violated, by even the greatest influence; that justice may 
be given to one who is consciously innocent of the committal of 
crime, and whose desire always has been that of being obedient 
to the laws of the country and respectful of the rights of society. 
"Because it is my belief that the President will, by clemency 
remedy a wrong inflicted upon one because of his colour and 
place of birth, and effort to help his race in the desire for free-
dom and liberty in their ancestral home, a land originally theirs, 
and in keeping with the splendid efforts and example of Wash-
ington, Jefferson and Lincoln. 
"Because the act of pardon will tend to convince millions 
that a black man aspiring for the highest and best for his race 
can get justice under a Republican form of Government pre-
sided over by a Republican President. 
"Because the millions of blacks in America affiliated with 
the organization of which I am elected head, and the millions 
172 Garvey and Garveyism 
of like affiliations in Central America, South America, and the 
West Indies, Africa, Europe and Asia, may have no other feel-
ing nor desire than to continue to support the professions of 
established Christian appeal to Government, and to feel that 
justice is not only for white men and a privileged class, but for 
one and all, irrespective of race or creed. 
"To prevent enemies of established order making capital 
out of the act of injustice, persecution and prejudice to inflame 
in the future, and at the time of need, the minds of millions of 
blacks throughout the world against 'bureaucracy, oligarchy, 
iroperialism and capitalism', which may have a strong appeal, in 
the light of history, for the unfortunate and oppressed whom I 
am endeavouring to lead by a peaceful and friendly agitation for 
the reasonable return of their African heritage. To uphold the 
sacred principles of American justice for which the noble 
fathers of the Republic have bled and died. To uphold the 
undying and sacred words and declaration of Lincoln. That this 
nation, armed with grand and marvellous achievements for 
human liberty and justice in the last couple of centuries, will 
not allow itself to be inveigled into doing a grave wrong to one 
whose only crime is an honest effort to liberate his race by the 
creation of a new nationalism, and because of his attempt to 
lead the members of his oppressed race in this direction. 
"That the Declaration of Independence may not be regarded 
in the future, by Negroes, as a selfish expression of a dannish 
group, but that its sentiments were mtended to bless all 
humanity, including the future hope of the black race. 
"That I may be able to continue to serve the people of 
my race, who believe in me and who are watching with eyes of 
eagerness and keenness, and minds of eternal record, the white 
man's sense of justice as practised upon an unfortunate Negro 
who happens to be born and reared in an environment of 
American Continental civilization, being the relic of slavery 
iroposed upon his forbears, without any argument of choice 
of location on their part, but by the sole desire of their masters 
to profit by their labour. 
''That my being born on the American continent as a des-
cendant of British Colonial slaves, does not bar me from the 
right of working for the release of my people in America and 
elsewhere to nationhood, but entitles me to a respectful hear-
ing with equal force of right - as any Negro, who was only 
Garvey and Garveyism 173 
by accident born in the United States and not in the other Colo-
nies, as my fathers were. 
"Because of my desire not to be in opposition to the wish 
of the Government, I am willing to leave the country if a 
reasonable time is given me to properly arrange my many busi-
ness affairs in the interest of the organization of which I am 
head, and to properly arrange how the investments of the people 
of my race in the Black Star Line can be easily and reasonable 
returned to them. 
"I further request this pardon on all those grounds that 
may be just, proper and legal, which are not known to my lay-
man mind. 
"Because it would be a national crime to allow the Honour-
able Courts of the United States and the law officers of the Gov-
ernment to be used by one group of enemies to wreak vengeance 
upon another, as in my case. 
"That it may please Your Excellency to see the fact that 
millions of Negroes have consistently and continuously, through 
their local organizations, contributed and donated to the promul-
gation of the ideals for which I stand, and this has been done in 
the face of forced and extra. efforts to hold me up to the said 
people, as a criminal, and in every way to discredit me by the 
disadvantages of arrests, prosecutions and malicious newspaper 
propaganda and organized under-currents. This determination 
and wonderful, exceptional loyalty to a Negro leader reveals be-
yond the shadow of a doubt that there is some longing in the 
souls, hearts and breasts of these people, for the realization of 
the ideals of their repatriation to Africa, and the founding and 
establishing for them there of a nation of their own. 
"That if a plebiscite or referendum were to be taken among 
the masses of the people, it would show an overwhelming major-
ity in favour of the plan, as evidenced by the millions of sig-
natures attached to petitions in this same matter. Arrangements 
could be made whereby the somewhat settled national equi-
librium industrially and generally, would not be disturbed, but 
by a gradual system of release, and replacement, at the same 
time, by assimilatable duplicates, continue the migration until, 
in the course of probably half a century, the problem adjusts 
itself by the friendly and peaceful removal and replacement of 
stock assimilatable to the majority race. 
"That with the commandeering of hundreds of unused 
ships now owned by the Shipping Board, and which are a source 
174 GllrYey ud Ganeylsm 
of worry to the Government, the race could be easily and con-
veniently repatriated. 
"The several billion dollars due this country by Great Bri-
tain and France, Belgium and Italy, but principally by Great 
Britain and France could be partly underwritten by their turn-
ing over to America, for the purpose of the Negroes, who de-
sire to return to Africa, such territories in Africa where the re-
turned Negroes could easily assimilate with the natives and c0-
operate as one race for the promotion of the national ideals 
When it is remembered that the slave trade and slavery in the 
Western world were made profitable for centuries to Great 
Britain, France and America, and that our generations are the 
relic of such slavery, the force of justice remains indisputable 
and leaves no other alternative than a righteous and Christian 
consideration of the poor Negro for his rights. 
"That my efforts in this direction were with the purpose 
of bleSSing the American nation and removing from its body 
politic an irritating problem that may otherwise end disastrowly 
for both races. That a strong, decisive, determined attitude and 
action of any President of the United States, in this direction 
would herald to the world another Lincoln, Washington and 
Jefferson - the Fathers and benefactors, not only of their coun-
try, but the true advocates and dispensers of human jwtice 
and liberty. 
"And for all such consideration as Your Excellency may 
grant by way of pardon, I do humbly pray, 
"We the underSigned, respectfully indorse the application 
for Executive clemency of Marcus Garvey. Our approval is 
based upon the follOWing grounds: 
"Our complete belief in the honesty and integrity of the 
Applicant, and our desire to see justice done to one who has 
honestly and faithfully laboured in the interest of his race. 
Then followed Signatures by a Banker, an Editor, a N. ... 
York City Lawyer, a New York City Judge, a Cleveland Phy-
sician and a Los Angeles Real Estate Broker. 
On August 10th a reply reached Garvey stating that the 
reports on his application were uadverse", therefore couJd not 
be submitted to the President for consideration. The reply cited 
rule 8 which stipulated that the Trial Judge and District At-
torney must report on all applications for clemency. 
CHAPTER 30. 
When Mr. Sargent, the Attorney General gave us such a 
patient hearing, and asked many questions pertinent to the is-
sues involved in Garvey's case, our Delegation had hopes that 
his application for executive clemency would have been given 
speCial consideration, in view of its implications. We conveyed 
our hopes to Garvey: which was one of the reasons why he 
wrote so exhaustively in his plea to the President, covering all 
grounds that might have been involved in a conditional pardon, 
adding a parting plea for African colonization. When this ap-
plication was pigeon-holed in the Attorney General's depart-
ment, we were fearful of the effect it would have on Garvey, 
but he showed remarkable self-control, and said, "this is an-
other test to see if I will crack-up." 
During his imprisonment Garveyites held protest meetings 
all over the world, and sent cables, telegrams and letters to 
President Coolidge asking for pardon for Garvey. 
On May 16, 1925 Garvey sent a long letter to the Attorney 
General explaining to him in detail that fake claims and judg-
ments by default were piling up against the Corporations and 
businesses of which he was head; that the ships and real estate 
were being attached for these fictitious claims, could he release 
him, under guard, to enable him to try to save even some of 
the assets. The reply was that his case would not be reopened 
as the recommendations opposed this. 
In 1926, he made another application, after the "Philosophy 
and Opinions" were well distributed, but received the same 
reply. 
At the end of August 1927, the Editor of the "Pittsburgh 
Courier" - a Coloured newspaper - asked me to write an 
article on the circumstances surrounding the trial and imprison-
ment of Garvey. The caption to my article was: "Who caused 
the imprisonmen t of Garvey?" This was used as a streamer 
across the page, and the article published in serial form, with 
illustrations. A few sentences were deleted, so I gave the full 
article to the Negro World for publication. 
In the article I traced a well concerted plan, as far back 
as 1919 against Garvey and his Movement. Then in 1920 ''The 
175 
176 GuY.,. ,ad G• •. ,.. ... 
National Information Bureau", whose Directors were Bany 
Smith, and John Shil1ady of the N.A.A.C.P., wrote to the RuaIII 
Sage Foundation that "we are informed Garvey was .i£ I'llill 
and convicted in Chicago in connection with race riots two 
years ago." Garvey was nowhere near Chicago at the time vi 
the riots, much less to be arrested and convicted. I further re-
lated other malicious statements and acts against Garvey, the 
attitude of the Officers of the Court at the Trial and after, quot-
ing newspaper and magazine comments, and closed with this 
question - was Justice defeated? 
I had extra copies printed by the Negro World, paid for 
them out of the Defence Fund, and had them well distributed 
in Washington D.C. and by the branches to reach their State 
Politicians and big local men. In less than three months (18th 
November 1927) President Coolidge signed a Declaration com-
muting Garvey's sentence to end immediately; he had served 
two years and nine months. Secrecy prevailed, and when the 
document reached Atlanta the deportation order was served 
, simultaneously, then the news was released. We conjectured that 
the only Southern port from which a ship was likely to leave 
for Jamaica, was New Orleans; so we rushed his Attorney from 
New York City down there, to try and get a stay of execution 
of tl,e deportation order, and allow him to return to New York 
to attend to urgent Organrzation business. This application was 
promptly and curtly denied. 
At the New Orleans pier, he was given a wonderful ovation 
by the throng which had rushed there. He spoke from the 
deck of the "S.S. Salamanca". He poured out his heartfelt 
thanks to the millions in America who had confidence in him 
despite the treachery and machinations of his enemies and de-
tractors to present him in a false light. He assured them that 
Service to his Race was an undying passion with him; the greater 
the persecution the greater the desire to serve - "Be not dis-
mayed," said he, "Africa's sun is steadily and surely rising. and 
soon shall shed its rays around the world. I live and sh,\I die 
for Africa redeemed. Steady yourselves and go forwardl" 
As the ship slowly pulled out, there was hardly a my eye 
in that crowd, while singing prayerful1y: 
Father of all creation, 
Allah Omnipotent, 
Supreme o'er every nation, 
God bless our President 
Garvey and Garveyism 177 
----------------------------------
Guide him thro' life victorious, 
Save him from accident, 
Grant him his aims most glorious 
God bless our President. 
The tyrants' wiles shall never, 
Our homes assunder rent, 
The Red, Black and Green forever, 
God bless our President. 
One God! our firm endeavour, 
One Aim! most glorious bent, 
One Destiny! forever, 
God bless our President. 
Thus Garvey was forced to leave the shores of America, but 
Garveyism remained. 
It is difficult to portray the various emotions of an awak-
ened emerging people, but the love and devotion of Garveyites 
in the U.S.A. dominated their lives. They felt that what was 
happening to Garvey daily was aimed at them - their hopes and 
ambitions - and responded with the healing balm of loving at-
tention. The Divisions and Chapters inaugurated "Garvey Day" 
on his birthday - 17th August, and sent him presents. I who 
served him was also dear to them. When the history of Africa's 
redemption is written, let it record in full measure all the sacri-
fices they made from 1916 to the Cause, and in keeping the 
searchlight of public opinion focused on the "dark" deeds being 
done in Africa to Africans. Garveyites have never ceased to pro-
ject their dedicatory avowal: 
"Oh Africa awaken! 
The morning is at hand, 
No more art thou forsaken 
Oh bounteous Motherland. 
From far thy sons and daughters 
Are hast'ning back to thee, 
Their cry ring o'er the waters 
That Africa shall be free". 
From New Orleans the ship plowed its way down the At-
lantic and docked at Cristobal, Panama. He was not allowed 
ashore, but Garveyites secured permission to send a Delegation 
on board, where they presented him with flowers, a purse and 
an address pledging loyalty to him, and support for the Cause. 
178 Garvey and Garveyism 
He replied suitably, and for two hours they discussed the iD-
ternal affairs of the Association. 
He was transferred to the "S.S. Santa Marta", and cabled 
Jamaica the date of his arrival. From early that morning people 
started to crowd the streets from the Pier to Liherty Hall. The 
country people who had come to market their produce helped 
to swell the city crowds. They wanted to he able to say to 
their home folks, "I saw the man" - The idol of millions iD 
America, the Hope of millions in Africa, and the Fear of 
European Powers - got a welcome and ovation, never yet ac~ 
corded anyone in Jamaica. It was spontaneous, tumultuous, iD-
spiring and thrilling to the hearts of Jamaicans. Wharf labour-
ers joined the milling throng, so all formalities had to be aban-
doned as the people lifted him to a waiting car, and then pushed 
it along the streets to Liberty Hall. Thousands had gathered 
inside and outside the building, it was impossible for him to 
go in, so he had to acknowledge their welcome, standing on the 
running-board of the car, and announced that he would speak 
at the Ward Theatre the follOWing night. With great difficulty 
his car was able to feel its way through the crowd, and then 
off to the home of a member at Half-Way Tree. From there 
he prepared and sent a statement to the Press. 
The Ward Theatre meeting was crowded to overflowing, 
the Chairman was Hon. H. A. L. Simpson, Mayor of the Cor-
porate Area. Garvey thanked the people again for the orderly 
welcome on his arrival, related some of his experiences in 
America, and asked them to support the local activities. He 
announced his intention of going to Central America, after that 
to England and Europe in the furtherance of the work of the 
Organization. 
In New York I was trying to raise some more money to 
payoff the expenses incurred by the last legal effort on his 
behalf, and to finalize all other matters preparatory to joining 
tlim in Jamaica. Mr. Armin Kolm on his return from New Or-
leans, being pressed by Reporters to comment on the case as 
his Attorney gave this statement to the Associated Press: 
"In my twenty-three years of practice at the New York Bar, 
I have never handled a case in which the Defendant has been 
treated with such manifest unfairness, and with such a palpable 
attempt at persecution as this one." 
•- 
CHAPTER 31. 
He sent a message that I should bring everything m the 
flat. I phoned several packers, only two sent to look at the 
furniture and estimate the cost. They would not take the job 
as there were too many breakables to risk on a ship going on 
high seas. It was then I realized the immensity and costliness 
of the task. Here were all the books, piCtures, ceramics and 
antiques of all sorts which he had collected, that was his hobby. 
He had no recreation, as it was dangerous to go to theatres, so 
his idea of relaxation was to go around to antique shops and 
buy these old pieces. When he brought them home he would 
spend time and patience placing them in the right setting colour 
scheme and effective lighting. Sometimes other objects had to 
be removed and new positions found for them. He enjoyed 
sitting in an easy chair and contemplating the beauty of the 
setting he had created, or the. exquisite workmanship of a "Sat-
suma" from Japan, a "Delph" vase from Holland, or the de-
licacy of an egg-shell goblet. Now he wanted all these things 
to be with him. I engaged a firm of Art packers. The work 
took time, as the men had to pack all the smaII articles in cases, 
check and list them; then they were taken along with the large 
pieces of furniture to the packers warehouse and crated. They 
could not be taken to the pier until a ship for Jamaica was 
ready to sail. 
In the meantime Garvey had located a house, sent to me 
for the money to pay for same, and to get himself settled. He 
wrote again stating that I must hurry, if I could not get a book-
ing from New York I should go to New Orleans or Boston, and 
get a ship there. If I did not reach Jamaica by the 17th January 
he would be gone on a Central American tour. I could not 
leave until the furniture were on a freighter, and the bill of lad-
ing handed me by the paokers, as anything could have hap-
pened to "Garvey's things", even at the last moment, and he 
should have thought of all this. Nor did he remember the pro-
mised vacation together alone. If the last three strenuous years 
did not warrant it, then what more would? 
On arriving in Jamaica I gave him the balance of the De-
179 
180 Garvey 8Jld Garveyism 
fence Fund, and my books to be checked. He gave me back 
fifty pounds ($200) and told me to keep same in case of any 
emergency at home. A few days after a Secretary was sent 
down from the New York Office, at his request. None of the 
Consuls for the Central American Countries would vise his 
passport for entry, so he had to plan for the European trip. 
After fixing up Headquarters office at the local premises -
Liberty Hall building, - he sent for Miss Henrietta Davis, -
Assistant President·Generai - and left her in charge during his 
absence. 
The home he had bought was a three bedroom house, one 
bathroom, with the necessary outbuildings. He bought it from 
a lady whom contractors had deceived her in the construction 
and cost. There was no tile-work, and the finish was poor; yet 
the American press described it as: "a lovely mansion, next door 
to the Governor - Garvey's Black House, with liveried ser-
vants". When the furniture arrived he arranged them just 
where he wanted them. I was allowed to sort and classify the 
books, for which shelves were built. A name-plate, "Somali 
Court", was inserted in the gate columns. 
In April we sailed on the "S.S. Greenbrier" for England. 
His Secretary accompanied us. His attitude towards his eleven 
years of struggle in America, particularly his imprisonments, and 
alI the suffering they caused us, were brushed aside as past 
history. For, said he, "I never look back, there is no time 
for that, besides it would make me cautious. How could I 
dare for the future, when the past is written with so many 
warnings?" He turned the pages of his past life as an avid 
reader turns the pages of an adventure story, and loses interest 
in the early chapters after reading them. Those who get hurt 
in the tense moments of the adventure are only regarded as 
necessary props to the build-up of the hero. He was quite as 
impersonal in !hi, regard as any reader. 
On landing in England it was difficult to secure lodgings, 
on account of the prejudices against Coloured people; after 
driving around for hours we went to the Hotel Cecil in des-
peration, and strangely we were accommodated there. ''The 
Cecil" was a swanky London Hotel where gaitered flunkeys 
bowed us in. We could only afford to stay there two days; 
however he secured rooms in a lodginghouse. Two weeks after 
he rented part of a private house in Castletown Road, West 
Kensington, and we remained there until September. 
Garvey and Garveyism 181 
He bought another typewriter, employed a white Steno-
grapher and set up an office. He busied himself contacting 
African students and seamen. For the entire period of our 
stay he did splendid work in organizing and financing the 
Underground Movement to all parts of Africa. Meetings had 
to be held privately as Seamen would lose their jobs, and 
students flunked in their examinations, or have anonymous let-
ters sent to their parents or sponsors that they were "keeping 
bad company". 
He organized Coloured people living in London, spoke in 
Hyde l'ark, sent circular letters to Members of Parliament, and 
some Church and liberal-minded secular leaders explaining his 
programme, and pointing out to them the urgency of taking an 
interest in what was causing smoldering unrest in the Colonies 
and Protectorates. After all this preliminary work, he decided 
to hold a big meeting, so as to crystallize individual interest for 
action. He used names and addresses in the telephone book to 
send out invitations, and nothing was left undone to acquaint 
the general public of the meeting at the Royal Albert Hall on 
June 6, 1928. The fifty pounds of the Defence Fund, which he 
gave me to keep, was commandeered, I had to send and draw 
it from the Bank. 
Garvey did not figure on the unconcerned attitude of the 
average English person to what goes on in the far-flung Empire. 
They were too phlegmatic, even to be curious. In their opinion 
it was the "Higher-ups" who benefited from the wealth of 
Asia and Africa, therefore unrest and riots in these places were 
not their concern. The only way to rouse their interest was 
to make them feel it, as Gandhi did when he influenced In-
dians to stop buying and wearing foreign manufacture'; ~loth 
and clothes; they even used hand looms to weave their own 
cloth. This Pacifists campaign brought the textile industries of 
Lancashire and Yorkshire almost to a standstill. Thousands of 
workers were unemployed, then they became aware of the suf-
fering of the Indians, because they felt the repercussion right 
down to their empty stomachs. They were forced to form 
Grievance Committees, to "have something done about it". 
'fhjs traditional indifferent attitude caused only a few people 
to attend the meeting, although a high-class Musical programme 
was advertised. He brought over Miss Ethel Clarke, Soprano, 
and E. B. Knox, Speaker from America. At the organ was 
Edgar Pito, Reginald Forsythe accompanied Miss Clarke, Meny's 
G.C.-I! 
182 Ganey and Garveyism 
Band rendered selections, and Dr. Charles Garnett, M.A., was 
Chairman. He did not seem discouraged; he felt that he had 
made the mistake of over-rating their humanity, but it gave 
him greater concern about the outcome of his work, and the 
need for greater silent penetrating forces to be effective. He 
had the programme and speeches printed in pamphlet form, 
and sold to the members abroad. 
Most of the wives of the male members of the LondoD 
Branch were English, but very helpful in the work. As only 
persons of African descent can become registered members of 
the Organization, and take part in its internal discussions, so an 
Auxiliary was formed for them, as they were sincere in their 
uplift work, so as to enhance the standing of the men whom 
they had chosen to marry. 
In August we went to Europe, crossing the English Chan-
nel we landed at Dieppe, and entrained for Paris. There, we 
were taken around by officers and members of the local "Comte 
de Defense de La Race Negre"; and our knowledge brought up 
to date on happenings in the French Colonies. He planned 
future joint action. I recall an amusing little episode while 
there: A Frenchman joined our table one evening, he had 
visited Montreal, Boston and New York; with his broken Eng-
lish, and my Schoolgirl French, we seemed to have carried on 
the conversation as a team, exchanging information about Pro-
vincial France and America's Southland. When the Frenchman 
rose to go, he asked Monsieur, if he would be so kind as to 
permit him to return to converse with Mademoiselle another 
time. The embarrassed Frenchman was told in these short curt 
words, "she is my wife". Later on a peeved spouse said, "Why 
don't you put on some weight? You are so frail." How could 
I? 
He and his Secretary returned to London for the week-end 
to attend to incoming correspondence. On their return they 
went to Geneva, to lobby at the League of Nations. He had 
not sufficient money to take me. From Paris, we went 
through Belgium, on to Berlin for two days, then to Hamburg, 
where Mr. Massoquoi - the Liberian Consul General - was 
kind and helpful. I was left there for a few days to enable 
them to return to London and send money for my passage. By 
being Jeft in Paris and Hamburg. I was better able to walk 
around the streets, and get a close-up of the people as they 
lived. While viewing them and their respective countries as 
183 
, 
tourists usually do, yet their lives to us had a deeper significance, 
because they were the people who made up the Colonial Powers, 
who had joined others in partitioning Africa to buttress their 
economy. 
In Paris, we visited the Louvre, Pantheon, Notre Dame 
Cathedral on the Seine; we went to historic Versailles, Belleau 
Woods which was a gaunt reminder of the havoc wrought by 
the German invaders. In Belgium we saw a replica of the 
Battle of Waterloo, Flanders Fields of poppies red, and this 
question challenged our utterance, was all this slaughter and 
destruction in vain? 
Germany was the defeated nation, her Colonies were taken 
from her; yet comparing her to France, the fonner had made 
the greater recovery, because her people are disciplined, regi-
mented and scientifically trained. While the French - lOving 
and lovable - lacked the virility and stamina of their neigh-
bours; hence their birth-rate was much lower. They depended 
On Colonials as cannon-fodder in war-time. 
American goodwill aid had rebuilt many historical places 
in France, and American tourists provided a great revenue in 
Paris and Southern France. 'rhe Germans had not only staged 
a come-back, but were looking forward to another war of con-
quest; the spirit and minds of the people were geared for it, 
also their industries. Glider schools experimented with the 
most advanced machines in the air; even the toy factories pro-
duced small-scale models of the most revolutionary types of 
ships, trains and guns. Germany was thumbing a laugh at the 
Allies, who had disarmed her, but never the scientific minds 
of her people. France discovered years later that it takes more 
than the will of a people to rebuild broken fortresses in a 
modem, progressive world. 
In September he conducted several meetings in England, 
the last one was held at Century Theatre, Westboume Grove, 
London. They were well attended, as the members made 
house-to-house contact with circulars; the musical items were 
of a high standard. 
End of September, we left England on the "S.8. Empress 
of Scodand". Among the passengers was Hon. McKenzie King, 
he was courteous on the promenade deck. On landing at Mon-
treal eac!J. of us received from the Immigration Official a Visi-
tor's blue landing card. As he could not go to the U.S.A. to 
he sent me to deputize for him. The itinerary allowed 
184 Garvey aud Garveyism 
no rest, except on mid-night trains. After I left he was arrested 
for "illegal entry", even although he showed the arresting of-
ficers his landing card duly Signed and stamped. The Branch 
officers had to get a lawyer; they sent a telegram to Canada's 
Prime Minister, but Garvey was not released until the next 
day. The only explanation he got was that a mistake had been 
made. But rumour had it that, as the Presidential election cam-
paign was coming to a close the Republicans did not want 
him to speak for fear his speech would infl uence the voting 
Garveyites, over the border. The newspapers had a big scoop 
with headlines such as: "Canadian government bags Garvey, 
Garvey caught entering Canada, Garvey in jail again". 
He wired me at two different points for money, I sent him 
through Western Union a total of $800, practically every cent 
I had raised at paid meetings, after paying all expenses, and 
giving the Branches a percentage. He mailed me a second 
class ticket for Bermuda, stating that was the only accommo-
dation available for that date. He sent a similar ticket to his 
Secretary who was on vacation with relatives in Buffalo. On 
board ship his Secretary had enough money on her to pay extra 
for first class accommodation. When I met him and remarked 
on it, he said, "well, if it was the other way about, I would get 
some more nasty headlines in American newspapers", 
The voyage down from Montreal was a rough and stormy 
one. He was glad when the ship docked at Hamilton, only to 
see soldiers and policemen guarding the entrances to the pier, 
and who told him that he could not land. I had to speak for 
him that night. The authorities did not want him to see, and 
speak on the awful repressive measures under which Negroes 
lived; it was just like the South, although a British Colony. Phy-
sically it is made up of islets of coral formation; the top soil 
has not much depth, so the people grow surface plants such as 
Wies and onions. They depend on the Tourist Trade for ex-
istence, that is why they cater to all the prejudices of South-
erners. I wrote two articles for the Negro World on conditions 
there. We went on to the Bahamas - a group of small Islands 
and Cays. The chief town being Nassau, where similar con-
ditions prevail. He was a\lowed to land, and courteously treat-
ed by officials. This was our last stop before returning to Ja-
maICa. 
When his life insurance premium became due, he could 
not pay it, as the exchange on the dollar was so high. He sent 
Garvey and Garveyism · 185 
to cancel the policy, but did not let me know until the Bank 
in Jamaica refused to release the amount of the sWTender value, 
without my personal attendance to sign for same. I asked 
him to allow me to put aside a portion of the money, but he 
said, "this is not enough for me to buy a printing press, and 
secure a place on Cross Roads for office and meetings." In 
March 1929 he started publication of the weekly "Blackman", 
which continued until 1931. 
He never had a car while in the United States, because 
our flat was not far from the office, and he said, "as a boy 
I was accustomed to long walks, it keeps me fit." In early 1929 
the American Garveyites sent him a second-hand Buick car; 
when this car's engine became worn, they sent him a used 
Hudson. He never learned to drive, as he was always too pre-
occupied with his thoughts to watch the road. At the time of 
his arrest on the income tax charge, he asked permission to 
phone me at home. He took up the receiver and completely 
forgot our home number. The guards guffawed at him, also 
the reporters - some of whom were always tipped off to be on 
hand when the law enmeshed him - to them it was so funny. 
He sent for another Secretary from the New York Office, 
got a house near us, furnished it, and housed them. His sister 
was installed to look after them; her husband had died. He 
paid them American rate of wages, even the car they had at 
their disposal. After a year's employment, he sent them on 
vacation to America. In 1931 when we at home were suffer-
ing great deprivations, and he was being pressed to meet Or-
ganization's bills, I suggested to him that some retrenchment 
should be made where they were concerned. He calmly and 
deliberately said, "These girls are Americans. It is from America 
that I get most of the money for my work. They are strangers 
here, I have got to make them happy, or they won't stay. That 
is why I give them presents, and take them for outings. This 
encourages them to work cheerfully, and to be loyal to me. 
"Suppose one or both of those girls wrote home that they 
were neglected and unhappy. Such a letter might be taken 
to a newspaper office and hot off the press would come news 
made up in evil fertile brains to the effect that Garvey had 
these girls in his "Monkey-Island" under appalling conditions, 
that the Garveyites should stop sending him money, and get 
the girls back to "God's country". You know these newspaper 
men would never publish a denial from the girls. Sometimes 
186 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
I like what I do, other times I hate like hell to do the things 
I have to; but in my work, I must get the best use out of every 
human being with whom I come in contact, I thought you rea-
lized this long ago". 
Perfume helped his concentration, and it was for this pur-
pose alone that he used it. His favourite scent was "Quelque 
fleurs", possibly because it reminded him of a tropical garden. 
He usually carried an extra kerchief wet with this perfume. In 
case he had to speak, he cupped it in his hand and inhaled it; 
with half closed eyes he remained until called on to speak, then 
he was ready. 
My hair let down, thrilled him. It was long and naturally 
wavy, he asked me never to cut it The first time he saw it 
down, curiously he felt some strands and said, "why it is soft", 
as I tossed my head, he exclaimed, "Oh, but it is so live". 
When he was angry with me, - usually over some almost 
impossible task he set me to do in a hurry - then, he would 
sulk; soon however, some new worries at the office or elsewhere, 
would send him back home like a hurt child to be humoured 
and comforted. 
The sea had a stimulating effect on him. From the deck 
of a ship, by the shore, or in retrospect, he loved it. They both 
demonstrated similar natures - quiet, if undisturbed, but as the 
placid sea becomes tempestuous with the interfering winds, 
so did Garvey with his opponents . 
• 
• 
CHAPTER 32. 
A pen picture of happenings in Africa at this period, ap-
peared in the "Gold Coast Times". The article was reproduced 
in the Negro World, December 17, 1921. In closing, the Editor 
warned, that "Sahib" admJnistration, and misrule ultimately 
causes the fall of Empires. He wrote: 
"The black race has never wronged the white race in the 
long contact between these two branches of the human family, 
while the former can bring an indictment against the latter with 
such counts as the slave trade, land expropriation, punitive ex-
peditions involVing the massacre in cold blood of defenceless 
tribes, and the liquor traffic which will weigh heavily against 
Europeans in the balances of eternal justice. The black man has 
borne \vith fortitude the trial and burdens which the white man 
crossed the seas to impose upon him; but the worm is turning, 
and there is a mental revolt against the alien yoke, which calls 
for repentance and reformation on the part of the white man, 
if a serious clash of color is to be avoided in the future ... 
"Lord M",ton in the London Sunday Times, deals with the 
matter from a different angle. The writer believes that the white 
man in Africa has reached the second and the most difficult 
stage in his relations with the backward races. In his view 
the Britisher shone in the earlier stage when order had to be 
restored . . . But in the second stage, after order has been re-
stored and such influences as commercial exploitation had re-
placed paternal rule, the native is forced to make 'the acquaint-
ance of a different type of Englishman, whom he neither likes 
nor respects.' This second stage he describes as difficult enough 
in any circumstances; but when on top of this the white man 
begins to dispossess the native of his land, to demolish his an-
cestral customs, and to drive him to want and distress, it 
is but natural that resentment and racial bitterness should be 
the result. Dealing with a different aspect of the same subject, 
General Smuts of South Africa, remarked the other day that 
'native opinion is largely in revolt and the natives are seething 
with discontent allover Africa'. 
"There has been change in the character of colonial ad-
187 
188 Garvey and Garveyism 
ministration since the early period ... The idea of developing 
the Dependencies inhabited by the darker races for the pur-
pose of bringing wealth to the British people and of relieving 
unemployment in England now dominates Colonial policy to 
such a degree as to obscure the vision of administrators and to 
make them overlook the happiness and contentroent of the native 
populations ... 
"The right to a fair hearing and to a full measure of justice 
is now practically denied to the natives when they have oc-
casion to appeal from what they conceive to be injustice at 
the hands of Colonial Administrators to the Crown as represent· 
ed by the Colonial Minister. A few years ago a native depu-
tation from South Africa with a real grievance was turned away, 
for the simple reason that the aggressive party was the South 
African government, over whose policies the Imperial authori· 
ties seem to have lost all control. In West Africa the new 
policy is to trust the man on the spot implicitly for the sake 
of maintaining official prestige, even if it involves the denial 
of justice ... 
"History supplies several instances shOwing that the dis-
ruption of Empires has often followed the delegation of wide 
powers to satraps ill outlying possessions to run the show in 
t1,eir own way. It is morally certain that if the ultimate author· 
ities in Germany had before the war taken steps to restrain the 
excesses of their Colonial Administrators and to provide for 
better government of the natives, the sympathy of the natives 
would not have been alienated to such an extent as to induce 
them to desert the Germans on the approach of the Allied troops. 
The lesson which the Germans derived from their experience 
during the war ought not to be lost upon other Colonial powers." 
The reflections of the Coloured press, after Garvey's de-
portation from America conceded vic tory for Garveyism. "Op-
portunity" magazine in its January 1928 issue opined: 
"Garvey was sent to prison on the tecbnical charge of using 
themailstodefraud.acircumstance with but slight relationship 
to the important facts of his activities, and by a legal convic-
tion which did not destroy that influence which seems to be 
uncommonly irritating to the authorities of several governments. 
including his own. No one dismisses his name now three years 
after his conviction as that of a mere criminal and exploiter nf 
ignorant Negroes. It would be worth the inquiry to leam why 
this lone black figure, bumptious and flamboyant as he is, can 
Garvey and Garveyism 189 
call forth in such concert the interests of those governments with 
black subjects, in protecting them from his doctrine ... 
"Garvey, we fear, is more the symbol of a peculiar mood in 
Negroes than inspirer of it. He has succeeded in articulating 
some of the long crushed and unformed desires of the black 
masses, and he has done it with the usual glamor and arrogance 
of mass leaders. Only by considering these desires and their 
possible embarrassment to those governments with interests into 
which they cannot comfortably fit, does Garvey and what he 
represents become dangerous. It was as right as it was legal 
to send him to prison; but this neither touched the movement 
which bears his name, nor the mood of the least advantaged of 
his suppressed peoples the world over, of which this movement 
is an expression. It 
The "Chicago Whip" admitted that Garvey demonstrated 
to the world that Coloured peoples could follow their own 
leadership: 
"Marcus Garvey demonstrated to the whole world that the 
colored people of America and the black people of the world can 
organize. Under the mighty banner of the red and green and 
black, almost three million people joined his ranks, captured by 
a program which appealed both to their heads and their hearts. 
This vast army with one aim and one idea proved to the Nordic 
people that the colored people were not to be forever split up 
and incapable of follOwing one leadership." 
R. A. Martin of Cuba, in a letter to the Negro World, Octo-
ber 25, 1930 viewed Garvey's work in history's perspective, 
when he stated: 
"History supplies us with many instances where all great 
Movements and reforms require great length of time to be made 
an accomplished fact. Yet we find Negroes, and what is worst, 
not the ignorant Negroes either, expect Marcus Garvey to have 
driven out England, Spain, France, Belgium and other power-
ful nations out of Africa overnight, and established an inde-
pendent government, where these so-called big Negroes could 
go and <it in their big offices as Presidents, Senators, Congress-
men, Governors of states and other exalted poSitions; and be-
cause such did not, and could not happen within such period, 
they all to a man, who was placed in the highest position of 
trust in the U.N.l.A. began to steal and explOit the very people 
that they had sWOrn to lead and protect. Not one of these 
men, away from Marcus Garvey, has even given one year of 
G.G.-16 
190 Garvey and Garveylsm 
loyal and honest service to the caUSe that they had sworn so 
much to protect, even to the extent of their very lives. 
"Negroes must remember that there is no short cut to 
fame, success and independence, he will have to go the whole 
way as all the other sub-races of the human family went in 
achieving power and honor." 
Rev. R. R. Porter, writing in the Negro World, November 
22, 1930, described true Garveyism as symptomatic of a Re-
ligion. He stated: 
"I do not know whether or not Marcus Carvey is aware 
of the fact that he has given the world a new religion; never-
theless he has ... Just as Jesus and Guatama have been mis-
understood, the same holds true of the founder of Garveyism. 
The early Buddhists misrepresented things to win converts; the 
early Christians did so for the sake of sensation, the Moham-
medans did likewise to outwin Judaism, Mazdaism and Chris-
tianity; and many of the present day followers of Garveyism 
are misrepresenting true Garveyism, simply because they do not 
know of its sublimity, and those who openly oppose it for no 
other reason than that they do not hold its founder to be a 
sublime person, should remember this: It is not always through 
sublime persons that great things come into life ... 
"To me true Garveyism is a religion, which is sane, prac-
tical, inspiring and satisfying; it is of God, hence a devout Gar-
veyite cannot deny the existence of God; but sees God in you, 
I and the world. He knows God because he is a part of God, 
and is assisting in the making of the Kingdom of God on earth. 
He respects all religious beliefs, yet he holds fast to that which 
he believes is best - Garveyism. He regards the rights of 
others; and obeys the laws of the land where he resides, being 
mindful of the fact that once he is true to himself, others, and 
his religion - through the right understanding of the One God, 
One Aim, One Destiny, - he, too shall enjoy life, and live 
abundantly in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and that Africa 
shall once more become the land of the Good, Strong and Wise." 
In May, 1928, students at Howard University, in a debate 
differentiated between "The Man" and "The Movement", and 
unanimously agreed as follows: 
"Washington D.C. - In a debate that was filled with elo-
quence and intelligent discussion of the Negro Problem, students 
of political science at Howard University, unanimously agleed 
that Garveyism was the solution of the international problem 
Garvey and Garveyism 191 
of the Negro ... The Debators on the affinnative cited historical 
facts to show that RACE has been a decisive factor in the poli-
tical life of man; that the Negro had been ridiculed and made 
an object of contempt, due to his not building a state of his 
own. Garvey's philosophy was distinguished from the man Gar-
vey; one of the debators adding that Garvey was temporal, but 
Garveyism was eternal." 
• 
CHAPTER 33. 
The Sixth Convention was held in Jamaica, B.W.I., August, 
1929. From the parade to the Sessions were a replica of the 
pageantry and serious discussions of the American conclaves. 
The fifth one convened during his imprisonment, only to trans-
act urgent Organization's business. From January extensive 
world-wide advertising was done: "All Negro Institutions, Or-
ganizations, Churches, Societies, Lodges, and peaceful law-abid-
ing, legitimate and constitutional Movements in the world were 
asked to send Delegates to this world Convention." 
The following are most of the items on the agenda, which 
were deliberated on: 
1. The political and social freedom of the entire Negro Race. 
2. The presentation of evidence to the League of Nations for 
an adjustment of the international problems. 
3. The founding of three Negro Universities, with Technical 
Colleges attached, in America, the West Indies and West 
Africa. 
4. The creating of general economic opportunities in agricul-
ture, industry and commerce for the Race, whereby a brisk 
and proper trade relationship may develop between the 
three Units. 
5. The acquiring and controlling of agricultural lands for the 
scientific development of agriculture, and also the establish-
ment of factories and industrial institutions in various Negro 
Communities to guarantee permanent employment to the 
people of the three areas. 
6. The launching of a new line of steamships to facjlitate 
trade and commerce throughout the world. 
7. To establish Embassies in the Capitals of the world, to re-
present the interests of the Race, and to watch and protect 
their rights. 
8. To establish newspapers in the Capital cities of the world, 
in order to shape sentiment in favour of the Race." 
Whatever Garvey planned was in terms of the future - a 
goal for others to work toward, and expansive enough to re-
quire many leaders. He consistently gave them the ultimate 
192 
Garvey and Garveyism 193 
in planning. These proposed sweeping changes were part of 
a ten-year plan, which, even if partially executed, would have 
far-reaching effects on the status of our people, and upset the 
established order that limited their ambitions. For this, and 
other reasons, we find those controlling forces using our people 
to repeat in Jamaica, the work of destruction they carried out 
in the U.S.A. 
Among the former Officers of the Organization who had 
connived among themselves and secured default judgments dur-
ing Garvey's imprisonment was G. O. Marke - the first Deputy 
Potentate. All these men had the same Lawyer, introduced 
to them by Amos - Special Investigator of the Department of 
Justice. By arrangements the plaintiffs only received a part 
of the moneys so obtained. 
In 1929 Marke - who sued the U.N.LA. Inc., later than 
the others - through his New York Attorney, retained Mr. J. H. 
Cargill, Solicitor of Jamaica, who applied to the Supreme Court 
to enforce the New York judgment of £7,527 ($30,000) against 
the Jamaica U.N.I.A., its properties and assets. The matter 
came up before the Chief Justice, Sir Fiennes Barrett Leonard, 
who had previously served i'n the judiciary in Africa. Garvey 
obtained affidavits from officers of the Parent Body in New 
York, and explained to the Court the position of the various 
units called U.N.LA. The original incorporated Body from 
1926 was not under his control. Since then there was an in-
corporated Parent Body, the Kingston Division, which owned 
Liberty Hall - 76 King Street, - a Chapter in Rollington Town, 
which had paid down on an unfinished building, the St. Andrew 
Division. These were under the unincorporated Parent Body, 
whose Trustee and Trustees had contracted to purchase "Edel-
weis Park", also held in trust movable assets such as: Restau-
rant equipment, soda fountain, frigidaire, six typewriters, office 
furniture, printing machinery etc. The Kingston Division's hall 
was bought by the poor members years before Garvey returned 
to Jamaica. They had accumulated this money by contribu-
tions and entertainments, this was common knowledge. Now 
the vicious and rapacious hand had stretched across the Atlantic 
Ocean to seize from them what they had taken years to acquire. 
Garvey retained Solicitors and Barristers for each Unit, and 
did all he could in tlle Court to protect the people's assets. 
He was tried for contempt - not producing in Court books of 
tlle Saint Andrew Division, yet he was not an officer of that 
194 Garvey and Garveyism 
or any other local branch; so did not handle or have in his p0s-
session or keeping their books. He was fined twenty-five 
pounds on the 30th July, 1929. The Chief Justice ruled that 
in his opinion, there was no difference between the Incorporated 
New York Body, the unincorporated Parent Body, and the Ja-
maica Divisions; therefore he ordered the sale of all properties 
and assets held by these Units or their Trustee or Trustees. 
The Chief Justice refused to stay the sales pending the ap-
peal. A crippling financial blow to the Organization, besides 
legal expenses for each Unit to have their appeal argued in 
Court. Mr. Lewis Ashenheim - of the firm of Milholland, 
Ashenheim and Stone - Solicitor appearing on behalf of Gar-
vey, wrote a letter to the Administrator General and the Court's 
Bailiff, informing and warning them that the matt~rs, involving 
the sale of Liberty Hall and other assets of the U .N.I.A. were 
on appeal. For this he was tried for Contempt of Court and 
fin ed three hundred pounds by the Chief Justice. 
In December, 1930, before their Honours Justices H. I. C. 
Brown, Clarke and Law, the Appeals were upheld and costs 
awarded. Bllt in the meantime Marke had died. The Execu-
trLx of his Estate claimed he had no assets to settle the orders 
made by this Court against him and his estate. Who got the 
curse money? Through the Properties Insurance Fund, the 
Government of J amaic. eventually had to settle with the King-
ston Division for their Liberty Hall 
In Jamaica, 1929, there were no political parties. The elected 
members of ti,e Legislative Council were Independents - in-
dependent in views and in pocket - who were not paid to 
serve, and were elected by the votes of persons who had either 
property or salary qualifications. The poorest in the Island, 
therefore, were unrepresented as far as their real personal needs 
were concerned, and suffered under class representation. It was 
ti,e general opinion of the "Higher-ups" tllat the poor man, 
having "nothing at stake", had notlling to protect. Black men 
who had risen to positions of prominence and affluence, had 
done so by individual efforts, in spite of economic handicaps. 
They were the privileged few, and would not jeopardize their 
positions by any joint attempt to lift up "dead-weight", mean-
ing the masses. 
The birth-rate increased with unemployment, as idleness 
encourages cl1ild production. Despite infant mortality the 
population pressure, not finding outlet abroad, would at some 
Garvey and Garveyism 195 
time, let off steam. The grocery trade - wholesale and retail 
- were in the hands of Chinese, whose ancestors came to the 
Island as indentured labourers. Now their offspring were the 
Traders. The Syrians and Lebanese practically monopolized the 
clothing and shoe trades. Thus money that had to be spent to 
buy the barest necessities of life went into the pockets of alien 
traders. 
The educational system of the Island, and for that matter 
all the other British \Vest Indian Colonies, was not geared to 
the ambitions of the young generation, and the needs of the 
times; hence there was only one Technical School, no Poly-
technic, and no University in the entire Area. The High Schools 
were mostly concentrated in tl,e Corporate Area - Kingston and 
St Andrew Parishes. These Schools prepared students for 
Junior, Senior and Higher Schools Examinations, on question 
papers sent by Cambridge University, which in tum received 
the Students' answers for correction and rating. Therefore poor 
people in most of the Parishes with intelligent children, who 
could not afford to board them at, or near the High Schools, 
were denied higher education. However, Elementary School 
Teachers, Lay Readers and Ministers, who were dedicated to 
the advancement of the children, gave private lessons in High 
School subjects. 
Twenty years after this time, when the Colonial Office found 
it expedient to relieve the over-crowding at their Universities, 
by establishing one in the West Indies, many "Better class" 
people opposed it. Some said, "it will cheapen University edu-
cation", which they still considered the privilege of their class. 
All these, and oilier adverse conditions created the urgency 
for reforms; although it was not Garvey's intention on his ar-
rival to go into local politics, now he felt impelled, and added 
this to his already burdensome duties. Himself and his eol-
leagues formed the Peoples' Political Party, with a programme 
of reforms toward cl1anging the bad conditions under which 
the masses laboured. In a Municipal Bye-election their candi-
date, J. Coleman Beecher, was successful. Later Messrs. Sher-
wood and Wilks were elected to the Kingston and St. Andrew 
Corporation. The next candidate they sponsored was Rev. Dr. 
Veitcl1, who won a seat in the Legislative Council. 
An election to fill vacancies in the Legislative Council was 
coming up in January 1930, so ilie Party officers and himself 
196 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
drew up a Manifesto. The following are the fourteen pl-nb 
of his platfonn: 
1. To secure representation in the Imperial Parliament for a 
larger modicum of self-government for Jamaica. 
2. Protection of Native labour. 
3. A minimum wage for the labouring and working classes of 
the Island. 
4. The expansion and improvement of Town and urban areas, 
without the encumbrances or restraint of private proprietor-
shLp. 
5. Land refonn, and All-Island Water Board, to secure domes-
tic, irrigation and industrial supplies. 
6. The compulsory improvement of Urban areas from which 
large profits are made by Trusts, Corporations, Combines 
and Companies. 
7. A law to facilitate the promotion of Native industries. 
8. A Jamaica University and Polytechnic. 
9. A National Opera House. 
10. A law to impeach and imprison Judges who, with disregard 
for British justice, and Constitutional rights, dealt unfairly. 
11. The creation, by law, of a Legal Aid Department to render 
advice and protection to such persons who may not be able 
to have themselves properly represented and protected in 
Courts of Law. 
12. A law for the imprisonment of any person, who by duress 
or undue influence would force another person to vote in 
any public election against his ,viII or good judgment 
13. The granting to the Township of ~Iontego Bay and Port 
Antonio the Corporate rights of Cities. 
14. The beautifying and creation of the Kingston Race Course 
into a National Park, similar to Hyde Park in London. 
As leader of the Party he spoke at Cross Roads Square on 
the 10th September, 1929, to open the campaign, and presented 
their Manifesto; he elaborated on all proposed refonns. After 
this meeting he was arraigned in Court on a second contempt 
charge, the basis of which was the tenth plank of the Manifesto 
- regarding the impeaclunent of Judges ... Garvey felt that 
Judges are placed on the Bench to administer, by due process 
of law, the systems prevailing in their particular country, but 
they are not robots, just human beings. 
He was tried before three Judges of the Supreme Court, 
Garvey and Garveyism 197 
the same Chief Justice presiding as in the Marke case. In the 
course of the trial Carvey endeavoured to explain to the Court 
that the "Tenth Plank" was only proposed legislation. To the 
surprise of many Lawyers, the Chief Justice interrupted him, 
and stated as follows: 
"The matter has been considered and dealt with in the 
Empire since the days of King William III of England. This is an 
Act seldom used, possibly never used, in the life of anybody 
now alive, where Governors or Judges, or high Officers, who are 
unjust to other persons may be imprisoned. You will find that 
law in the books, though you ,,~ll see no illustration of its use, 
at any rate of many years." 
Garvey had to plead in his own defence, as the funds of 
the Organization were exhausted with the Marke case. The 
Chief Justice ordered him imprisoned for three months, and 
imposed a fine of one hundred pounds ($400). Justice Law 
concurred, but Justice Clarke said he was unable to agree, in 
regard to the penalty, and in his written judgment he stated: 
'It is immaterial whether the words were used as the result 
of spleen on the part of an "nsuccessful litigant; whether they 
were used as a mere device to further a political candidature, 
or with any other purpose or intent. A man who, like the re-
spondent, claims to be leader of any section of His Majesty's 
subjects should understand the broad principles of public wel-
fare which are involved. 
"The Courts are the King's Courts, administering the King's 
justice, and an insult to the Courts is an insult to the Crown 
itself ... 
"Now, in cases of this sort, the Court takes action, not to 
revenge any offence to its dignity, but rather to protect its use-
fulness as a public safeguard; and if Mr. Garvey let it be known 
that he Sincerely and fully retracts what he said, the principal 
aim of this kind of procedure has been achieved. 
"Had Mr. Garvey not taken this step, I should myself have 
had not the slightest hesitation in concurring in the imposition 
of a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months. 
"In the circumstances, although punishment is clearly 
essential, I do not think that a definite sentence of imprison-
ment is necessary. The Courts possess such stability and such 
great power, that they can well afford to be generous to offend-
ers of this class. 1 am sure that there is, in fact, never any 
vindictiveness in their sentence, but it is essential not only that 
G.G.-t7 
198 Garvey and Garveyiom 
they should actually do justice, but that they should also appear 
to do so with all possible mercy." 
Soon after the Chief Justice had sentenced Garvey to pri-
son, he left for England on account of ill-health, and died there 
later. 
CHAPTER 34. 
As a "First Class Misdemeanant" at Spanish Town prison 
the only punishment was confinement. I arranged with the 
Proprietress of a lodging house nearby to look after his laundry, 
and send in all his meals. At one of my regular visits to him, 
he said that the mortgagee threatened to foreclose on "Edelweis 
Park", and further stated: "I am powerless to help, being here; 
you are the only person who can save the situation, by mortgag-
ing the home, and giving a bill of sale on the furniture. I have 
arranged with the Trustees for you to take over "Edelweis 
Park" in your name, in order to protect your interest. Papers 
will be drawn up to the effect that whenever they are able to 
pay you off, you will transfer the property to them. In the 
meantime they are to pay future expenses on the place." I ac-
ceded to his wish. The interest on the transaction was at the 
high rate of 8 per cent., as we were being cornered. 
On his release from prison, Garvey had only a few weeks 
in which to campaign; his opponents had taken full advantage 
of his imprisonment. The white candidate - Seymour, - who 
opposed him, got a black man who had a Drug Store at Cross 
Roads as his Manager, he was so personal and hateful that 
many persons thought he was the candidate. Voters were in-
timidated and told that if they voted for "Garvey's Party", their 
names would be "taken by Government". However, Garvey 
felt that his Party's Manifesto of reforms for the people's bene-
fit would sell itself to the Voters, as against Independents who 
had no programmes; so he left his St. Andrew Parish, and spent 
the last week helping the other candidates of his Party. 
It is strange how gullible people can be especially when 
their emotions are at the highest pitch, which was the case dur-
ing this election campaign. We had a wooden statue of an 
African woman holding a light in her upturned hand, which 
was kept on our open verandah, and lit at nights, when he 
came home he turned off the light. One night a black sedan 
car drove in and took it away. A new gardener, who was sit-
ting on the road bank with his cronies, saw the car enter the 
drive-way, and thought it was the Doc!"r, as I was in my early 
199 
200 Garvey and Garveyisru 
pregnancy, and ordered to bed for six weeks. But he got sus-
picious when the car reversed out and speeded up the road. 
It was said that the reason for the kidnapping of the 
"African Lady" was that they regarded it as a fetish, which, if 
destroyed would deprive Garvey of his "African power-Obeah". 
A few weeks later the head was found in a grass common, and 
the torso in a cemetery, showing evidence of a post mortem. 
The pieces were never brought home on account of my con-
dition. The sedan car that drove the kidnappers did not be-
long to a poor ignorant man; but superstition, although derided 
and ridiculed by the intelligent people, was resorted to by them 
in desperation to "break Garvey." 
The follOWing is the gist of Garvey's campaign speeches: 
"We of the Peoples Political Party are here to ring in the 
changes. Fourteen men are wanted at this time in the Legis-
lative Council to pledge to work solidly in the interests of all 
the people. Which is the duty of every statesman so elected. 
We find such a policy in countries like Cuba, Guatemala, Spanish 
Honduras and other small countries, where a great feeling of 
national consciousness exists. Only in Jamaica there is not that 
feeling, because very few of our statesmen have any love for 
the populace. 
"The problem of unemployment must be taken up and 
dealt with and my Party will see that the Government take steps 
to raise a loan of three million pounds to develop the Crown 
lands in the parishes, thus giving employment to thousands who 
are in distress and want If the United Fruit Company can 
make millions out of bananas here, 1 do not see why the Gov-
ernment could not make millions out of a Crown Land develop-
ment scheme, which would also improve the condition of the 
people. 
"1 am not prejudiced against any class in Jamaica. 1 love 
all Jamaicans - white and black, - and all those who have 
made Jamaica the counb'y of their adoption, but all classes 
should co-operate for the common good. We want Jamaica to 
stand out as a beacon of Race tolerance and goodwill. 
"My Party will agitate for the building of modem homes 
by the Corporation on the easy payment system, as is done in 
other countries. So that the working people will be relieved of 
the high rates of interest now being charged them on mort-
gages. This will also encourage others to own homes. 
"Workers should be insured against sickness and accident 
Garvey lIDd Garveyism 201 
whilst employed. What right has the Corporation to employ 
men to blast rocks, to use dynamite or dig marl without some 
sort of protection, so that if they become incapacitated their 
families would be provided for? This is one of the first things 
we will see about if you exercise your franchise in our favour. 
"The earning capacity of workers must be increased, which 
will benefit all classes of society. In this way workers will be 
able to spend more, having earned more. No encouragement 
is being given to the Natives to foster and promote industries. 
The result is that Jamaica has grown up to be a country of con-
sumers. Out of our bye-products of agriculture we produce no-
thing. We import shoes, clothes, hats etc., when most of these 
things could be manufactured right here. Canning and tanning 
factories would be a great encouragement to the farmers in 
the country parishes, whose surplus fruit go to waste and the 
skins of their animals bring little or nothing. 
"My opponents say, I am against white and fair-skinned 
people. This is not so. I am against the class system here, 
which keeps the poor man down; and the poor are mostly black 
people. It is only natural therefore, that their interest should 
he nearest and dearest to my heart. 
"If I were a white man I would have the interest of white 
people at heart; if I were a Chinese, it would be but natural 
that I would make as much money as I could and send some of 
it to my people in China. If I were a Syrian, I would sell my 
cloth and goods at as high a price as I could get for it, and help 
my people in Syria and Lebanon. But as a man who fears the 
wrath of Almighty God, and love all humanity, I say, let us 
all join together as fellow Jamaicans and ring in the changes for 
a New Jamaica." 
Wint, the opposing candidate in St. Ann - Garvey's home 
parish - was particularly bitter and abusive; he led the fight, 
and used his influence as an Elementary School Teacher to turn 
the schools into campaign centres, and had the children sing 
his songs. The burden of his opposition to Garvey was: 
"Garvey said that the labouring man should get four shil-
lings per day, with an eight hour day. Could the smaller people 
who had to employ labour send such an impossible man to the 
Council. If Garvey wanted to go to Africa, let him go there 
by all means, but it was an insult to every Jamaican to tell him 
that his aim in life was to go back to African savagery - to 
darkest Africa, Garvey's Mecca ... Garveyism is a poisonous 
206 Garvey 8Dd Garveylsm 
was criminally responsible and sentenced him to six months. 
Notice of Appeal was given; they were granted bail. When 
the Appeal came on for hearing it was allowed. Barrister W. 
Foster Sutton, instructed by H. A. L. Simpson, Solicitor, argued 
for Garvey, and Barrister E. Campbell, M.Sc., LL.B., instructed 
by D. Evans, Solicitor for Aikman. Later on a Special Com-
mission was set up to probe the affairs of the City Council; 
on the grounds of its findings, the Body was dissolved. 
This year - 1930 - the condition of the poorest class seemed 
to have worsened. Unemployed men and women roamed the 
streets begging. In the parishes they had no money to plant 
out their little holdings; hundreds of children could not go to 
schools on one meal a day, and walk miles on emptiness. Thou-
sands of others left the Elementary Schools with no knowledge 
of earning a living, and nowhere to go to acquire technical 
training. Frustration among them had created young petty 
thieves and loafers. There was no outlet abroad for able-
bodied workers; mal-nutrition was taking its toll , but fecundity 
of the people kept apace. 
Unable to do anything for the Parishes as he was not in 
the Legislative Council, and being hampered in the Corporation 
Council in getting his Resolutions through and put into effect, 
so in June he formed "The Workers and Labourers Association", 
to see what organized effort could do on their behalf. He led 
a Deputation to the Governor, asking him to investigate the 
distressing conditions of the masses of the Island, and to use 
his influence towards remedial measures. Nonchalantly the 
Governor replied that in his opinion, there was "no unusual sol· 
fering. " 
His next move was to draw up a Petition to the King, 
through the Colonial Office, and to send copies to Labour Mem-
bers of Parliament, and other liberal-minded men and newspaper 
Editors in England. The result was the appointment of a 
Royal Commission to investigate tl,e political and economic 
conditions in the West Indies. End of September he held a 
monster meeting in Kingston at Coke Chapel steps (the outdoor 
Forum) to tell the people the good news. Mr. J. Denniston, 
Treasurer of the Workers and Labourers Association, introduced 
him. He complimented the people on their good behaviour 
during the times of provocation, strain and misery, and outlined 
the matters to be brought to the attention of the members of 
the Commission. 
Garvey and Garveyism 207 
One day during the latter months of my pregnancy, he 
brought home an acceptance for me to sign, so that he could 
get some money to pay pressing bills of the U.N.LA. I told 
him I could not sign same, as the house and furniture were 
mortgaged, besides I had already backed other notes for him. 
I was in no condition to be further harassed. He left and re-
turned in the evening. He repeated his request, adding the 
great urgency of the need. I was lying down, too worn out 
and disgusted for words, I shook my head in refusal. He put 
some clothes in a grip, and went over to the house where his 
sister and 1\'10 Secretaries lived. Two days after, I felt as if I 
was losing my baby, so I sent for the Doctor and my mother. 
At the end of the week, I sent the gardener and maid over to 
him for their pay. He told them he had no money; they told 
me they would stay on a week more. When he came a few 
days later, my mother opened the door for him. She did not 
scold him, only asked what happened to him. This was the 
opening for him to pour out his financial woes to her. Finally 
he said, "so you see mother, when she turned me down, I 
couldn't take it; she is all I have to depend on. I just had to 
go away, tell her for me". He returned at night with his grip, 
but we never discussed the incident. 
On the 17th September, 1930, our first son was born at 
home. The Maternity Nurse in attendance telephoned him the 
news. He came to see what the baby looked like, beamed 
all over his face, and returned to the office, like most proud 
fathers, to say, "I have a son". He inserted an announcement 
in the newspapers of the birth of Marcus, Junior. 
He arranged for, and attended the christening at St. Luke's 
Anglican Church. After that we received a letter from a 
Branch in Liddes, Evaton, South Africa, wishing the child God's 
blessing, and stating that he should have an African name. 
Call him "Tsepo Musi". Musi means Ruler, Tsepo, hope to be 
free. Out of the presents of money I received for the baby, I 
bought a Holstein cow heavy in calf. When I told him, he 
said, "Why did you? a cow is hard to handle." But, said I, 
"you can't borrow a cow". Afterwards I discovered, by tracing 
a registered letter addressed to me, that he had instructed the 
Post Mistress to hand to his Secretary all my registered letters. 
How much of Juniors gift money he got and used for the Or-
ganization's work, I never knew. 
When the cow calved, and was going dry, I sold her, and 
204 Guvey aDd Guveyism 
recovering from tbat brutal wound, be stands before the bar of 
public opinion, facing the charges of his traducers, those of 
us who can, must help, and those of us who cannot, must weep. 
"But the mournful dirge of the Peoples Political Party, not 
of Garveyism, will not be sung in this generation, nor in the 
next. It shall synchronize only with the passage of time into 
eternity. Both causes are immortal, and must survive all human, 
material barriers and iropositions. Marcus Garvey has secured 
a wider niche in the hall of fame". 
It would not have been difficult for Garvey to get the 
U.N.I.A. branches in the French and British Territories of the 
West Indies and Haiti to organize the Peoples Political Party 
in all these Units, if he had succeeded in Jamaica, this was his 
rum. 
The ground work of the political emergence of a people 
must be preceded by clearing away the brambles of uncertainty 
and doubt in their minds as workers, as to their origin and 
status; therefore Race.pride is necessary to strengthen, and give 
impetus to voluntary and involuntary speeding up of the con-
struction of political freedom. In the long run those who now 
decry us as Racists, will become proud of the Negro blood in 
their veins, when the foundation of racial uplift produce the 
superstructure of political freedom. When that time comes. 
they will say to the world, "look what we have done." 
CHAPTER 35. 
In October, 1929, Garvey was elected as a Councillor to 
the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation. Owing to his three 
months imprisonment, he was prevented from taking the Oath 
of Office and functioning as a Councillor. From the prison 
he applied for leave of absence, but was refused same by a 
majority vote of one of his colleagues. The Solicitor for the 
Corporation advised that it was discretionary. On his release 
from prison, he was allowed to subscribe to the Oath of Office, 
and took his seat. He attended three meetings of the Council; 
to his surprise his seat was declared vacant alleging a non-at-
tendance at three consecutive meetings. A Bye-election was 
ordered. He petitioned the Governor, asking for the Attorney 
General's ruling on the matter. He got no action. During the 
early campaign, February, 1930, others opposed him, but on 
Nomination Day he was returned unopposed. 
Arising out of the underhand tactics used to keep him out 
of the Council, an article was written in the "Blackman", in 
which it stated in part: "The Corporation is entirely opposed 
to the welfare of the country ... The Government is also bereft 
of common decency, not to say, dignity, and common sense. It 
is true our faith in the local administration of affairs is being 
sorely tried; perhaps we should not be, but our confidence in 
British fair play is not upheld by the manifestations we behold 
from day to day". 
Garvey, T. Aikman and Coleman Beecher were brought 
before the Court for criminal libel against His Majesty'S Gov-
ernment in Jamaica. In his defence he explained to the Court 
that Beecher was Circulating Manager of the newspaper, and 
had nothing to do with writing articles. Aikman as Literary 
Editor wrote the editorials and articles, also the one in ques-
tion, which he, Garvey, did not see before it appeared in the 
newspaper, as he did not read over Aikman's editorials and 
articles. 
The Judge acquitted Beecher. At the end of the Trial he 
referred to Aikman as "more or less the tool of Garvey", and 
sentenced him to three months imprisonment. Garvey, he said, 
205 
________~  __________________~  ________~ G"'~--U~ ______. .. 
208 Garvey and Garveyism 
engaged a Jersey cow heavy in calf, but it was rainy season, 
and not wise to bring her down from the hills. In deep dis-
tress, one day he came home and borrowed that money. I had 
to sell the caif, and all my ducks and fowls to pay for the cow, 
as he was unable to return the amount. 
On three occasions in Jamaica he was approached and 
urged to retire from Organization work. Once by an English-
man, who was Attorney for Absentee Owners of an Estate. The 
other two occasions was by an English-born Irishman, who was 
a merchant. The contacts were at home; the last time the 
merchant came he was ill, and going to England for an oper-
ation. I phoned Edelweis Park for Garvey; in the meantime 
the gentleman asked me to remain while he talked to him, as 
my presence might help him to make a wise decision. I lis-
tened as he pointed out to him the hopeless financial position 
he was in, and pleaded with him to retire- say from ill-health. 
Said he, "you can't escape from the net around you, and we 
can't help you; see what happened to Ashenheim, although he 
was only acting in his capacity as a Lawyer. If he hadn't been, 
the consequences would have been greater. If you retire there 
are many influential people here who will back you to start 
life on your own. For your family sake give it up." 
Garvey with head down, listened intently, then he lifted 
it up and said, with feeling, "you will never know how much I 
appreciate the kindness that prompted you to speak as you have. 
Sometimes I long for peace and security, but where could I 
find it? Everywhere I went the sufferings of my people would 
haunt me, and the accusing hand of God would disturb my 
waking and sleeping hours. Nol I just can't stop." 
Between 1932-33 he continued to serve the Municipality. 
One of his most far-reaching Resolutions was: 
"Be it resolved that this Council for the purpose of carry-
ing out civic improvements, particularly involving better water 
supply, better lighting, installing of proper sewerage system, 
improvement to slum areas, building a Town Hall, erecting 
new Fire Brigade quarters, laying out recreation grounds and 
all such other works of magnitude that may be necessary as im-
provements within the Corporate Area, approach Government 
for the purpose of securing the necessary authority to float a 
local loan of five hundred thousand pounds to undertake the 
carrying out of these improvements immediately, particularly as 
a means of relieVing the present and continuing state of unem-
Garvey and Garveyism 209 
ployment and hardships among the people. Be it further re-
solved that the City Engineer be requested to prepare plans and 
estimates involving the general cost of all these improvements 
for the guidance of the Council in laying before the Govern-
ment the manner in which the amount asked for will be spent." 
In speaking on the motion, he said that "depression was 
being felt in the big cities of Europe, England and the U.S.A. 
Their Statesmen did not ignore it, in fact they dare not, so with 
initiative and planning they put into effect measures to alleviate 
same - the Dole, Relief Works, feeding of school children, Old 
Age Pensions, etc. The Legislative Council, instead of tackling 
our problems at this level, ignore it, and continue their indi-
vidual, narrow policy of getting a bridge built, a stretch of road 
repaired, or a water tank erected. Let us set them an example 
in sensible planning and make the people of Kingston and St. 
Andrew happy. 
"Some of you will ask where is the money to come from? 
It is right here in Jamaica. Just recently I read in the news-
papers that a man died and left 650,000 pounds. There are 
many planters, merchants, and business men, who have made 
their money here, and are wealthy, but alive or dead, they do 
nothing to benefit the people of their communities; they have 
no national spirit, but they could be asked to subscribe to a 
loan for development, for which they would be paid interest, 
this act would also ease their consciences." 
The opposing arguments were that such Socialist planning 
had lost the Labour Party in England an election, they did not 
intend to assume big responsibilities as they could hardly man-
age what they had in hand. Put to the vote, the motion was 
lost. It was grievous to him that Legislators in both Councils 
refused to legislate for a better Jamaica from the grass-roots up; 
but he warned them, one day these docile people will rise in 
the power of their wrath, and tear down the walls that keep 
them - "the lower classes" - low. In July, 1932, he started a 
daily evening paper - "The New Jamaican". 
While his efforts were being opposed, the question was be-
ing strongly argued in Washington, D.C. that the u.S. Govern-
ment should take over the West Indian Islands, as part payment 
for England's War Debts. But American politicians are also 
business men, who knew that the Islands, being so poor, their 
country would only be "buying trouble." A Senator, in oppos-
ing the proposal said "why should we relieve England of those 
210 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
alms houses by paying for them; then more good American dol-
lars would have to be dumped down there to make them work-
ing units, it is better to have our "bad debts." 
When England's Elder Statesman, in referring to the Colo-
nies said, "what we have we hold", Garvey's opinion in this 
regard was, "what you have for years been squeezing in your 
grasping hand, will, one day get so warm and vigorous, that 
you will be forced to hand it to a younger Empire-holder. But 
when he gets it, he will realize that it is too dangerous for his 
grasp, and with traditional English diplomacy, he will ease it 
down beside him, and say, "let us walk together as partners." 
The night of the 15th, and until dawn of the 16th August, 
1933, Jamaica experienced a cloud-burst - torrential rains, ac-
compained by high winds and fork lightning. Homes were 
washed away, lives lost, fields flooded; fallen fruits blanketed 
the ground underneath battered limbless trees, water mains 
burst, and devastation was everywhere. Angry Nature had 
added to the misery of the poor, and to the ill-convenience of 
the "better-off" people. Into this scene of confusion and dis-
tress our second son arrived that afternoon. His father named 
him Julius, after Caesar, and Winston, after Churchill. He was 
round faced and dark, resembling him. Junior called the baby 
"Chubby". He, also, was christened at St. Luke's Anglican 
Church. 
About a month after his birth, a Bailiff served me with a 
Summons for over a year's taxes due on the home. I had to 
attend Court, in order to make arrangements to pay it. My narne 
was not called until the afternoon session, during which time 
I had to suffer the indignity of waiting in the Court's corridor, 
and the discomfiture of a nursing mother. When the baby was 
about three months old I had to take him to a Doctor for vac-
cination. On the main street of the city I met an old school 
mate, whose greeting was, "I haven't seen you in ages, what 
are you doing with this little black baby?" The old concept 
of skin-colour distinction, and the idea of "raising one's colour" 
by marriage dies hard with our people. 
CHAPTER 36. 
In considering the staggering war debts of European Nations 
to America, Politicians and Economists looked to Africa for 
lands in barter-payments, where they could establish Colonies 
for Coloured people, to live and develop under governmental 
guidance and technical experts, by tapping the mineral re-
sources of the lands; here is a partial reference to the plan by 
Stephen Leacock in the Washington Tribune, and reproduced 
in the Negro World, February 27, 1932: 
"Farsighted political economists, in attempting to solve the 
problems of debts due America from European nations, are 
putting forward the suggestion that America accept payment in 
African lands instead of in money ... 
"Europe could get a new start by giving up territory that 
it cannot develop, since, at the same time, it loses its staggering 
war debts. America would gain an outlet for stagnant industry 
and unemployment ... 
"Compared with Belgian rule in the Congo, America's at-
titude toward the Negro is heavenly .. . The American Negro 
- outside of the satisfaction of seeing his fellow man lifted from 
the miseries of slavery, disease and ignorance - gets an oppor-
tunity to reach the top in the world of industry. He is intel-
ligent, but his educated men and women find the high places 
of American industry closed to them. The development of an 
American colony in Africa would offer the Negro, because of 
his ability to withstand the African climate, the opportunity he 
does not get in America." 
The proposed plan did not materialize as the economists 
had to leave it to the politicians, to whom the vote was more 
important than planting a stake on the rich Continent. The 
Isolationist spirit - the feeling of leaving Europe to stew in 
her own juice - predominated. The Coloured politician echoed 
it, with traditional loyalty to American soil, and not caring to 
leave "good white folks", to live and work among "savages". 
The Editor of "The Mercury" - a magazine, - points out 
three main handicaps to our progress. He stated: "The Negro 
has three chief burdens - poverty, and apparent insouciance 
211 
Garvey and Garveyism 
when it comes to supporting his real worthwhile men, and his 
blind faith in his church, and its leaders". Hand-picked leaden 
were but the mouthpiece of complacency and subserviency, this 
is borne out from a speech made by Dr. Moton, Principal of 
Tuskegee Institute, at SI. Paul's Church in Virginia, November, 
1930. The Governor of the State in introducing him said "by 
his sane leadership had endeared himself to, and won the con-
fidence of all Races." Dr. Moton made the following leading 
pronouncements: 
"1 take my hat off to the white man for the simple reason 
that he respects the women of his Race; the Negro as a whole 
does not have the proper respect for his Race ... 
"The white people do not want the Negroes to go back 
to Africa, especially those in the South. We love white people, 
we love to have their approval. You will not find any Race in 
the world, that will be as loyal to white people as the Negro. 
I would not leave America, 1 would not leave the South, I am 
not discouraged. there is no reason to be." 
Dean Kelly Miller, in a signed article, reproduced in the 
Negro World, May 21, 1932, confesses his disillusionment, and 
comes to the conclusion that the Negro must save himself. He 
stated: 
"There is still a lingeling hope in the minds of an unthink-
ing leadership that salvation will come from political parties. 
Negro religiOUS and educational leadership has relied upon the 
philanthropy of the North to redeem the race from the beset-
ting weight of llls. But the flagging spirit and waning interest 
of this vicarious philanthropy clearly indicates that little further 
dependence can be placed upon salvation from that direction. 
1 myself, at one time, believed that the race could confidently 
look to the christian religion, under the Protestant form, for 
salvation. But my views have been greatly modified by the 
sad experience of the past forty years. 
"TIle Catholic Church with its powerful organization could 
bring no greater glory to its name than to vindicate its divine 
claim by solving a problem which other agencies have given 
up as being insoluble. But as a Catholic statesman once said 
to me, the Church is able and \villing to cope with every feature 
of the race problem except tl,at of social equality. Ah, here's 
the rub. 
"Capital and labor allover the world are on the verge of 
fundamental conflict. The Negro stands hesitant between the 
Garvey and Garveyism 213 
two as to which side he may best look to for salvation. Whether 
he subordinates himself to capitalism or communism, he does so 
with the hope of vicarious salvation. In his weakness he feels 
that he must "fly to the rock that is higher than I." 
"Of all the various brands of race leadership since emanci-
pation, that of Marcus Garvey alone sought to make the Negro 
his own self savior. The debacle of his statesmanship was due 
to the woeful inadequacy of the means at his disposal for the 
accomplishment of the colossal task he assumed. 
"The race today is without any effective leadership that 
leads to any definite objective. But all thinking leaders are now 
convinced that there can be no vicarious salvation. The Negro 
must save himself or be forever lost. The spasmodic inde-
pendent efforts that are being put forth in business, politics, and 
social procedure show plainly that the Negro is now beginning 
to look within instead of without. Outside influences wiII as-
sist and encourage him to more efficient self effort. It is de-
monstrated folly to think or say any longer - '10, here or 10 
there, is the kingdom'. The kingdom of heaven is within you." 
S. A. Haynes, writing in the Negro World, May 6, 1933, 
under the head, "Through .black spectacles", summarizes the 
work of Garvey, and says he should be given credit for all he 
achieved: 
"Marcus Garvey, whose philosophy of racial solidarity and 
Negro autonomy in Africa astounded the imperialists and scared 
the easy-going, patient, conservative Negro, can now drink deep 
of the cup of victory for which he paid dearly. Far, far away 
from the streets of Harlem and thoroughfares of American Negro 
life and culture, some of the very people foremost in fostering 
his persecution and sealing his exile from the country, now find 
it safe to clothe Garveyism in a new name and dispense it 
fearlesssly to a race dying because of the ineptitude of its 
leaders; stranded in the wilderness of American civilization be-
cause of the treachery and hypocrisy of its men of light and 
learning. 
"Garvey led the way in mass organization of Negroes; he 
blazed the trail in militancy; he sacrificed his freedom in one 
mighty effort to give to the Negro a higher emancipation. His 
absence from the American scene has not profited the Negro 
as was anticipated and heralded. The Bectons, the Father 
Divines, the Bishop Graces, the Moorish-Americans make no 
G.G.-19 
214 Garvey and Garveyism 
impress on the governments of the world; theirs is a program 
of consolation through emotional and spiritual complacency. 
"Garvey gave something to the Negro which neither time 
nor place can retrieve. Most of his enemies, particularly those 
of the Negro Intelligentsia now agree that Garvey was essenti· 
ally right in the fundamentals of his program. They agree 
now that there can be no real freedom and independence for 
black men anywhere without mass action and uncompromising 
leadership. 
"Garvey erred, but his errors faded into inSignificance be· 
fore the concrete contributions he has made to Negro thought 
and culture. He gave to Negrodom a Black Philosophy, pro· 
found in depth, startling in its repercussions, inspiring in sen· 
timent and in fact. 
"He brought the Negro people of the world into one 
family through the propagation of a program which gave birth 
to an international comity between them. TI,e universality of 
this program bridged the chasm between Negroes everywhere. 
"Garvey demonstrated two things: (I) That Negroes can 
be organized. (2) That Negroes are eager to repose confidence 
in and support sincere Negro leadership. 
"By his uncompromising utterances, Garvey brought the 
Negro problem forCibly before the world. 
"Garvey deified black and gave Negroes a racial conscious· 
ness not before attained. When he invaded the United States 
he found 'black' a symbol of regret, excuses, and pity; the trade· 
mark of inferiority. Garvey changed the order of things. He 
made 'black' the symbol of honor and responsibility. 
"Garvey's clarion cry of 'Africa for the Africans', those at 
home and those abroad, gave more publicity to Africa and the 
Negro than any similar effort since the Negroes emancipation. 
"Garvey sold the Negro to himself with the same zeal and 
enthusiasm that white Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Ital. 
ians and Japanese use preserving their racial identities. 
"His philosophy of a black culture has done mum to bring 
the Negro into greater intimate fellowship and communion with 
the Motherland Africa, and with Negroes in distant lands. 
"Garvey, through his noble experiments, with the Black 
Star Line and the Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company, 
demonstrated the possibilities of the Race in the fields of com· 
merce and industry. For years his organization provided hon-
Garvey and Garveyism 215 
orable employment for Negro men and women. At one time 
there were more than 1,000 on the organi<zation's payroll in the 
United States alone. 
"Garvey encouraged the Negro to scale the highest peak 
in human endeavor. He sent three delegations of black men 
to the League of Nations, two to the republic of Liberia. He 
appointed Commissioners and sent them to represent the Race 
in foreign lands. The gesture buoyed the Negro's self-respect 
and gave him a new hope, and a new vision. 
"Lest we forget, Garvey has not failed. Slowly, but surely 
the mists of prejudice, jealousy, ignorance are being rolled away 
from the racial horizon. The American Negro's bitter experi-
ences with the purposes of rugged Americanism, plus the suf-
ferings he has absorbed during the depression have served to 
convince him that Garvey was not, indeed, a charlatan, a devil, 
or a naive, but a FRIEND and COUNSELLOR, who came to 
serve him and his generation. 
"Lest we forget, Garveyism is now sweeping the lanes of 
Negro life everywhere, it is obscured by fictitious names and 
hedged in by renegades, but it is Garveyism just the same. Com-
mon gratitude, fairplay, and a sense of justice demand that we 
give Garvey due credit for ~is vision and his courage to follow 
it through without counting the price." 
CHAPTER 37. 
Garvey's front-page articles to the Negro World weekly, 
were as forceful and foretelling as his speeches. The following 
is a typical one. February, 1932, under the head - "Europe's 
doom - Africa's opportunity", he declared: 
"Fellow men of the Negro Race, 
Greetings; 
"The war clouds on the international horizon are once 
more gathering, and it is most likely that at any time a Con-
tinental conflict will break out, through the militaristic tend-
encies and designs of Europe, which will ultimately engulf the 
world in another holocaust. 
"It is for such a time that the four hundred million Negroes 
of the world are preparing themselves, when the opportunity 
will be presented to strike the blow in Africa for our liberation. 
It is hoped that Negroes everywhere will prepare themselves for 
the time when they will be called upon to stand together as 
one mighty whole to blast a way toward those changes that are 
desired by us universally. Critics have speculated as touclllng 
the programme of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, 
claiming how impossible it will be for US to accomplish the 
things which we have set out to do, but all reasonable minds 
can see and readily admit, that the changes which will bring 
about better conditions among Negroes will, not so much be 
instigated through war by the Negro himself, as by the very 
people who have robbed, eXl'loited and killed us for hundreds 
of years. The great Colonial governments of Europe will, of 
themselves, strike the blow by which the four hundred million 
Negroes of the world will be made free, and Europe is just lining 
up for such a contingency, as is evident to all. 
"Let us get ready, let us organize now more than ever 
for the putting over of the programme of the Universal Negro 
Improvement Association. We want victory, and we must have 
it. We want a government of our own, and we must have it. 
We want freedom, true liberty, real democracy. We must 
have all these things. It is not a question of whether the other 
fellow is going to give it to us under his government or Dot; it 
216 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 217 
is a question that we must go out and possess . ourselves of that 
which we desire. 
"The only way we can have freedom is when we, by our 
own effort, have laid out the foundation of a great government 
that we ourselves will control. For such an opportunity, I re-
peat, we wait, and may God hasten the day. Let Mussolini 
rave, let Germany clamor for African soil, and then in a short 
while we will see Europe so ablaze, that it will take more than 
human effort to smother the flames. Europe is fast gravitating 
to her doom. The nations of Europe have seen their day and time. 
Like Rome, they will crumble and fall to pieces, and as in the 
fall of Rome came the resurrection of other empires and mighty 
nations, with the fall of the present monarchistic, capitalistic 
and despotic empires of Europe will come the resurrection of 
a great African state upon which the sun will never set. 
"There is one thing about us, we are determined. If it 
takes eternity, we shall win our cause." 
I have the honor to be, 
Your obedient Servant, 
By July, 1934, the depression in America for the last two 
years had fully affected him, as Garveyites had been unable to 
support the Organization. Coloured Americans suffered even 
more than white ones, for the former depended mainly on em-
ployment for a living; in tum their small banks, insurance com-
panies and businesses collapsed faster. White women now had 
to do their own house-work, - the Coloured women's sure-job; 
homes and farms went under the hammer, with few buyers at 
give-away prices; Wall Street crash caused rich men to commit 
suicide, rather than face the haunting fear of daily wants. This 
crash sent panic throughout the commercial, industrial and 
business areas; and so it went on down the line, as bulk-buying 
came to a stand-still, therefore money became frozen. 
Over-production at that time was the root cause of the 
slump in business. Under a strictly capitalistic system, feeding 
the machinery of war is good business for industries, but at the 
end of a war, it takes time to change over to peace-time pro-
duction, and years to find foreign markets in countries impover-
ished and ravished by war, whose currencies were so far below 
par, as to make trading with a dollar country almost impos-
sible. Such recovery is slow. These, and other factors caused 
a recession in trade, and, like a creeping paralysis, slow business 
bogged down in depression. 
218 Garvey and Ganeyism 
Relief measures and President Roosevelt's New Deal were 
bringing America back on her feet. But in Jamaica, Garvey's 
mail was being tampered with. It is said that there was some 
censorship, but Americans complained tbat some letters had 
been returned marked "Addressee unknown", or "fictitious ad-
dress." In September, 1933, most of the machinery at the print-
ing plant was seized for debts, and he was forced to cease 
publication of the "New Jamaican". He called a Convention 
for August, so that the Delegates could decide what should be 
done; and started to publish "The Blackman", as "a monthly 
Magazine of Negro thought and opinion". 
The Seventh International Convention opened on the 1st 
August, 1934; despite the terrible financial strain he held the 
usual parade and public mass meetings; now more than ever, 
people wondered at the courage of this man. At the first busi· 
ness session, he gave a survey of all the past activities of the 
Organization to make the Race economically independent, from 
their own sources of Unit operations, and the treachery and 
hateful jealousy that caused Coloured men to destroy every 
eHort; until even they were now reduced to the pitiful spectacle 
of lining up at Soup Kitchens, and to get financial relief. What 
a different scene it would have been had the Liberian Coloniz-
ation been allowed to develop, and the ships to trade freely? 
The delegates discussed conditions at length, and decided to 
remove Headquarters to London, and on a five-year plan to 
build enterprises as the earning capacity of the members per-
mitted in the future. 
In December the mortgagee foreclosed on Edlllweis Park, 
and put it up for sale at Public Auction, at which a relative of 
his bought the place, for even less than the accumulated prin-
cipal, interest, taxes, etc. An agreement was made by which 
the U.N.I.A. remained as tenants, as the new owner had no 
immedi-ate use for same. 
Anticipating his leaving the Island, he agreed to a Public 
Auction sale of all our furniture, by the man who beld the Bill 
of Sale on them, who collected every penny in reduction of the 
mortgage. The day after the Auctioneer had ceased to cry 
going! gOing! gone! we stood in an empty house, except for a 
bedroom suite, the books, and two large pictures and vases left 
unsold. This did not affect him as I thought it would He 
looked forward to living in England, despite his asthma, and 
the damp climate; he would be at the hub of world affairs. He 
Garvey and Garveyism 219 
never felt crushed by crises, future events could overcome them; 
his timing was never limited. 
Two days after he left us for England, with instructions 
for me to rent out the home, get two rooms somewhere, as my 
mother's home was being remodelled, and in time he would send 
for us. He had sorted out some of the books which I was 
to ship to him, the balance, as well as records, papers, etc., were 
to be stored at Edelweis Park. As soon as the newspapers re-
ported his departure, the Doctor brought me a bill for payment, 
which was incurred during and after my pregnancy with Junior. 
I was also served a Judgment Summons for an unpaid balance 
on an Acceptance. I had no idea that these amounts were still 
outstanding, and had to make arrangements for their payments 
by monthly instalments, out of the small irregular amounts he 
sent us. 
He leased a part of a house at 2 Beaumont Crescent, West 
Kensington, London, and in August the same year (1935) sent 
for Miss Daisy Whyte - his Secretary in Jamaica, after financial 
reverses had forced him to send home the other two. He also 
employed an English stenographer. As The Blackman gained 
subscribers, he had to get more help, so he sent for another 
clerk, who formerly worked at the Headquarters. When she 
was leaving he instructed me to crate and ship - "collect from 
ConSignee" - the two large paintings. One was an oil paint-
ing of himself. I did so. About four months later, I received 
a letter from the Shipping Clerk stating that I had placed him 
in an embarrassing position, as he had done me a favour in 
shipping the pictures, "collect". Mr. Garvey had not taken 
delivery of them; warehouse charges etc., plus freight, must be 
paid by me promptly. I had to borrow the money and paid it. 
I wrote him about it, he replied that there were more urgent 
matters there that had to be met. 
CHAPTER 38. 
In the summer of 1935, we find him speaking in Hyde Parle 
on Sundays during fair weather. His subjects were the Colonies 
and their peoples, also the topical subject the Italo-Abyssinia 
war. He secured liberal minded white people to preside at the 
meetings. His persuasive eloquence drew large crowds. The 
following is a report of an indoor meeting: 
"Mr. Garvey addressed a meeting of the West Kilburn 
Liberal Association, London, October 10, on the subject: "The 
Crisis in Abyssinia". The meeting was attended by Liberals 
of the District, and was presided over by Mr. Ernest J. Cove. 
Mr. Garvey spoke for an hour, and created a great deal of in· 
terest and enthusiasm over the Abyssinia affair. Arising out 
of his speech, the Association started a fund to assist in provid-
ing Red Cross equipments for the soldiers of Abyssinia. After 
the speech, there was an enlightening discussion of Abyssinia's 
condition at this time." 
In his "News of the World" column in "The Blackman" 
during this year, there were many items that touched on the 
sore spots of Colonialism, among them the follOwing: 
"South Africa. Nov. In speaking at the 1830 Memorial Set-
tlers Association held in Johannesburgh recently, General Smuts 
declared: 'The only way to eliminate the fear comple. which 
besets our white population in the face of the Native masses 
is an increase in the white population. Many good people 
would be willing to be more progressive in their outlook, if 
this dangerous fear complex could be removed.' 
"It is cruel to pretend that there is no scheme to submerge 
the Negro. All around there are manifestations of the fear of 
bis rising to be a real man. 
"St. Vincent, a little Island in the West Indies, where some 
unlortunate people created some disturbances recently, has now 
passed some severe seditious laws, to prevent the people from 
ever repeating what they did. The local press is to remain 
under permanent censorship. To publish anything critical of 
the Government invites a fine of one thousand pounds. To 
220 
Garvey and Garveyism 221 
hold public meetings, and say anything of the same nature 
means imprisonment. Yet we have listened to public speakers 
in Hyde Park here, who have criticized any and everything poli-
tical, religious and otherwise, and we have never seen or heard 
of speakers being arrested and imprisoned for free speech. Free 
thoughts, if not expressed in the newspapers or at meetings, 
cannot be imprisoned, nor can they be imprisoned in the people's 
minds either. So think on St. Vincentiansl Freedom of thought 
for freedom, is your right." 
In an article in the December Blackman, he wrote, under 
the head: "The Task of the New Negro - a New Africa." 
"Our civilization is travelling at a rapid speed. In its 
motion it carries with it the hopes, desires and fates of all 
peoples. Sensible people, realizing their positions in this speedy 
movement of time and circumstances, calculatingly sober down 
themselves to a proper understanding of what the changes mean 
to them in particular, and when they have satisfactorily analyzed 
conditions they apply them in relationship to themselves, so as 
to gain such advantages as would tend to give them satis-
faction, as civilization moves on to its changing epochs. 
"Unfortunately, the Negro group has not sobered down it-
self to a proper understanding of these circumstances and con-
ditions, and many go forward blundering and blustering to re-
alize ultimately, that we are placed at a terrible disadvantage 
in the comparative progress with other groups in the civilization 
that environs us. 
"Civilization should be an urge to embrace all its benefits 
and to improve upon its accomplishments. It is a practical re-
sult of the application of man's mind upon his material environ-
ment. It grows and expands only in keeping with the creative 
force of human intellect. It rises and falls with the ambition 
or retrogression of the particular people who are willing to lead 
or to stagnate. The civilizations that we know were the prac-
tical results of the application of the various groups to the de-
velopment of certain phases of life in their particular periods. 
Our civilization today is the positive result of the creative 
thought of those who are actually mastering our politiCS, science 
and industry. The Negro laments his position in the midst of 
these changes, whether they be upward or downward, but has 
failed within modern times to apply himself to the willingness 
of dOing, of creating for himself, thereby establishing his own 
place in civilization. 
G.G.-tO 
222 Garvey and Garveyism 
"Must we conclude that the Negro has no feeling, no pas-
sion, no desire for anything? Naturally not. The Negro is 
human like any other creature. His hopes, his ambitions, his 
desires should be no less; hence it is our duty to stir him from 
the four corners of the world to the willingness of doing - do-
ing that which is praiseworthy, which is noble, which is humanly 
grand. 
"He must build his civilization. At least he must fashion 
the civilization in which he lives to suit his particular purpose 
and needs. 
"No useful purpose is served by complaining against the 
incidents and accidents of an environment that is man made. 
it is for man in hIS supreme urge - in his willingness to do -
to sacrifice in dOing, to so plant around him the atmosphere 
of things, as to make himself satisfied, indeed joyous and happy 
in the pride of knOWing that what he wants he has made. 
"1935 has brought changes to the world, and among them 
is a universal thought of what Africa is to be in the future. No 
sober or sensible thinker will deny the arresting truth that Africa 
is today a new country - new from outlook, new from conscious-
ness) new from environments and conditions. Out of this new· 
ness will arise, in the next century or so, a new political order 
that will lift the old continent to a new position or place in the 
firmament of national glory. Like old Europe, Africa will 
change into many native nationalisms. and men and women who 
were once slaves, serfs and discounted creatures will become liv-
ing forces in the material progress of a new civilization. This, 
at least, is the hope of hundreds of millions of people today, 
who probably a year ago never thought in that direction. Mus-
s~lini's Fascist madness and brutality has paved the way toward 
the hastening of a new national life, which otherwise might 
have been stifled for another century. 
"Africa has registered the indication of approaching time. 
It will be beyond the power of man to turn back that time for 
God Himself has spoken." 
CHAPTER 39. 
The American Garveyites on heariog that he had pneu-
monia duriog the winter of 1936, felt that he needed home care. 
So their officers wrote him stating that they would be williog 
to book our tickets for New York, where I could, by speaking, 
raise enough money to pay our way on to England, and settle 
us on arrival there. He did not agree to this, fearing that the 
children might be kidnapped by his enemies, and held for ran-
som; which he knew the members would endeavour to pay, 
perhaps only to find the dead bodies of his sons. There is an 
African sayiog - "If you can't ketch Quakoo, you ketch his 
shirt". 
The moneys he was receiving was not enough to finance 
the volume of work for the Organization, and publish the mag-
azine; so our goiog was deferred for these priorities, until June, 
1937, he booked us to sail the first week, and to take a maid 
along. In the preparation .to leave without adequate funds, I 
missed the thoughtfulness and unsolicited service of the Gar-
veyites io America - who were partIy made up of Naturalized 
West Indians; but whom the American atmosphere had mellow-
ed with the spirit of giviog and doiog - unlike most Jamaicans 
at home, who had nothing to give but their services, and even 
this they withheld. Yet they asked for so much of others. Truly 
they go to bed with the "gimmes", and wake up with the 
"wants". 
Just before leaving I wanted to get a Doctor's advice about 
our younger child, so I took both of them down to a Doctor, 
whom Gruvey had made a job for io the New York office during 
summer time, to enable him to pay his way through Howard 
University Medical School. He was now a successful Doctor, 
and had no children. He gave the child a once over, and said, 
"he is a fine healthy boy, image of his father, don't let him 
have liquids in the evenings". He turned to Junior and said, 
"so you are Marcus? Well, I wonder which of you will follow 
io his footsteps?" In passiog the Dispenser's window she asked 
me for the fee. I told her Doctor had not prescribed any medi-
cioe, so I did not think he would charge me. "Yes," she said, "he 
223 
224 Garvey and Garveyism 
just phoned me to collect it." I gave her an amount, and she 
informed me that all Doctors' scale of fees had risen since 
January; I paid the amount asked for, took the hands of my 
children, and walked the sunny streets until we reached a 
friend's office, where I borrowed a shilling for tram car fares 
to take us back home. 
We landed at Avonmouth, he came to meet us; in appear-
ance he had not changed much, - hair was thinning out in 
front. He was pleased to see the children. They had on the 
warm suits he had sent them, and walked about the waiting 
room. As his eyes followed them, they dwelt particularly on 
Julius, who walks like him. When he realized I was looking 
at him, he laughed, in sheer delight, he said, "I must have been 
just like him as a boy", then, in a subdued tone, "I wonder what 
the world of tomorrow will do to him". On the boat train to 
London he asked about conditions in Jamaica, if there were any 
perceivable changes. 
He wanted to send the children to Private Schools, but the 
fees were high. When the London County Council free schools 
opened for the Fall term, I chose a nice one at Kensington Gar-
dens, and took them there. Then, I recalled a scene at our 
home in Jamaica in 1934, when Junior was almost four years 
old. The Head Black Cross Nurse, a Delegate to the Con-
vention, came to see the children. Junior sat in an ann-chair 
in the library, showing her pictures in a brochure of New York 
City. His information was so accurate, that she said, "Darling, 
how is it you know so much about New York?" He thought for 
a while, then looked straight at her, pointing his finger at him-
self for emphasis, he said, "You see, Nurse, I was in New York 
before I was born". In amazement she related this to his 
father, and added, "we will have to raise a lot of money to 
educate this boy". 
Every summer the Canadian Government permitted him to 
visit there in the interest of the Organization. He left me in 
charge of the office, with written instructions, and took his 
Secretary. In Toronto, he conducted a Regional Conference of, 
not only Representatives from the U.N.I.A., but other Fraterni-
ties. A group of Garveyites attended from the State of Michi-
gan, U.S.A., for a speCial meeting. In introducing Garvey, State 
Senator Diggs said: "1 regard this, not only as a great privilege, 
but 1 do not think I have enjoyed anything more, since I left 
Garvey aod Garveyism 225 
the cotton fields of ~lississippi than to see, hear and present 
this great Negro to you". 
At another meeting the Mayor of Toronto attended. Garvey 
referred to the Industrial Exhibition which he had seen, and 
the thrill it gave him to see the rapid scientific progress Canada 
was making. He thanked the Mayor for all courtesies extended 
to him and to Garveyites. In closing he said, "just as French 
Canadians, in deference to France, still speak French, as Eng-
lish Canadians feel proud to be a Dominion of the British Com-
monwealth, even so, the New Negroes have an undying love 
for our Old Country; although some of us may never go back 
there, we are going to help those at home to make it a free 
and progressive country in our generation." At Sydney Mayor 
~lather welcomed him. 
At the end of the Conference he left on a trip, which he 
described in the "Blackman" as follows: 
"I sailed away from England on the 12th August, and re-
turned on the 20th November, 1937. My trip was for inspecting 
the activities of the Branches of the Universal Negro Improve-
ment Association, holding a Conference at Toronto, Canada, of 
the American and Canadian Branches, running a Summer School 
at Toronto, for the month of September, and visiting each Island 
of the Leeward and Windward group of the British West Indies, 
which were all done within an arranged period with great 
satisfaction. Closing the Conference on the 31st August, I con-
ducted the School of African Philosophy, which by the end of 
the month had graduated several persons for U.N.I.A. leader-
ship in America and Canada. In October I started a trip to 
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada. I had the most 
splendid receptions in the Maritime Provinces, and was over-
whelmingly received at Sydney and Glace Bay. 
"By the 7th October I had journeyed down to Halifax from 
which Port I boarded the "S.S. Lady Nelson" on the trip to 
the British West Indies and South America. I spoke at all the 
Ports from St. Kitts to Demerara, and at each and every place 
met a tremendous concourse of people who had assembled to 
do me honour on my first visit to the respective places, with the 
exception of Barbados and Trinidad, which I visited before. I 
spent two days at Barbados, Trinidad and Demerara respectively, 
and those two days will long be remembered in the history of 
those countries. 
"At other places of the West Indies my stay ran into hours, 
226 Garvey and Garveyism 
but even though the time was short the enthusiasm ran so high 
in each and every place as to have made the trip more than 
satisfactory. The Universal Negro Improvement Association in 
the Islands have before it a wonderful work for development. 
Considering the programme of the Conference in which the 
American and Canadian delegates accepted that of the last Con-
vention, which involves the development of the Negro of the 
entire world in the new Five Year Plan, it is expected that these 
Islands, as soon as they start to shape themselves will become 
beneficiaries of a grand and noble effort of Race redemption. 
"I desire to express my deepest thanks to all the good 
friends in all the islands, who did their utmost to make my trip 
the success it was. The friends I met in St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, 
Montserrat, Dominica, SI. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Barbados, 
Trinidad and Demerara will never be forgotten. 
"My trip to the West Indies has proven a boon; 
I hope to come this way again soon, 
I met there men, and women too, 
Whose hearts rang out with joys anew, 
I ne'er shall such joys forget, 
As coming from those friends I met." 
He gave a typical West Indian speech at St. Kitts, which 
was published in the "Union Messenger" - a local newspaper, 
and later reproduced in the "Blackman". The follOWing are 
extracts: 
"Mr. Chairman, Citizens of SI. Kitts: It is with an abund-
ance of pleasure that I am with you this moming to meet you, 
and talk to you. The Chairman stmck the keynote when he 
said that the purpose of my visit was to help. That is not only 
the purpose of my visit, but the purpose of my life - to help 
my fellow men. I am doubly glad to see the make-up of the 
audience. At a glance I can see it represents all classes of the 
community. But there is a special class that I am specially in-
terested in, and that is the more unfortunate class ... 
"It is God's purpose in the creative plan, that he shall be 
happy. I don't like to see misery, it is hellish, devilish and 
ungodly. God never made misery, it is the result of the mis-
takes of man. But if you can get men to go right, they will 
lessen their own misery ... 
"When God equalized men's soul, he gave them a free will 
and free expression. When we suffer in this life it is because 
we are not using this free ,viiI and expression ... 
Garvey and Garveyism 227 
"I like people who look like me. Everywhere you turn you 
find them. They seem to live in spite of the hell that sur-
rounds them. But is not always going to be so, for we are 
approaching the scientific age when oranges that were once 
sour are now made sweet, and sour oranges have no market. 
So it is that "sour" people will die out to accommodate superior 
people whom God intend to have and keep and bless ... 
"It is useless for man to approach God as though it was 
possible to change Him. God, in making the earth, made it 
with rigid laws . . . The stars, sun, moon, etc. never change. 
Everything remains the same irrespective of our desires, for 
God is a fixed God. He does not change. He is eternal. When 
He made man he said, "By the sweat of your brow you small 
eat". From that time man has been on his own responsibility 
- on his own legs. If he does not think out his own way of 
life, he will fail, and who do you think is going to shed a tear 
for him, when by his ignorance he has reduced himself to dis-
grace? Have you ever seen the stars stop twinkling because 
of your sorrow? Or the sun stop shining because you are sad? 
This may be a strange philosophy for a small town, but it is 
true. . . The earth on which you live is God's, but the material 
accomplishments of the ear~ are man's work. I am introduc-
ing to you a new philosophy of life, although I may only be 
able to touch the fringe. 
"Here God has given us probationary life, and some of us 
stay around and run amuck, most of the time in rags, stealing 
and making ourselves a nuisance. If God were like man he 
would say to us, we don't want you up here to mess up heaven. 
Our souls, our intelligence should be like unto God. When we 
cringe and commit crimes, we bring down God to nothingness. 
We must live up to the dignity and honour of His intelligence 
by possessing our souls and using our minds. It is no excuse 
to say you are too poor and down trodden. I put myself be-
fore you as an example. I refuse to be in rags. I am deter-
mined to be a man among men. I was born 50 years ago in 
a West Indian country town in Jamaica, where black men have 
no special advantages, but disadvantages; where you are slated 
to be a cow-hand or labourer, a blacksmith or shoemaker. I 
looked at the system that man fixed for me, and I said this does 
not suit me. If you have not the ability to fix yourself up, the 
other man is going to fix you up - and some of you are darned 
well fixed up right now. 
228 Garvey and Garveyism 
"A lot of people today are suffering from their own faults 
If you know the world you would know that the greatest men 
had humble beginnings. But before they started life they 
found out what use they could be. Men like Ford, Rockefeller, 
Carnegie, Lipton, started from the lowliest walks of life, and 
gradually growing. When they died they left the world think-
ing. Wealth is not all, it is the intelligence of man that counts. 
An intelligent man can always find a way out. But I have never 
seen a successful fool. Somebody always takes what he has 
away from him. It is a fool who is always in rags; a fool is 
always complaining, always telling you somebody is against 
him; always going to the Obeah man to give him luck. But 
let me tell you that there is nothing outside of you as strong 
as what is inside of you. That power inside you is the stronger. 
If you don't understand this, then you are only a bit of flesh 
and other men will trample on you. Why come here like a 
flying fish, or a sprat, that nobody remembers after it is fried 
and eaten? We must not allow any theory or system that is 
not for our good and welfare to swallow us up. It is purely a 
question of mind over matter. Men can do things to my body, 
but never to my mind, I shall leave the influence of my mind 
after I am dead. You can read the minds of men in books. 
like Shakespeare's Othello or the Gospel of St. John. You must 
postulate a philosophy of your own way of life, if you are to 
find a way out, God blesses those who help themselves. 
"The average West Indian child spends his school days in 
the Elementary Schools; after that he is finished with books. 
He coins his own language - bad words, and that completes 
his education. Why should a man confine himself to his back-
yard, where his bad words are law? The energy that most of 
you put behind your bad expressions if used in the proper chan-
nel would make you Alexander HarniltoDS and other great men. 
"My friend, you have to buck up, and make your own 
civilization what it ought to be. Read! readl readl and never 
stop until you discover the knowledge of the Universe. If you 
don't understand the compass of your own world, how can you 
navigate properly? Christ Himself paid tribute to intelligence, 
when he made it clear in the parable of the talents. Spend a 
little less on food and a little more on books and newspapers, 
for today it is a struggle of wit against wits, brain against 
brains . . . 
"This is a small place and things of importance do not 
Garvey and Garveyism 229 
happen here very often. So anyone coming in from outside 
is regarded with suspicion. You need not be afraid, I have not 
come here to steal anything, but what I would like to steal 
away is ignorance, so that when I cross the Caribbean I can 
dump it into the deep Atlantic Ocean. 
"I like the country very much, and the people too. You 
are very hospitable here. Everywhere I went I was received 
with open arms . . . Try to make your little country the best 
spot in the world. Get hold of the land, and don't let it get 
away from you. The men who own the land make the laws. 
Own your own house and land, then you will be a respectable 
citizen, and God will approve of you, may the blessing of 
Almighty God be upon you". 
In the early issues of the Blackman for 1937, his column, 
"The World as I see It", contained the following interesting 
items: 
"Germany is still teasing Europe. She has moved her 
cruisers into Spanish waters for the purpose of finding incidents 
to legalize the affair of her broadsides against the Spanish gov-
ernment, with the hope of igniting the powder box that will 
blow Europe to pieces. 
"Whether the blOwing-up comes this way or not, all of us 
are looking toward the explosion. That is why the Negro Race 
ought to be prepared, because when the explosion comes in 
Europe, sparks will be flying everywhere. 
---
"Roosevelt has made his trip to South America to cement 
the friendship and fellowship of the American Republics. This 
is indeed a wise move and can well be understood under the 
leadership of a man as studious and philosophic as Franklin D. 
Roosevelt. He knows that sooner or later Europe will kick off 
and may try to convey some of her troubles to the Americans. 
---
"A company has been formed to promote white settlement 
in the highlands of Tanganyika, and the promoters of the scheme, 
under the chairmanship of Lord Chesham, have already obtained 
the necessary land from the Tanganyika Government, with the 
approval of the Colonial Office. The area for settlement - an 
inner circle of the high-lands round Sao Hill - is about 6,000 ft. 
up, fertile, sheltered, well-watered, and blest with a pleasant 
climate. 
G.G.-ll 
230 Garvey and Garveybm 
"Denied the right to occupy their $20,000 mansion in the 
exclusive Edgemont Hill section of Westchester by decision of 
Supreme Court Justice Lee Parsons Davis, Monday, Captain 
and Mrs. Joshua Cockburn will carry their case to the U.S. 
Supreme Court. 
"The injunction was sought on the ground that there existed 
a clause in the deeds of the properties owned in the district 
which stated, 'that no part of the said parcels shall ever be used 
or occupied by or sold, conveyed, leased, rented, or given to 
Negroes or any person or persons of the Negro Race or blood, 
except that colored servants may be maintained on the premises'. 
"After hearing the evidence and arguments in March, Jus-
tice Davis reserved decision. At the trial the Cockburns con-
tended that they were not Negroes. Citations from textbooks 
on anthropology and the history of man, and arguments as to 
the definition of the term 'Negro', enlivened the hearing. 
"'The Captain Cockburn referred to was the Captain of the 
first ship of the Black Star Line. He is black and his wife is 
fair-skinned. 
"No one desires to be unfair to Haile Selassie. 'The only 
sad thing is that he has been unfair to himself, to his country 
and his country men, by acting in a manner not consistent with 
ordinary political intelligence necessary to our age, in under-
standing the machinations, cunning and vile methods and sys-
tems of Governments and peoples. 
"He kept his country unprepared in a modern civilization 
whose policy was strictly aggressive. He resorted sentimentally 
to prayer and to feasting and fasting, not consistent with the 
policy that secures the existence of present day freedom for 
peoples; whilst other nations and rulers are building up arm-
aments of the most destructive kind, as the only means of secur-
ing peace and protection, he relied on the peculiar policy of 
leaving everything to the Almighty Wisdom of the Universal 
Creator, Who in all history, has never yet taken political sides 
between two rival human political forces and powers. For God 
to maintain his equilibrium, He cannot take sides in human 
political differences between peoples and nations, otherwise 
He would cease to be the God of all. On the one side we have 
the Pope of the Catholi<: Church blessing the Crusade, and on 
the other side the Coptic Church fasting and praying, with con-
fidence of victory. Surely God was not on the side of the Ital-
Garvey and Garveyism 231 
ians and Fascist Mussolini dropping incendiary bombs and mus-
tard gas from the air on defenceless people in their own country? 
"TI,e Emperor fled to England for help through diplomacy. 
The Italians have slain the Rasses or Rulers of the Provinces. 
Everywhere is death and desolation. When Ethiopia again 
stretches forth her hand to God, it will have to be a hand of 
progress. It 
• 
• • 
CHAPTER 40. 
Coloured children were rarely seen in England at this time 
so he enjoyed taking the boys out, as they attracted attention. 
Junior went more often as they could discuss Cinema shows. 
He was intrigued by English remarks such as these: "Aren't 
they lovely? ... such large black eyesl What beautiful white 
teeth I they speak English too, Can I just touch him for luck?" 
Julius became so accustomed to being admired, that one mom· 
ing when I was taking them to school, he stopped suddenly, and 
said, "Mom, is anything wrong with me?" I looked him over, 
and assured him that he was just right for parade inspection. 
"Oh", said he, "that's not for today. No girls admire me this 
morn..ing". 
In February, 1938, he rented a house at Talgarth Road, a 
few blocks away from the office. It had been vacant for some 
time, so I told him to have coal delivered in the bin before we 
moved in, as damp walls are injurious. The coal arrived after 
the furniture. The house was large enough to accommodate liv-
ing quarters and office, but he observed, "it would be too risky 
to do that, only to have some old clauses revived in a Court 
action, to get me out of the place, for using it for business pur-
poses. t! 
He had the furniture put where he wanted them; he as-
signed me a room on the top floor in the rear; his Secretary 
had the large front one, and the maid the smaller one. On the 
second floor, were his bedroom, bathroom and library. Two 
sitting rooms were on the first floor, and in the basement, the 
dining room and kitchen. I asked him to transfer us to the 
sitting room in the back, and distribute the few pieces of furni-
ture there, to the front room and the dining room. No, said he, 
"up there the children are out of the way, and not distracting 
to me". At times his father's disposition asserted itself in him 
over milder influences; so that one could trace the similarity 
of actions. The inheritance complex is stronger in suppressed 
people, so that, although a man may strive to be what he wants 
to be, yet baSically be is made up of wbat has been; the genesis 
of which gives him impulses, to do and become, what he does 
232 
Garvey and Garveyism 233 
not wish to be; therefore he usually denies the labels his actions 
merit. 
After having measles Junior contracted rheumatic fever by 
kneeling on one knee on the bare floor behind an arm chair, 
playing machine gun bombardment with JuliUS; our room had 
only a small carpet and a strip for the bed-side. That knee 
became drawn and painful; the fever lasted three weeks. I had 
to put a frame over his legs to keep the pressure of the blankets 
off them. The strain was terrific to keep the fire in the room 
going, nurse him, and go up and down the stairs for nourish-
ment and hot water. 
His Dad came upstairs almost daily; from the door-way he 
would ask how he was, or come to the bedside and talk to him 
for a few minutes; but he was always too busy to stay any time. 
There was only one bed in the room, so I had to use a bed-
chair. Julius could not go to School, as the maid had no time 
to take him; not getting enough fresh air, he had bronchitis. I 
was at breaking point one day when I asked him to stay with 
the children, and give me a chance to go downstairs to his 
room and get a good rest. No, he said, "I don't know how to 
attend to them, and don't like to see them sick; in fact I don't 
like to see suffering anyhow". 
In the fourth week of Junior's illness, he suggested that I 
try to get him out of bed. I told him what the Doctor said, 
that he must be kept warm in bed, for in his emaciated con-
dition, if he got a chill it might develop into pneumonia; al-
though the pains did not travel from joint to joint, yet his heart 
was a bit weak. In describing the pains he felt in the affected 
knee, Junior told him, "it is like lightning striking through it, 
and my heart trembles". Said his father, "you must be brave, 
I don't want you to become a weakling. When the asthma 
bothers me, I try to throw it off, knowing full well that when 
the body becomes weak the forces of man, and even nature seek 
to brush you aside." 
At the end of the fourth week, the Doctor called us to-
gether, and said that at this stage the case required a Bone 
Specialist, and the necessary nursing care in an Orthopaedic 
hospital ward, the joint was rigid, but if he got immediate care 
it could be straightened out. His reply was that if the Spe-
cialist could not come to the home and treat the child, he had 
no intention of sending him to a hospital. Downstairs, in the 
hall-way, the Doctor said to me, "you are the Mother, the laws 
234 Garvey and Garveylsm 
of this country protect a child's health despite the whims of the 
parents ... I will make all arrangements for him at the Princess 
Beatrice Hospital, where an eminent Specialist will treat him". 
At the hospital the waiting patients were quite willing to 
allow the little West Indian boy to be exaruined first, in fact 
they were rather solicitous about him. After examination the 
Specialist called in the Senior Medical Officer and the Superin-
tendent; they conferred, and told me that the child must be 
left in hospital, they would notify his father of their decision, 
and he would have to pay one guinea ($4.25) weekly for him. 
When I told him that evening, he said I had no right to leave 
Junior there, for who to tell if it wasn't a plot to hurt him, in 
an indirect way, by harming the child. 
However, two days after he went to see him, and visited 
him during the three months he had to remain there. He took 
him chocolates, and a volume at a time, of a set of ten of the 
"Children's Encyclopaedia", by Arthur Mee - Editor of the 
Children's Newspaper. In this manner Junior was well in-
formed, although absent from school. The other little patients 
who could walk gathered around his bed at times, to hear him 
tell in a dramatic manner, all about the world and its people. 
Garvey also became a centre of attraction, because he was 
"Marcus's father". 
When I took Julius to see Junior, he also came in for a lot 
of admiration from the Nurses, who occaSionally took him to 
their quarters, breaking the rule of no male visitors in dormi-
tories; they loaded him with sweets and toys. The Ward Sister 
once said to Garvey, "you have two fine boys, Marcus is a 
remarkable child for his age, we are doing all we can to make 
him walk again". 
In the summer of 1938 he left us in England for his annual 
visit to Canada this time to hold the eighth Convention. He 
did not take his Secretary. She said she was tired, so he had 
one from New York to meet him there. The morning just be-
fore leaVing he .handed me four pages of typewritten instruc-
tions, and told me I was again in charge of the office. Two 
pounds ten shillings ($10) weekly, was for house money and the 
personal needs of the family, which amount was not to be de-
ducted until the Staff were paid. His being in Canada meant 
that extra moneys from entertainments would be taken to him 
by the Delegates; so balancing the budget was taxing, to say 
the least of it. Anyway I earned the compliment for my sex, from 
Garvey and Garveyism 235 
one of the English typists in the office, when she said, "it takes 
a woman to do it." 
At the end of August, Junior's leg became slightly drawn, 
it was out of plaster and put in a hip-length pure wool sock. 
I rushed him back to hospital. The Specialist examined him 
and said I would have to consent to ether being administered, 
in order to straighten out the leg and replaster it. What the 
boy needed was sunshine, and said he, I will confer with the 
Senior Medical Officer, and the School Doctor to confirm my 
opinion tlUlt he must be sent to an Orthopaedic home in the 
South of England, where violet ray treatment will be given him. 
At the consultation, the Senior Medical Officer suggested that 
I take him back to the West Indies for sunshine until he re-
covered. The School Doctor, a lady, asked smilingly, where 
was the objector, I told her he was in Canada. Well, said she, 
you must decide, this child is intelligent and should not be 
allowed to grow up as a cripple." 
I sold a diamond ring, booked our passages, and cabled an 
S.O.S. to my aunt for the balance. I told no one of my plans 
until the night before sailing, when I informed the maid that 
she must stay and take care of Mr. Garvey. I checked off with 
his Secretary some jewelry,. which I put in the safe, also balance 
of money in hand, and two letters - one containing a statement 
on the office transactions, the other marked personal, explain-
ing the urgency of Junior's case, and that we would stay at my 
mother's home. I also handed her the keys for the safe, and 
one for the clothes-closet, in which I left overcoats and all 
heavy clothing. She was upset, and said, "how am I going to 
tell Mr. Garvey. Just hand him the letters, for said I, "if Junior 
fretted and died in an Orthopaedic home away from us, he 
would blame me to the world, for not using good judgment in 
his absence." The Headmistress of the children's school, in 
answer to my letter, stated tlUlt she was sorry to lose them, but 
that I was acting wisely in taking Marcus to a warmer· climate, 
he showed promise of being a scholarship boy. 
Early September, we sailed from the Royal Albert Docks 
on the S.S. Casanare for Jamaica, via Amsterdam, Holland, to 
fill her coal bunkers, where we spent a day, leaving at night 
through the illuminated waterway to open sea. The last we 
saw of England were the white cliffs of Oov~, which are sym-
bolic of the austerity and aloofness of her people. The Ocean 
was calm the entire voyage, which gave us an opportunity to 
236 Garvey and Garveyism 
rest and revive our spent bodies. Off the coast of Haiti, the 
news on the bulletin board made the officers and seamen re.liu 
that on their return to England, many of them would be ",lied 
up for duty in the Navy. 
While the ship was being docked, the Stewardess took the 
children up on deck. Soon after she returned to complain that 
a crowd of "Native workers" were on the pier waving to them, 
and they did not respond, would I come up and greet them, 
which I did. The reason for the crowd dated back to the riots. 
In "the merry month of May" when labourers all over the 
Island gave vent to their years of pent up resentment against 
their conditions, by striking for better wages and working con-
ditions. The vast army of unemployed joined them, adding an-
other demand, "we want work", the angry neglected masses 
were on the march. 
Black men ordered owners of motor cars out of them, and 
if they said haughtily, "do you know who I am? or you will 
pay for this". The rioters smashed the car, and said, "walk 
you son of a gun, as we have walked for years on hungry 
stomachs." It was not a Race riot, or a colour riot; these des-
perate men and women felt that they must now, with their 
own hands, destroy anything and everything, that represented 
the class barrier, which had kept them away from good food 
and decent homes, in short a happy life. The violence simmered 
down, a Union was being formed, but the air was still charged 
with demands and threats. The rumour had spread that Gar-
vey was coming so much so that the Daily Gleaner printed the 
following: 
"The Gleaner understands that Mr. Marcus Garvey, Presi-
dent General of the U.N.I.A., who has been away from Jamaica 
for some years, will return to the Island within the next two 
months. He is, so far as our informant was able to state, sti1l 
in Canada, and should travel to Jamaica by one of the C.N.S. 
liners. 
"Mr. Garveys visit to the Island will be for the purpose 
of gathering first hand data on the labour situation here, so 
that on his return to England he can make direct representation 
to the Home Authorities. It is not anticipated that if he does 
visit the Island . . . he will endeavour to establish any Unions, 
or otherwise organize labour, though it would be ohviously, 
very interesting and eventful should he make such an effort". 
The late Sir Stafford Cripps, a former Member of Parlia-
Garvey and Garveyism 237 
ment, in "The Tribune", October 7, 1938, made this comment 
on Jamaican conditions: 
"On Monday last, I returned from a ten weeks holiday in 
Jamaica, where I had witnessed British Imperialism at work, 
with all th., tragedy of poverty, suffering and suppression that 
such a system necessarily imposes upon a subject and exploited 
population". 
Despite the fact that it was later published that Garvey 
was not listed among the passengers, the crowd of labourers had 
gathered anyhow, many of them had been loading a banana 
boat on the other side of the wharf, singing, "Come Mr. Tally-
man, tally me banana. Bunchl" The reporters asked me many 
questions - "do you intend to take any part in politics in Ja-
maica? Will you pave the way for Garvey to come later on?" 
When I asked the children why they did not wave to the crowd, 
Junior looked thoughtfully and said nothing. Julius, dramatiz-
ing his words with a sweeping downward motion of his hands 
said, "when I saw them like that I was amazed". While work-
ing, the banana carriers wore stained and tattered garments. The 
boys, living abroad, even for a short time, were becoming out 
of tune with the norms of Island life.  
• 
The day after we landed, I took Junior to the Public Gen-
eral Hospital in Kingston, and handed the Senior Medical Of-
ficer the letter from the Specialist; he was very considerate and 
courteous, and arranged for the Orthopaedic Surgeon to look 
after Junior, and gave him a private room, when he objected 
to staying in a ward where the children were hollering and 
speaking badly. The Surgeon kept him in for a few days to re-
move his plaster, X-ray the leg and put on another plaster. 
After that he attended hospital fortnightly as an Outdoor Patient 
for nearly two years. The Surgeon gave him the best care and 
attention, even beyond the point of duty. Because of my fin-
ancial condition I was not billed by the Hospital. 
On arrival, I was just in time to lose the home by private 
sale, as the rental could not pay interest on mortgage, taxes, 
water, insurance and repairs caused by temtites, which are pre-
valent in the tropics. Anyhow I figured on getting a small bal-
ance, but to my surprise a firm of lawyers had lodged a Caveat 
~gainst the title in the matter of an Equitable Charge I had 
given years ago to finance the purchase of two linotype machines 
for the Printing Plant. There was a balance still due, plus in-
G.«.-lZ 
238 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
terest, so I only received lifty pounds ($200) from the sale of 
our home. 
I wrote and told him everything, but got no reply to two 
letters. So I wrote his Secretary, who informed me that he was 
angry because I had taken the children back to Jamaica; while 
he had not given her any message to give me, yet he said that 
in Jamaica we were better off than he was where a shelter and 
cold weather were concerned. I had to pay the monthly in-
stalments to the Doctor and on the Judgment Summons. Junior 
had to be nourished and carefully watched, I had to push him 
in a wheel chair to and from school. How long could the lifty 
pounds last? I took charge of my share of my father's estate, 
and started to develop same to be revenue bearing. 
Early January the follOWing year his Secretary came out to 
Jamaica on vacation. She brought a package with two suits 
for each boy, some books, two letters, each with one pound ($4) 
enclosed. I told her she could take back the two pounds to 
him, and tell him that when he is able to make it up to the past 
four months' support, he should mail it. She said, "I could 
not dare do that, he missed the boys very much, and was wor-
ried over Junior. Every Friday he puts five shillings ($1) each 
in their postal savings. Money was slow in coming in, and 
somehow he felt that with your family connections they are 
alright". Yet he should have known that the attitude of rela-
tives and some friends would be, in terms of colloquialism, "if 
you make your bed hard, you must lay down in it". When the 
Secretary was returning to London, we sent him a package 01 
Jamaican delicacies. He sent two pounds ($8) about every 
three weeks for what he called "pocket money", but the sup-
port never came; he always complained that he had "to keep 
things going at the office." 
The Eighth International Convention was held in Toronto, 
Canada, from the 1st to the 17th August, 1938, which was his 
birthday, and was appropriately celebrated. The city went gay 
to welcome people from all parts of the world, and trains came 
across the border from America packed with members. Having 
closed his four years of administration as President-General, he 
reSigned, and was re-elected for another term of office. In one 
of his speeches he made this point: 
"The changed aspect of the world's political situation forces 
upon Organizations changed attitudes, and in this the U.N.I.A. 
is not found wanting ... Within recent years its work bas heen 
Garvey and Garveyism 239 
carried on quite differently, to the early days of its foundation. 
Many of the world changes that have affected the Negro for 
good, have been quietly engineered by this Movement, and 
even at this time it is undertaking one of the most colossal pro-
grammes to be engaged in . . . The leaders of the Association 
have learned to do more effective work quietly than by con-
tinuing to make declared statements, which may lead to em-
barrassment and confusion". 
From Johannesburg, Samuel Matsalula closes his report on 
the atrocities in South Africa thus: 
"Africa is full of the melancholy wails, sobs and groans 
from every city, village and hamlet, and all these mournful 
noises issuing from thousands of separate hearts have conglo-
merated into one great sound of affliction and what a sad 
plight it is to behold . . . but still there is a bright optimism, 
because under the surface of our oppressor's tyranny, is un-
doubtedly gathering a latent moral force, and once it breaks 
through the obstruction that holds it in check, and follow the 
law of forces long retarded, will leap into ascendancy with such 
rapidity and energy, that will amaze and bewilder men; and 
all their intended fatal and ruthless obstacles will serve as step-
ping stones to the higher and nobler lives, to the enjoyment of 
Black Majesty, which nature will undoubtedly provide as it 
did to those who preceded us in civilization. Oh, that I shall 
live until that seemingly fallacious and impOSSible time comes 
to pass." 
• 
CHAPTER 41. 
In 1939, Garveyites and others who had lost so much, and 
suffered thereby during the Depression, made a combined ef-
fort to petition Congress of the U.S.A. to inaugurate and 6nance 
a Colonization programme for their transportation and settle-
ment on lands contiguous to Liberia, to be acquired in settle-
ment of War Debts owed by England and France. 
They worked for many months procuring the signatures, oc-
cupations and addresses of persons desirous of going, until two 
and a half millions were received, and duly checked later on 
(see Congressional Record). While they were thus engaged, 
the Coloured Arm-chair Politicians got busy - they could not 
allow Garvey's programme to be financed and sponsored by 
the Government; they worked on their white political bosses. 
So only a few Senators from the South were willing to sponsor 
the Bill, the most notable being Senator Bilbo. Unfortunately 
he was very unpopular with our people, as he was coarse and 
rude in his attitude to them; but he was a sick man, perhaps 
he wanted to make amends for his past conduct, or he felt that 
it would relieve the pressure of the Coloured people on the 
economy of the South, and leave the poor whites with greater 
opportunities. Whatever were his motives, he took the peti-
tion, and with the aid of others framed a splendid Bill, in which 
he did not even mention the words "Coloured or Negro"; so 
careful was he not to offend our people this time. He referred 
to prospective migrants as "Citizens of the U.S.A., who may 
qualify for membership in Liberia," knOwing that only persons 
of African descent are eligible for Liberian citizenship. The Bill 
was presented to the 76th Congress, April 24, 1939. The fol-
lowing are extracts from the Congressional Record: 
"Be it enacted. . . Title 1. 
"Section 101. This Act may be cited as the 'Greater Liberia 
Act.' 
"Section 102. It is bereby declared to be the intent of 
Congress that the benefits and provisions of this act shall apply 
to citizens of the United States wbo may qualify as eligible 
for citizenship in the Republic of Liberia, and who by their 
• 
240 
Garvey and Garveyism 241 
physical fitness and climatic adaptability may qualify as migrants 
to be permanently settled in the territory hereinafter provided 
for those who shall have voluntarily expressed a desire to be-
come migrants under the provisions of this act. 
Title II 
"Section 201. (a) The President of the United States is 
hereby authorized and directed to enter into negotiations, 
through the Department of State or otherwise as he may deem 
appropriate, with the Governments of the Republic of France 
and of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, respectively, for 
the purchase by the United States of, not to exceed 400,000 
square miles of territory of either or both such countries ad-
joining the Republic of Liberia, or capable of annexation to the 
said Republic of Liberia. 
"Section 703. Until Congress shall have been able to esti-
mate and determine the annual cost of the operation of this act 
and the available income for the same, the President is hereby 
authorized to utilize the follOwing funds and credits to put 
this act into immediate operation and to finance the initial ex-
penditures in connection with this act; 
"(a) All customs, Federal internal revenues and other Fed-
eral taxes levied and collected within the territory of Greater 
Liberia. 
"(b) All payments in gold or in cash paid by the Debtor 
nations to the United States by virtue of World War debts, 
whether the same is a so-called token payment or any other form 
of cash payment. 
"(c) Not to exceed $1,000,000,000 (one billion dollars) of 
any funds of the United States available and not allocated for 
any other purposes; Provided, that if such funds be not available, 
the President is hereby authorized to pledge the credit of the 
United States in an amount not to exceed the said $1,000,000,000 
in order to secure funds". 
Coloured Politicians and writers did not study the provisions 
of the Bill, or the benefits two and a half million of our people 
would immediately derive from it - whose future the United 
States Government would underwrite to enable them to expand, 
eventually as a National Unit, from door-man to President, with-
out limitations - No, in their blind hate of Bilbo, of Garvey, 
and in their selfish disregard of the appalling conditions of the 
masses of intelligent, ambitious people, they abused Bil-bo, and 
%4% Garvey and Garveyism 
influenced Legislators who voted against the Bill. Mr. Bilbo 
died soon after. 
This Greater Liberia Bill was the culmination of previoUl 
efforts made by some of the Southern States, through their poli-
tical leaders, at the request of Garveyites to seek Federal Aid 
for African colomzation, notably among them were Senator Mc-
Callum's resolution to the Mississippi Legislature in 1922, which 
reads: 
"Be it resolved, by the Senate of the State of Mississippi, 
the House of Representatives concurring therein, that we do 
hereby, most solemnly memorialize the Congress of the United 
States of America to request the President to acquire by treaty, 
negotiations or otherwise from our late war allies sufficient ter-
ritory on the continent of Africa to make a suitable, proper and 
final home for the American Negro, where under the tutelage of 
the American government he can develop for himself a great re-
public, to become in time a free and sovereign state and take 
its place at the council board of the nations of the world, and 
to use such part of our allied war debts as may be necessary 
in acquiring such territorial concessions, to the end that our 
country may become one in blood as it is in spirit, and that the 
dream of our forefathers may be realized in the final colonization 
of the American Negro on his native soil, and that the spirit 
of race consciousness now so manifest in the American Negro 
may be given an opportunity for development under the most 
advantageous circumstances. II 
In 1936, the State of Virginia sent the follOwing Memorial 
to Congress: 
"Whereas there is valuable land sparsely populated in the 
Republic of Liberia a portion of which land is reserved for 
American Negro colonies, and many of our Negroes evidence 
a desire to live in an independent nation of Negroes, and strive 
to achieve a high and honourable race destiny; 
"Therefore be it resolved by the House of Delegates, the 
Senate concurring, that the General Assembly of Virginia memo-
rialize the Congress of the United States to make provisions for 
the colonization of persons of Mrican descent, with their own 
consent, in Liberia, or at any other place or places on the African 
continent." 
In the West Indies the proposal for Mrican Colomzation by 
West Indians was also being discussed. Captain C. Greig, writ-
ing in .the Barbados "Advocate", and reproduced in the "Ja-
Garvey and Garveyism 243 
maica Standard", March 13, 1939, surveyed conditions in the 
Islands, and opined that over-population being the main cause, 
he proposed colonization on the West Coast of Africa, where 
he had lived previously. In part he wrote: 
"There is enough land on the African Continent under our 
Mandated and Protectorate systems to absorb the entire surplus 
populations of the West Indies, and I am not talking of desert 
but fertile lands and high forest . . . this would provide a con-
stant future outlet for over-population in the West Indies . . . I 
read in the Advocate of Saturday week that the Imperial Gov-
ernment had made a free gift of 8,000,000 pounds to Czecho-
slovakia and had promised a loan of another 8,000,000 pounds. 
Further enormous sums have been expended on refugees from 
foreign countries. 
"If this be so, is it too much to hope that some such ex-
penditure could and would be undertaken by the British Gov-
ernment to help their own Nationals out here in their present 
plight. More especially as a good part of it could be regarded 
in the light of a national investment, the interest on which would 
be paid, for once the Colony was firmly established, out of their 
revenue and indirectly by the volume of trade both ways, to 
and fro, with the United Kingdom, which would take place once 
a Colony of this size, with adequate resources, was added to the 
Empire . .. 
"The ordinary busy man in the streets in England knows 
nothing of the troubles of the West Indies, and in consequence 
cares less. Because he does not care and is not interested, the 
Press tells him nothing. It declines to publish free copy now, 
for which, if the public interest were really aroused, they would 
gladly pay. On the other hand the troubles of the Jews in 
Germany and of the Czechs are known to countless millions 
the world over, for the Press is plastered with pictures and 
details of their plight day after day and month after month. 
"In short, they are 'News' and we are not. The fact that 
they are 'News' means that the Press will vie with each other 
to secure first details of their hardships, with the result that 
world wide indignation and sympathy has been aroused, while 
the fact that we are not 'News' leaves us still struggling with 
a problem incapable of local solution . . . 
"Germany wants colonies and has already pointed to the 
unrest in the West Indies as indicating our inability to manage 
an Empire, that has grown too large and cumbersome. This 
-
244 Garvey and Garveyism • 
brings the situation on the fringe of European politics and at 
once gives it an importance which it would otherwise lack at 
, 
• home". 
Colonization of West Africa by West Indians was just what 
England and France did not want; not even for individuals to 
go there, unless they were screened before leaving; hence the 
proposal was ignored by some, and squashed by others. 
For the year 1939, in his column, "The world as I see II", 
in the Blackman, he pin-pointed important world moves on the 
• part of the white Statesmen: 
"On May 12th, the British Prime Minister announced that 
the British Government would be prepared to facilitate the 
settlement of Refugees over the whole of the interior of British 
Guiana. This announcement was made follOwing a report by 
a special conunission that was sent to that Colony to investigate 
the conditions there. The whole scheme is aimed at settling 
the wandering Jew and to give him another foothold where he 
may establish himself for another generation or two. It is 
evident that British Guiana has been made the pawn against 
the majority race that occupies the country who are colored 
people. 
"The follOwing is a West Indian comment from Basse-
Terre, SI. Kitts - 'The contention \vill always hold good that 
West Indians should be settled in British Guiana in preference 
to Jewish refugees. In view of the fact that 3,000,000 dollars 
has been found to settle 5,000 refugees, the ways and means of 
settling even a lesser number of West Indians there could also 
be found if the British Government was as energetic as it should 
be in discharging its obligations to His Majestys subjects in 
these parts'. 
"Hitler wants Colonies! is the cry, and to give them to him 
would be a fatal mistake. Britain has Colonies - and to keep 
them in their present state is not only a fatal mistake, but an 
offence against humanity. Why? Kabinah Kwansah comments on 
some of the conditions in the colonies is an enlightening answer: 
'The Colonial Office exercises complete control over the 
lives of 55,000,000 people. In many parts of the Colonies Sedi-
tion Ordinances rigorously curtail liberty of speech and freedom 
of the Ptess. In Trinidad an assembly of ten or more persons 
for a political purpose constitute a breach of the Sedition Act. 
'In Barbados, during 1937, a 23 year old unemployed 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 245 
labourer was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for leading 
what would be called a hunger strike in Great Britain. 
'The Gold Coast has probably the most enlightened admin-
istration in West Africa, but only nine of the 29 membe.s are 
Africans. How can this puny minority represent the people of 
the country? In the Protectorates even this token representation 
of the people does not exist; the High Commissioner rules by 
decrees. 
'Burdensome taxation and intolerable Pass Laws ensure an 
abundant supply of cheap labour for the farms of white settlers 
in Kenya, Nyasaland and the Rhodesias. 
'Nyasaland inhabitants leave behind their wives and children 
in the villages, and trek 600 miles to Southern Rhodesia to earn 
sufficient money with which to pay their Poll Tax. The result 
is disruption of the life of entire communities. Any show of 
resentment is brutally suppressed. Dming 1931 in Southern 
Rhodesia native workers of well-known copper mines demon-
strated against a cut in wages, which coincided with a rise in 
the Poll Tax, and were mowed down by machine-gun fire. 
'Prevailing conditions in the Colonies amount to this: 
poverty, malnutrition, disease and ignorance. It is the duty of 
British democrats to remove these evils immediately. It is their 
• 
duty also to extend to the Colonial peoples the same rights as 
they claim for themselves, and to encourage the rise of free, 
democratic institutions. For though we must not give Colonies 
to Hitler, neither must we perpetuate the ill deeds of Britain.' 
"President Roosevelt during the month of April, made an 
appeal to the world, in which he said: 'you will realize, I am 
sure, that throughout the world hundreds of millions of human 
beings are living today in constant fear of the new war or even 
the scare of wars. The existence of this fear - and the pos-
sibility of such a conflict - is of definite concern to the people 
of the United States, for whom I speak, as it must also be the 
complaint of the other nations of the entire Western Hemi-
sphere.' Has the President forgotten the fact that fifteen mil-
lion American Negroes have always lived in fear and dread of 
the future, brought about by the never ceasing prejudice of the 
white people of that country who outnumber them? 
"No President of the United States can speak of justice to 
the world without haVing the Negro question thrown in his face, 
and although President Roosevelt is recognized as a v-ery able 
246 Garvey and Garveyism 
leader, and one who has done his best for the Negro in America, 
it must be recognized that he is still President of a nation whose 
hands are not clean. It will be a long day before America will 
be able to speak to the other nations by way of leading them 
into following her example." 
Garvey seemed destined never to have any respite from 
the evil actions of members of his own. In September of this 
year the Supreme Court of British Honduras gave its final de-
cision in the celebrated Isaiah Morter Will case, which had its 
beginning in 1922 when Mr. Morter came from Belize for the 
convention and medical attention. He was our guest, and was 
greatly impressed with the work being done, especially in Africa. 
When he died he left a Will in which he bequeathed almost all 
his estate to the V.N.LA. for African Redemption. His pro-
perties in British Honduras included a small Island, abounding 
in mahogany, coconuts, chickle, from which cheWing gum is 
made. Relatives and others contested the Will before it was 
admitted for probate. The question whether "African Re-
demption" were improper activities had such a bearing on the 
whole case, that it went from Court to Court for over twelve 
years, even after the Will was probated, to prevent the Parent 
Body V.N.LA. under Garvey's control from getting the legacy. 
During this time he sent an eminent Barrister to Belize and 
England, also retained Solicitor and Barrister in Belize to at-
tend to this matter, all this cost about one thousand pounds. 
Finally the Court awarded judgment in favour of a V .N.I .A. 
Inc. of New York City, which was represented by a man, with-
out members and no programme for African Redemption. 
CHAPTER 42. 
On the 11th January, 1940, he became ill, his Indian Doctor 
diagnosed it as haemorrhage in the brain, which caused his right 
side to be paralyzed, and instructed his Secretary to notify us 
of his condition, but said that with care he might live for two 
more years. He had a white housekeeper then, but his Secre-
tary - Miss Whyte, - Mr. McIntyre, a Grenadian Clerk in the 
office, and Mrs. Youssof, a native of Bechuanaland, whose hus-
band was an Ethiopian, took UU'IlS to nurse him, as he refused 
to go to a hospital. He gradually improved, and his speech be-
came plainer. Miss Whyte was an Anglican, so she asked her 
Minister to visit him; Mrs. Youssof was a Roman Catholic, and 
she asked a Priest to see him, after that Father Clarke came regu-
larly. 
In March when Junior was able to do without his crutches, 
and his leg was permanently out of plaster, I had his picture 
taken with Julius beside him, and sent it "to Dad with love." 
His Secretary in a letter td me said, "when he saw the picture 
of the boys, he looked at it steadily, then tears came down his 
cheeks. He insisted on keeping it under his pillow. For days 
he has been sad, and will hardly eat. I don't see why he is 
acting this way. When the Srst money came in through the 
mails, he ordered me to send them two pounds ten shillings 
which is ridiculous as there are bills to be paid." 
Laying paralyzed on one side, and unable to get around, 
he now felt and understood Junior's suffering, who might have 
been a permanent cripple. Did the picture of his two young 
sons challenge his paternal instincts? 
A comment often heard in America, even after his deport-
ation was : "It is too bad this man was not let alone", from per-
sons who felt sorry for this hunted man. "Stop pursuing him", 
they said, "let him settle down, and have a chance to put through 
his programme". An examination of which disclosed that it 
would have been contrary to human nature for his pursuers to 
have given up the chase until the kill was made. His pro-
gramme was built around three fundamentals: 
1. Uniting the peoples of the West Indies, the Coloured 
~-
247 
248 Garvey and Garveyism 
population of the U.S.A. with Africans at home, into one 
Brotherhood for betterment and uplift. 
2. The redemption of Africa from the exploitation of her 
lands and labour. 
3. African Nationalism - Nationhood being the only or-
ganized means by peoples for self-expression and self-determin-
ation in a well ordered World SOCiety. 
Each of these points struck a blow at the various systems 
of maintaining "white supremacy". The proponents of which 
keep black men down and beneath them, as a platform on which 
they stand and tell the world how big and powerful they are, 
this gives them stature. They regarded Africa as a bread-basket 
for Europe, her minerals and raw materials vitally necessary to 
their industries and commerce, to maintain them as leading 
nations of an advanced white civilization. Therefore every 
effort Garvey made in furtherance of his programme, retarded 
their progress. If Garveyism succeeded their super-structure 
would topple, as unwilling shoulders ease them down to bear 
their own weight and burdens. The self-protecting policies of 
nations over-ride human kindness and consideration of others. 
In this invisible battIe of opposing wills, the mind is the 
deciding factor. In terms of materialism, the strong imposes 
his will on the weak, and feels that as long as he can rule by 
law, or death from the air, his position is secure; he disregards 
the possibilities of the awakening minds of the retarded and 
oppressed. Gauging the latter's mind by his lowly material 
condition and position; however awakened minds transcend 
material handicaps; and in time and place fashion weapons and 
fight their way to freedom. Who can see and stop the ideas 
m men's minds before they are translated into action? 
There are seven important stagss of Garveyism: 
l. Awakening and uniting Negroes the world over. 
2. Changing the thinking of the aroused to a realization of 
manhood potential abilities. 
3. Charmeling the newly released emotional energies and 
resentment into constructive individual and racial interests. 
4. Mass sacrificial work and .truggle to reach embryOniC 
nationhood - the interim stage. 
5. Through legislation and otherwise, to stress mass edu-
cation along scientific and industrial lines, also character build-
ing, which are the sinews of any nation in peace or War. 
6. :rhe preparation of Nationalists for the grave responsi-
Garvey and Garveyism 249 
bilities of leading and directing young nations, whose people 
have been denied the privileges and advantages of early pre-
paration. 
7. The final efforts to unite and keep together the 
young nations, not only in their own protection, but as leaders 
of those still suffering under Colonial and Protectorate rule. 
Thus the scope and timing of the work of Garveyism is 
inconceivable to the average mind, and can only be rightly as-
sessed in the context of world history, as time demonstrates it. 
It was customary for Coloured people to be used to do 
the "dirty work" for white people; so naturally no better tools 
could be found than Garvey's own people to destroy him and 
his work. Besides, they were only too glad to get him out of 
the way, as they were being eclipsed by the rising sun of Gar-
veyism. Gone were the days when these starlets were looked 
on with childish awe by the masses, who formerly regarded 
them somewhat in this vein: 
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star! 
How I wonder what you are." 
In their anxiety to get on with the job they never studied 
Garvey to find out where !).is weakness lay. Had they done so 
at close range, they would have realized that unjust opposition 
brought out all the fighting qualities in him; but having a com-
plex disposition, if he were kindly treated he could be trapped, 
mainly because of his belief in his fellow man. An instance was 
when a man from an Inter-racial Association in America, pre-
tending to be the victim of discrimination, he being the only 
black man as their sub-officer, phoned Garvey at home, sub-
sequently came there twice. He explained what he called his 
predicament - he received a smal! pay, for which he did more 
work than the others, he wanted to resign, but could not do so 
unless he was assured of a job in another Organization. Garvey 
was most sympathetic, and said that while it was only at Con-
ventions that officers were elected, yet as Administrator he 
could call a meeting of the Executive Council, put his case be-
fore them, perhaps they would agree to his being taken on tem-
porarily at a better salary than he was now getting. He re-
turned to our flat for the results, which were favourable. How-
ever, he insisted that Garvey write him a letter offering him the 
position, but not mentioning the fact that he had sought it. 
Garvey unsuspecting, did so. The man used this letter to get 
250 Garvey and Garveyism 
a raise of pay, then to ridicule Garvey - whom he said had 
"asked him to join his African nonsense". 
In assessing the leadership of Garvey, it must be considered 
that it was his faithful followers, wherever found, and numbered 
in millions, who by their exemplary conduct under provocation 
and repression, gained for him the title - an outstanding leader. 
To them he was their "CHIEF" - the name they and his As-
sociates called him. He believed in them, and they in him; 
this mutual faith and love, consecrated the task of leadership, 
and the devotion of the followers. 
In computing the membership of the Organization, to say 
that it was about six millions is no exaggeration; yet it can never 
be accurately arrived at, as there are divisions, branches and 
chapters of the U.N.l.A. besides Chapters of Garveyites under 
different names in Fraternities, and "pockets" of Garveyism as 
a philosophy among Study Groups etc. Besides Garveyism is 
a COMMON FAITH. A member sent him a poem of salute 
while he was in Atlanta prison, one of the verses reads: 
"Look up Brave Heartl You struggle not alone, 
Nay) you have soldiers whom you've never known. 
Revive your faith; press ever 6.nnly OD, 
For 10, Almighty God is on His throne." 
The man, woman or child who has heard Garvey speak, 
or read his writings become inspired, and if converted to Gar-
veyism is a changed person in outlook; however, most of them 
will not give him credit for the change. 
The Parent Body had no record of all members in each 
Division, and Branch, as the Locals only sent lists of names of 
those who sent in their quota of subScriptions. A division in 
a town like Raleigh, North Carolina, had a membership of ten 
thousand, but few of that number were paid up, especially when 
jobs were slow; or in Northern towns where a plant closed down, 
hundreds would drift to a more prosperous town or city. It was 
too dangerous in some Locals to have the names of some support-
ers or Garveyites listed as members, for fear of reprisals, in their 
jobs, churches, or even in their family relationship. The Locals 
controlled their own funds; they were registered or incorporated 
under State laws; so it was just malicious accusations when Gar· 
vey's enemies computed all revenue from local membership dues 
as "going into the coffers of the Parent Body". In many places 
in Africa and the West Indies they had to operate secretly or 
quietly. ....t herefore not much financial support came from these 
Garvey and Garveyism 251 
areas. The Agents for the Negro World took advantage of the 
situation, which made the newspaper a strain on the U.N.LA.'s 
funds; yet the paper had to be sent to keep the people informed 
of our point of view. 
It was Garvey's speaking ability that brought in funds, 
people flocked to see and hear him. To understand his mag-
netism and persuasive eloquence as a Speaker, the testimony 
of William L. Sherrill, now President-General, bears this out, 
as he relates his conversion in Baltimore, Maryland, years ago: 
"Here was I, a successful business man with a family, mem~ 
ber of a Church, a Lodge, and fully insured to protect them. 
I did not have to jOin anything else. I subscribed to the Anti-
lynching campaign every time a Negro was lynched. I did not 
like to hear people talk about conditions of my people, as 1 
had overcome many of them; let everybody else do likewise. 1 
argued this way against the persuasion of friends . 
"One night on my way to a Show, I saw a huge crowd 
outside a Church, I went up and said, 'what's going on in there?' 
A lady turned to me and said, 'man alive, don't you know that 
Marcus Garvey is in there talking, yes, indeed, Garvey in per-
son. 'Shucks,' I said, 'I may as well see what he looks like. I 
could not get near the windows, so 1 had to get a ticket for 
standing room only. I squeezed in, until I could get a good 
look at him; then sudderdy he turned in my direction, and in 
a voice like thunder from Heaven he said, 'men and women, 
what are you here for? To live unto yourself, until your body 
manures the earth, or to live God's Purpose to the fullest?' He 
continued to complete his thought in that compelling, yet plead-
ing voice for nearly an hour. I stood there like one in a trance, 
every sentence ringing in my ears, and finding an echo in my 
heart. When I walked out of that Church, I was a different man 
- I knew my sacred obligations to my Creator, and my respons-
ibilities to my fellow men, and so help mel 1 am still on the Gar-
vey train." 
What weapons did this Crusader use in battering down the 
walls of oppression? He enlightened the minds of his people 
so fenced in, and they, in their newly acquired strength, and 
spiritual urge, used same to undermine them. He looked at the 
world through telescopic eyes, and saw what lay beyond, to 
warn and prepare his people for "the tomorrows in the lives of 
peoples and nations." 
• 
CHAPTER 43. 
Garveyism has been dubbed "Black Zionism", but if Jews 
are God's chosen people, then Africans are God's favoured 
people. 
Jews had to pledge their personal and financial parti-
cipation in the Second World War in order to establish their 
home land in a portion of Palestine, IWW called Israel, sur-
rounded by hostile Arab countries; they experience great hard-
ships to maintain themselves off the poor soil, but the Jews of 
the world continue to send help to the Homeland. 
Africans are spread over the whole continent; the descend-
ants of the dispersed Africans in the West Indies, Central and 
South America are in the majority in the Islands, British Hon-
duras and British Guiana. They are all becoming in time self-
governing territories. That the Coloured Americans did not 
plant their own stake in Africa in the twenties to establish their 
right in the homeland and ability to govern themselves is re-
grettable. However the tri-partite globular implications of 
Garveyism have no parallel in history. 
Garveyism is neither an escapist programme, nor an abdi-
cation of Negroes' rights in America, as suggested by some of 
his Northern critics to slur Garvey and ridicule the real import-
ance of the African colonization proposals as an outlet for the 
Race to develop and expand to the stature of men and women 
with national prestige and economic security; thus enhancing 
the position of those who remain in America to fight for full 
Citizenship rights. It is common knowledge that economic pres-
sure causes race friction. One is bound to respect people who, 
through their own efforts cease to be beggars - of jobs, political 
patronage, better conditions, and social privileges. Thus the 
Garvey agitation helped the American equal rights demand, 
for no longer were Coloured people depending on this .as their 
only saving grace; white people knew that, and reacted accord-
ingly. 
True fellowship of peoples of different races must be based 
on mutu,a l respect and esteem; free from condescension and 
252 
Garvey and Garveyism 253 
tolerance. The law cannot successfully enforce "social equality", 
without the existence of this state of mind . 
The Colonists could have used their technical training in 
America to develop the natural resources of Africa and become 
wealthy, even as white American companies are now getting 
rich out of Liberian concessions. 
There can be no decline of Garveyism, even although every 
effort was made in America to wreck every big scale colonization 
plan by the V.N.LA., its affiliated Organizations or by States-
men to Congress, and other Legislatures. As Garvey said: "Be 
assured I have planted the seed of African nationalism so deep, 
so far and wide, which cannot be destroyed, even by the foul 
play meted out to me". 
Today (1957) in Africa and the West Indies young nations 
are emerging, and all Negro America takes pride in these 
achievements, being blood brothers of those who will in time 
be seated at the United Nations meetings. 
It is said of Garvey that he was extravagant and bombastic 
in speech. True, but would not the Englishman, with his Anglo-
Saxon frigid calm say the same thing of a Panamanian or Nic-
araguan mass leader, who was speaking for the freedom of his 
people? Garvey so believed in the potential ability of his Race 
to control its own destiny, if. unfettered and unhampered, that 
nothing he said in this regard seemed to him far-fetched, and 
time has proven him right. 
The awakening of a dispersed race dormant for centuries 
and the challenge to their over-lords, that when awakened from 
their racial trance they would be able, in time, to throw out 
the usurper, had to be done by drastic utterances to arouse both 
races. But this accomplished, he changed his speeches and writ-
ings to exhortations on the preparations necessary for Colonists 
and pioneers in all walks of life. 
The only ground on which white people are really united 
is RACE, neither language, religion, nor political systems have 
as cohesive a force for all nations; and because of this knowl-
edge many white leaders deplored the idea that Garvey, too, 
should organize his Race, and the Coloured Yes-men echoed 
agreement, and called him "a Racist, in a world that was gradu-
ally breaking down racial barriers." But to the oppressed and 
submerged masses, that gradual process was too slow to affect 
them in their lifetime, if it was left mainly to the change of 
heart of the dominant race; for man behaves as his very nature 
-e.G.-23 
254 Garvey ud Garveyism 
dictates, it is only the veneer of his culture that hides his im-
pulses and passions. 
Studying the systems that control the various white nations, 
and their application and implementation toward black, yellow 
and brown races, one must come to the conclusion that the white 
race is well organized to try to maintain its leadership of the 
world. Some are diplomatic enough not to flaunt it, others 
maintain a conspiracy of silence on the matter; but he who 
has to face the barriers daily, or try to avoid the pitfalls, feels 
and knows, that it is ever present in a greater or lesser degree 
in all parts of the world; therefore it behoves the black race to 
so position itself for recognition and respect, and not be tethered 
by the will and pleasure, or displeasure of the superior? white 
race. who are free. 
One may well ask the question: how free can he be? Or 
how free is his freedom? The answer may well be, to do as 
he darn well pleases to other races; he has the power. But in 
this reckless exercise of his freedom, he often becomes a slave 
to his own weaknesses and baser nature, thereby eventually 
causing him to retrograde. Seeing this happen under his very 
eyes, Garvey constantly warned his people to be prepared for 
freedom; for it involves grave responsibilities and restraint 
Whether our freedom is obtained by political upheavals or 
gradually, by pressure from within or without, we must be pre-
pared SCientifically and technically to co-operate in Africa for 
the common good. 
In 1955 a white American in writing about Garvey stated 
that "it was doubtful whether Garvey could find today in the 
United States the ready response that greeted his early pro-
selytizing efforts." Isn't it atiomatic that it is oppressive and 
repressive conditions that erupt mass leaders? The conditions 
in 1916-19 were modified by 1924 under the aggressive leader-
ship of Garvey, and so on as the years went by. Garveyism is 
not static, as the different stages of its programme coincided 
with the development and uplift of our people. 
American critics treat Garveyism only as it applies to Col-
oured Americans and gleefully assert that, because they helped 
wreck the colonization plans and the ships they defeated Gar-
veyism. If it were possible for Garvey to come back in the 
flesh, he would tune his utterances and actions to participate 
in the new political freedom of the West Indies and West Africa, 
the foundations for which he cleared the way and built To 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 255 
the ntinority unit in the U.S.A. he would say, but for a few self-
satisfied and self-seeking, jealous Negroes, you too would have 
been established in a self-governing Greater Liberia. 
Integration of the ntinority race group into all phases of 
life of the nation will be a national victory, hastened to its 
climax by international opinion regarding the treatment accorded 
Negroes as the barometer of American democracy; but in the 
years to come, the practical realiVltion will be absorption. Lack-
ing the prestige of a Greater Liberia nation of their own in the 
Motherland, it will tum out to be a hollow victory. Garveyism 
planned that the Units should complement each other, and de-
monstrate to a skeptical world the ability of Coloured Americans, 
not only to fight for their rights in the land of their birth, but 
to venture forth to Africa and build and man their own demo-
cratic nation, and prove that they had served their apprentice-
ship well under the hardy stock of the Pilgrim Fathers in the 
building of an American democracy. 
Professor Gordon Lewis, writing in the Jamaica Gleaner, 
September 9, 1957, under the head, "American debt to the West 
Indies', stated that the most important tasks of the Federated 
West Indies will be the development of foreign service, ambas-
sadorial representation, and trade relations, as soon as they are 
relinquished by the British· government. The cultivation of 
diverse relationships with every nation disposed to be friendly 
to the West Indian cause will greatly help; America being fore-
most; for said he, "The West Indies can indeed lay claim to 
American friendship and affection. In their own way they have 
given much during their history to the American cause." 
He related the enormous stimulus the West Indian trade 
gave to the early economic development of the American 
Colonies; their mutual interests caused Pitt's abortive plan for 
their federation into a wider Imperial Parliament; the West 
Indies gave to the Federated American Colonies men like Alex-
ander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, Jost Van 
Dyke, Architect of the Capitol Buildings in Washington. The 
Emancipation of 1834 gave a tremendous spurt to the Abolition-
ists' Cause in the United States, and, added Mr. Lewis: 
"In the following century Jamaica itself gave to the cause 
of Negro freedom the name and fame of Marcus Garvey; for 
although few will condone the Black Fascism and the Messianic 
power-ambition endemic in Garveyism, the movement he created 
was at least instrumental to the growth of proud self-conscious-
• 
256 Garvey and Garveyism 
ness in the American Negro, and aptly illustrated the vital im-
portance of the dynamic agitator in the history of freedom. 
"Mills' phrase is - 'it is always the discontented that makes 
for progress'. Garvey was that, and one day Jamaica will do 
his memory adequate homage." 
He further stated that West Indian Federation is a challenge 
to the American neighbour to honour the finest element in his 
nature, and closed the article by stating: 
"There is real room for adding American friendship to the 
English connection, but it must be a friendship wherein the 
terms are shaped by the West Indian nation on a basis of 
equality with the American neighbour. In this way the United 
States will repay the debt they owe to the West Indies in the 
best of the American tradition." 
• 
• 
CHAPTER 44. 
"Africa for the Africans, those at home and those abroad". 
is not merely a slogan, but it is a just demand, a reasonable 
expectation. a righteous hope, a faith in the Creator's purpose. 
It is the pulsating heart of Garveyism; therefore a vibrant call 
for dedicated Negro lives, and a challenge to the integrity of 
Colonial Powers in that continent. 
How well it has succeeded in the homeland. its trials and 
struggles leading to its eventual fulfilment are evidenced in the 
secret reports in the archives of the Colonial Offices of England. 
France, Belgium, Italy. Portugal and Spain. to which few 
writers will have access, as they prove what awakened black 
minds can achieve in defiance of lashings, imprisonment and 
bullets. It would hurt the prestige of Colonial Powers for the 
world to know that a lone black man caused them so much 
concern; that their Statesmen had their ears to the ground to 
hear of his every movement and utterances. Thought they -
If Garvey was not stirring up a mass uprising. was he playing 
for a convenient time? Or was it to be a sit-down strike in 
the mines and elsewhere? Above all what was going on in the 
minds of these Africans? What messages were the tom-tom drums 
relaying in the dead of night? House-boys (house servants) 
were being suspected. so were Headmen, even when they dis-
claimed any knowledge of Garvey, or of trouble brewing. It 
would be unwise even at this time to record names of those 
who journeyed to all parts of Africa to spread the doctrine of 
freedom. 
There could be no full scale acceptance to the invitation 
of the King of Abyssinia in 1922, as the only means of trans-
portation at that time was by ships to the Port of Djibuti, then 
by French railroad to Addis Ababa, the capital - a costly and 
tedious journey by which one could not easily transport 
machinery and household goods. However, many individuals 
went, and were well received by the government which was 
only too glad to utilize their professional and technical skill. 
The French and Italian governments became greatly perturbed, 
and asked Abyssinia to stop the influx of Western world Negroes. 
257 
258 Garvey and Garveyism 
as they may form a pocket there, and trickle over the borders to 
stir up trouble. From then on persons desirous of going had tn 
get the Abyssinian Consul-General to get jobs for them with the 
government, especially in schools, or satisfy him and his Gov-
ernment of the immigrants' financial ability to set himself up 
in business. They also had to declare that they were not co ... 
nected with the Garvey movemenl 
Although the Liberian Government required a declaration, 
even more stringent, yet the Garveyites have continued to get 
into the country. In his lif. ..t ime Garvey had a common under-
standing with them, that their denunciation of him was to 
pursue the work of Garveyism in Africa, to help leaven the 
whole. 
From other parts of Africa, both Seamen and Students have 
been indoctrinated in Garveyism in England, France and the 
U.S.A., and on their return home, quietly and secretly spread 
the gospel of Unity and Freedom; some have become leaders, 
others have created dedicated followers by their teaching and 
inspired faith. It is not difficult to maintain loyalty in fol-
lowers to the cause of liberty in a land of their own, where 
they are in the majority. 
Seamen have done magnificent work in carrying the Negro 
World and leaflets in basic English, to ports of Africa and Asia. 
A seaman once said that when his ship docked at Vladivostok, 
East Russia, he said to himself, "here is where I won't be able 
to make a single contact"; but he was wrong; before he left 
that port, he was introduced to two West Indians who had mar-
ried Russian women, and made their homes there. Said he, 
the pride and joy in the eyes of those men were indescribable 
when he told them of the world movement for freedom led by 
Garvey, and handed them the literature. Seamen set up Chap-
ters of the U.N.I.A. in out of the way places like Sydney, Aus-
tralia, and Honolulu, Hawaii. 
During the years Garvey had representatives of the U.N.I.A. 
in Paris and London; besides there was always an African re-
presentative in London to keep in personal touch with Africans 
working for freedom. The expense was terrific. Some had to 
give up the work because of lack of funds; others worked in 
their spare time for a gratuity, which, quite often, Garvey had 
to give out of his salary, as this did not seem so important a 
work to i!is colleagues. At times Garvey could not risk the 
Garvey and Garveyism 259 
person's identity being known to them, or if the reward was 
made for valuable information sent personally to Garvey. 
Under the adversity of European rule in Africa, tribal wars 
were suppressed so that all Africans could be available, and in 
condition to exploit the mineral and other resources for the 
benefit of European companies and cartels. This also had the 
effect of uniting all Africans in a common cause of freedom from 
the white man's rule. 
Garveyism brought to all Africa the heartening assurance 
that their descendants in the New World, and indeed every-
where, are one with them in the struggle to throw off European 
yolk, and that it was a possibility. For, argued Garvey, in a 
speech, March, 1923: 
"The germ of European malice, revenge and antagonism 
is so deeply rooted among certain of the contending powers that 
in a short while we feel sure that they will present to Negroes 
the opportunity for which we are organized. 
"Out of the very reconstruction of world affairs will come 
the glorious opportunity for Africa's freedom to build a national 
power in the Motherland . .. the critics ask, is this pOSSible? and 
the four hundred million courageous Negroes of the world 
answer - Yes. 
"Let no man, let no power on earth turn you from this 
sacred Cause of liberty. r prefer to die, at this moment, rather 
than cease my work for the freedom of Africa." 
Garvey had no intention of going to Africa for the purpose 
of stirring up revolt. He knew his people would be mowed 
down by machine-gun, and he hated bloodshed. Many rumours 
were purposely spread to keep Colonial Officials worried and 
uncertain of themselves. After Garvey's deportation from 
America, it was reported that he would try to enter Africa dis-
guised as a Seaman. The same source reported that if he did 
he wouldn't be imprisoned, as that would make a martyr of him, 
and fan the smoldering fire of freedom into a flame; but that 
he would be done to death quietly by one of his own people, 
and his body dumped at sea. He was also barred from entry 
otherwise. He had to be content to remain afar and publicize 
the struggle for his beloved Africa; for while they could bar 
Garvey in the flesh, they could not contain his spirit of freedom, 
then penneating the very air of Africa. For said he, "r am 
only the forerunner of an awakened Africa, that shall never go 
back to sleep." • 
260 Garvey and Garveyism 
Mohammedanism is more of a unifying religious force in 
Africa than the Christian religion, splintered as it is into many 
denominations, yet the latter have done very good work in the 
educational field there. 
As awakened Africans started to shake themselves free of 
their encumbrances, Prime Minister Jan Smuts of South Africa 
sensed the danger, particularly to his territory, and in an effort 
"to strengthen white South Africa" he made overtures to all 
European nations, for joint European exploitation of Africa, 
under a Regional system - East, West and South. White Amer-
icans were also invited to participate. He said to American 
Correspondents at an interview: 
"Africa is teeming with wealth ... I am all in favour of 
white Americans coming to Africa with their capital and I sug-
gest the idea of consultive councils in which America, as well 
as Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and other interested 
countries would be represented." 
This proposed European-American plan coincided with 
those of the Axis Partners (Hitler and Mussolini) who exerted 
pressure, ineffectively however, on France, to become a pas-
sive Axis Partner in the follOWing scheme, the report of which 
was released by Arno Dosch-Fleurot, from Marseilles in October, 
1940, and stated: 
"The Axis Powers are now directing the attention of Con-
tinental Europeans to the vast continent to the South. An 
European-African autarchy is, they say, made necessary by the 
new distribution of the world power. 'Europe the head, Africa 
the body', is one of their slogans. 'Defence of European civi-
lization in Africa,' is another. The pre-war partition, with Bri-
tain and France holding most of the territory is, according to 
Axis publicists, against the general European interests. They 
propose to open Africa to general European settlement, with the 
greatest power in Africa going to the countries capable of send-
ing the biggest number of settlers. These countries are Italy, 
Germany, Scandinavia and the various Slavonic countries of 
Central Europe. The same countries which earlier provided the 
United States with most of its immigrants. 
"Due note is taken by the Axis of the fact that emigrants 
previously became citizens of tl,e countries of their adoption. 
In the new African settlements, ties of emigrants to their home 
countries are not to be cut. Under the plan of the Dictators, 
Garvey and Garveyism 261 
each European country with settlers in Africa, will have a Do-
minion in Africa." 
The intention of both of these plans was to use Africans to 
provide, procure and process for shipment, the wealth of Africa 
to the marts of Europe and America; so as to enrich and exalt 
white nations; Africans being regarded by them as the "lesser 
breed" - the beasts of burden for them. However after World 
War II both vanquished and the exhausted victors had to change 
their plans, and face the stem reality of Asian and African de-
mands. 
In April, 1923, Garvey, in his article to the Negro World -
"Who and what is a Negro?" - made the follOwing statement 
regarding the political amalgamation of the white and coloured 
peoples in South Africa: 
"More than a year ago the natives of South Africa started 
to press the limited white population to the wall in the demand 
of 'Africa for the Africans'. The prejudiced Boers and others 
were willing then to let down the colour bar and admit to their 
ranks SOCially and otherwise the half-breed coloured people 
whom they once classified as impossible hybrids, to be despised 
by both whites and natives. Now they are endeavouring to 
make common cause with ·them, so as to strengthen their posi-
tion against the threatening ascendancy of the demand for a 
free and redeemed Africa for the blacks of the world. 
"In an editorial dated March 29, 1923, the Abantu-Batho 
of Johannesburg states among other things : 
'The Cape coloured people have been promised absorption 
by politicians, particularly those of the Dutch race . .. Indeed 
we are suspicious that all this talk about absorption is a political 
trap which has been set to capture the coloured vote in the Cape. 
It is the business of the politician to strengthen his position by 
getting as many supporters as pOSSible. To do this, he must, of 
necessity, be diplomatic. That is to say, he must know how 
to get around the people, and the only way to do this, is to put 
before them a beautiful picture of what one intends to do. There 
can be no doubt that to the Cape Coloured people the idea of 
their absorption by the white race presents a beautiful ideal, 
for the attainment of which they are prepared to sacrifice every-
thing. They cannot be blamed, for this. As a distioct com-
munity they have no past, no traditions, no laws, and no langu-
age which constitute the pride of every race of mankind. These 
sons of Hagar are in an awkward position They despise the 
262 Garvey and Garveyism 
people of Hagar, because Hagar's people are despised by the 
people of Abraham. They are suffering because of the gulf 
that exists between their mothers' people and those of their 
fathers ... The difference between the treatment meted out to 
the Coloured people and the Africans does not in any way signify 
that the whites have more consideration for the Coloured people. 
It will be remembered that when Lord Selborne left this country 
in 1909, he warned the white people of South Africa against 
putting the Cape Coloured people in the same category as 
Africans, because that would unite the two sections of the 
African peoples to fight for their common rights. Since then, the 
policy has been to differentiate in the treatment of the two sec-
tions so as to make combined action impossible. Thus it is 
not saying too much to aver that the real object is to make the 
Cape Coloured people a buffer between Africans and Europeans. 
As a buffer the Cape Coloured people can never have the same 
rights as whites. Now the question is: what are they to do? 
Will they be satisfied with a position of this kind? Or will they 
follow the lead of our cousins in America and classify them-
selves as Africans? In our opinion this is the only way to the 
salvation of the Cape Coloured people. They are Africans and 
not Europeans, and the sooner they realize it the better.' 
"White people will seek every opportunity to fraternize 
with any race in the world, even the one despised yesterday, if 
by so doing they can strengthen their position, whether it be in 
Europe, Africa or elsewhere, but it is for four hundred million 
people who have been discriminated against throughout the 
world to take a decided stand, and for once we will agree with 
the white American, that one drop of Negro blood makes a man 
a Negro; so that 100 per cent Negroes, and even 1 per cent 
Negroes will stand together as one mighty whole to strike 
a universal blow for liberty and recognition in Africa." 
White South Africans did use the Coloured people to fur-
ther their own political and racial interests, but thirty-three 
years later - when their numbers had been equalized by 
European emigrants - their votes were taken from them, and 
they were relegated to the category of "native Africans". 
The answer to the question - what became of the African 
slaves taken to Europe, Central and South America, during the 
traffic in human beings? - is contained in one word, absorption. 
In England, 1772, a test-case was made by Granville Sharpe, 
in which. he produced an African slave in Court, and argued 
Garvey and Garveyism 263 
before Judge Mansfield, that slavery was incompatible with 
English law. The Judge's decision freed approximately fifteen 
thousand slaves in England, at that time. Freed slaves and 
their descendants have contributed to Europe's greatness, but 
history written by white hands, ignores any mention of them, 
except in a few isolated cases such as Pushkin of Russia and 
Dumas of France. 
All of the New World, from Canada to Chile, received 
African slaves. Brazil received the greatest number through the 
Portuguese traffic, and countries like Chile and Canada, the 
least amount. All of these slaves have been absorbed into the 
majority populations, of Indian-Spanish, and Anglo-French. 
Thus Africans have contributed to the development of the wild 
countries of Central and South America. Their blood has been 
mixed with the Indians and watered the sod to throw off the 
yolk of European oppression, and bring independence to Spanish 
and Portuguese speaking Americas. 
He has enriched the culture of these countries with his 
buoyancy of spirit, his Faith in God; the music of his soul in 
song and dance, even when all seems lost; also the durability 
of his stock under adverse conditions has strengthened the In-
dian, Spanish and Portuguese stock to survive and procreate 
abundantly. Thus have these countries gained materially and 
spiritually while Africa is not given any credit for same. 
The need for ships of our own is still great, although we 
now have an alternative mode of transportation by aeroplanes. 
The West Indian Shipping Company has been in operation for 
years. Ghana (Gold Coast), the first African nation to emerge 
from Colonial rule, launched its first ship of the Black Star Line 
of Ghana, at the close of 1951, and showed the world what 
Africans can do on their own. 
Under their own national registry, saboteurs can be dealt 
with summarily, as a deterrent to others who may succumb to 
bribery and corruption, and attempt to destroy their own Ship-
ping Line. 
"Garvey's Voice", the present mouthpiece of the U.N.LA. 
is being circulated in all parts of Africa. Coloured newspaper 
men in America who used to ridicule Garvey and sneer at Africa 
and its people, now take pride to write about the progress being 
made in "that rich continent by our blood brothers." 
The great essentials of the character of a people are in-
tegrity and stamina; these determine their ability, nut only to 
264 Garvey and Garveyism 
shape civilization to their needs and ambitions, or how long 
they are able to maintain same; but the type of progeny they 
rear to carry on the legacies they leave behind, in their way 
of life, and their contacts with weaker peoples. 
Since civilization is but a continuity of movement, and the 
lifespan of particular types is counted in centuries, the indica-
tions are that the darker races of the world will be next in 
ascendency. Let us therefore continue to build moral qualities 
in our character so as to insure peace and happiness for all. 
, 
CHAPTER 45. 
To whom shall we liken this man? The "New York News" 
described him: 
"As ruthless as Napoleon. As zealous as John Brown, Mar-
cus Garvey has become the world storm center of his race's 
fight for equality. Who can say that after the storm, the atmo-
sphere will not be clear?" 
In an article to the "Jamaica Standard", January 26, 1939, 
Randolph Williams, formerly employed to the Organization, 
gave another comparison, thus: 
"Like Frankenstein, he discovered late that he had created 
a huge thing, that he alone could not manage, and that he could 
not trust others to help him with, fearing that his helpers, not 
understanding the intricate mechanism of this thing would de-
stroy it. He had worked out a programme that needed a few 
generations for its completion, something that was no one-man's 
job, he attempted to accomplish it in a Single generation, and 
chiefly by himself. He suffered from great impatience, and 
was constantly mortified tl1at others could not give themselves 
up as completely to the Cause as he could. Because of this 
great in1patience, when he should have put all the resources of 
his huge Association behind one single project, and 'put it overl' 
he tackled half a dozen and succeeded with none." 
To a Coloured critic in London, he likened him physically 
to Dessaline, one of Toussaint L'Overture's generals. A man 
who came to scoff at one of his meetings, left converted, and 
said, "that man is a God-sent leader." 
The Editor of the "Kansas City Call", February 20, 1925, 
called him a Zealot and an Iconoclast. In conclusion he won-
dered if after all he had not evoked the admiration of white 
men by his smashing changes: 
"His call to the Negro to be his own man, has helped us. 
We wonder if there is not deep down in the hearts of white 
men, who have seen the uniform conservatism of the Negro in 
America, an admiration for tltis one black man in recent times, 
who objected to the conditions and did what he could to change 
them. We are sure we are proud of Nat Turner, and every 
265 • 
266 Garvey and Gar,..yism 
other black man, who in slavery days objected to that evil, and 
it does not lessen our pride in them, that they too were law 
breakers." 
In a letter to the New York Sun, August 8, 1922, a Cor-
respondent likened him to - the "Stormy Petrel" of his Race -
A plain ordinary man, well educated, but without the pride of 
learning which is characteristic of some of the more notable of 
his critics; who cannot understand how he has got such a hold 
on the masses, whom they have for years neglected and looked 
upon with a sort of pitying contempt. These people know that 
Garvey does not despise them, and that he is honestly trying to 
help them, and they will follow him to the ends of the earth." 
A Brooklynite writing in the Negro World called him "a 
Black Moses, who endowed from God with the gifts of faith 
and courage wrought miracles for his people in a shorter time 
than it took Moses leading the children of Israel toward the 
promised land; they having Jehovah's own presence with them, 
supplying their material and spiritual needs, fighting their 
battles , and conquering their enemies." 
A New York World Reporter, who had studied Garvey 
while reporting his Conventions and trial, described him in a 
Sunday issue of the newspaper, June, 1923, as a Group Psycho-
logist and Idealist Planner, but not practical. He wrote: 
"Marcus Garvey can lay claim to being a most successful 
student of group psychology. His powers to weld Negroes, -
heterogeneous in thought and environment - into one solid 
phalanx, working for the same ideals, have been almost un-
canny. A forceful and convincing speaker, nimble-minded in 
debate, and seldom permitting himself to be put on the de-
fensive ; it is an interesting study watching him exercise complete 
mastery over a gathering of from three to five thousand of his 
followers. 
"A witness during the trial likened the Defendant when 
speaking to his audience to a Master-Musician, who had com-
plete control of his instrument, and playing on it at will. It 
was a fitting description of Garvey holding his audience com-
pletely under his spell at Liberty Hall ... 
"Conceiving and attempting to put over big things is his 
speciality. Even Harlem with more than 180,000 Negroes has 
only come within the range of his mental calculations merely 
as a spoke in the wheel. Few of his ideas ever reached the 
stage of fruition, but this was not because all of them were 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 267 
devoid of merit. There were some deserving of favourable con-
sideration. But idealism is one thing, the application of prac-
tical methods is another. With him practicability very often 
bad to give way to idealism and egotism." 
Some writers mistakenly named him "Marcus Aurelius". 
until it was thought by many that Aurelius was his middle-name. 
because this Philosopher is identified with the thinking that 
instead of disliking or despising people unlike us, we ought to 
act on the premise that "the Universe has need of them". 
The name Garvey was given to my great grand father by 
his slave master, in place of his Mrican name, said he. "I shall 
so work that in the years to come, this name shall be syoony-
mous with FREEDOM." 
A former Associate said of Garvey: "If you are a hard 
worker he is easy to get along with, but when angered or 
antagonized he bellows defiance. Being born under the influ-
ence of Leo - the Lion - may have some effect on his dis-
position."  
After he left us in Jamaica, he sent from England a Horo-
scope for each child, stating that these would help me to under-
stand their respective dispoSitions better, and to develop their 
best qualities. Julius, being born on the 16th August, and his 
Dad on the 17th, they come Wlder the same planetary influences. 
To those who believe in Destiny, and say, "it is written in the 
stars," or for the curious and skeptical, the Horoscope reads as 
follows: 
"You are proud of Race and readily won by kindness. You 
love the big things of life, and are inclined to ignore the de-
tails too much. You make an excellent leader, and are best 
in a pOSition of authority or responSibility. You have fixed 
opinions, and it is difficult for anyone to make you change your 
mind once it is made up. 
"You are fond of large schemes, and have great organizing 
ability. You aim very high, almost at an impossible state of 
perfection. You are proud and contemptous when hurt or of-
fended, haughty and arrogant when angry; yet you have a very 
forgiving nature. You have a great power of good in you, and 
can inspire others to accomplish much. You are inclined to 
be altruistic and will act in the interests of others and against 
yourself, if your sympathy is aroused. You are magnetic and 
very powerful in exerting your influence. 
"Your strongest point is your organizing power. You have 
• 
268 Garvey and Garveyism 
great ideals, which lead you to undertake gigantic concerns. A 
generous nature, which prompts you to do much for others. 
Faith and trust in your fellowmen, which will often bring the 
best out of other people. 
"The weakness of your character lies in a liability to be 
abnormally proud and vain, and in some cases egotistical and 
self-applauding. Passionate and sweeping in your anger, and 
at times a little too presumptuous. 
"You must have charge of others, whether few or many, 
to be at your best. A subordinate position never contents you, 
you are too proud to be menial, and will therefore work your 
way up, because of your ambition to be in a superior position". 
Heredity, environmental pressures - both kindly and cruel 
- perhaps Destiny, too, had a hand in making Garvey what 
he was, because of what he did. 
CHAPTER 46. 
One should be judged by one's deeds and words, but no 
preconceived calculating analyses of paragraphs taken out of 
their context can do justice to a character whose ideals were 
considered revolting to the ruling systems of his time. Because 
this would be tantamount to a post mortem examination -
opinion arrived at by dissection and deductions; which is to 
be avoided, hence the following article, "Truth our Weapon", 
from the "Blackman", July, 1935, and his poetic thoughts on 
the Church on earth, inspired because of the Italo-Abyssinia 
war: 
"It is said that in Nature 'nothing happens before its time.' 
This suggests that Nature or Nature's God has a unique or par-
ticular way of dealing with phenomena; so that which looks 
unusual to the human mind, and sometimes out of sorts, even 
unkind, can well be understood by properly considering the 
peculiarity of the great Source of Life. The Negro presents an 
unfortunate picture in the ' world from the social, economic, 
political and general point of view; so much so that everywhere 
he has been regarded with derision, contempt, and even hate 
and disgust. The Negro himself has often felt the lash of his 
own condition, but to the thoughtful student, the very condi-
tions that our civilizations have forced upon him, are beacons 
showing him the way toward the harbour of human refuge 
through Nature's peculiarities. 
"Nature has a way of teaching her lessons. The Negro is 
being taught his, so we must not become entirely broken in 
spirit, and discouraged by the lash of circumstances. Handicaps 
placed upon him by his contemporaries of other races are but 
stimuli toward his reaching out after the highest and noblest 
in the accomplishment of the human genius of the mind. The 
man who does not profit from his environment is a hopeless 
fool. Surely the Negroes of America, the West Indies and 
Africa are not such fools as not to profit by their present environ-
ments. They are being forced on toward something that is 
bound to come. It is Nature's way of spurring them; it is 
Nature's way of achieving the end. 
• 
269 
__O _ ____________________G -.G.-u 
270 G ....e y ud G. ...e yism 
"For centuries the Negro has been merely an unfortunate 
incident in the life of the civilizations that have surrounded 
him. Surely he must have learned a lot? He has not been an 
aggressor, but an observer. It is hoped that his sane and sober 
observations will supply him with the necessary human material 
to build a better civilization, when the white man has destroyed 
that of the twentieth century. There is no doubt that the Negro's 
chance will come when the smoke from the fire and ashes of 
twentieth century civilization has blown off. There are some 
who limit the Negro permanently to a place of inferiority, soci-
ally, politically and economically; but there may be a law which 
is beyond the reach of all men, which settles the affairs 01 
humanity, and it is apparent that in the settlement the Negro 
has much to expect in the future, having suffered so much in 
the past. 
"Some look upon prophesy as fairy tales, but if men are 
really to worship under 'their own vine and fig tree', then Nature 
must have had her plans laid down toward this accomplishment. 
Slowly, though it seems, the Negro is travelling toward such a 
destination. He must be encouraged toward this end; this is 
the purpose of our Organization - to stir Negro minds all over 
the world toward the gloriOUS objective of the fulfilment of 
Nature's design. 'Princes shall shall come out of Egypt, and 
Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God', was an in-
spired pronouncement of the Psalmist. The children of Ethi-
opia can be identified as being of the black race, scattered all 
over the world, and so with the banner of hope they look for-
ward to a glorious future. There must be a stimulation of mind. 
There must be a focusing of ambition, there must be a grasping 
after truth, and with all a mighty determination to go through 
to the accomplishment of that which is right. 
"Righteousnes, shall be our breastplate, the word of Truth 
shall be our weapons, the Cross of Christ shall be our imple-
ment, so that those mighty races and nations shall not break 
through, in the mighty rush of Negro hope and aspirations. Be 
not downcast black men wherever you are. Look up, think 
nobly, act honestly, and as sure as the sun shines, and God 
reigns in Heaven, Nature shall, even through adverSity, forge a 
place for you that you may indeed worship under your own vine 
and fig tree. 
"The Church of God on Earth today 
Is scandal of the King; 
Garvey and Garveylsm 271 
It teaches men to sing and pray, 
For golden wealth to bring. 
It sanctifies the cause of war, 
And winks at evil deeds; 
It sends its 'saints' and men afar 
To preach the Victor's creeds. 
The Blacks and weaker sets of Men 
Are robbed and killed galore; 
The Church looks o'er Commandments ten, 
As tyrants kill some more. 
The lands that God gave men to dwell 
Are taken by the sword 
As preachers go, their creeds to sell 
To those who heed their word. 
Almighty God looks down on Earth 
To see the Church in sin, 
And so we pray for Cleansing Birth 
To let the Master in. 
And when the Gentle Jesus leads, 
The Priests and Pastors too, 
Shall see the growth of harvest seeds 
That blend with every hue". 
If Garvey had been born and grew up in America, he would 
not have been an International Leader. 
If he had not left Jamaica, and travelled so extensively, he 
would not have had the sympathetic urge to change the con-
ditions of the entire race. 
If he had been born in Africa, he could not have had any 
greater love for this Land of Sorrow; probably a born African 
would have limited his Messianic programme to the continent. 
It seems destined that one of the Dispersed Sons should spear-
head the struggle for its redemption, and unity with those 
abroad. 
If he was not the son of his father, he would not have had 
the courage to defy the powers of man, with the recklessness 
that disregards personal safety. How else could he had been 
able to submerge the roles of husband and father, and make 
sacrifices of his family on the altar of African Redemption, with 
the zeal and solemnity of a Devotee? 
If he was not inspired as a Messenger of his Race, he 
could not, and would not have suffered all he did daily. With 
• 
272 Ganey aDd Ganeyism 
his ability and personality he could have earned enough to live 
comfortably, instead of like a hunted animal, teased, jeereel, 
abused, his life threatened. SeU-preservation is instinctive in 
the average man, but to Garvey what happened to him - one 
man, was nothing compared to what was happening to millions 
of his people everywhere. 
The Voice of Africa can never be silenced again, or lulled 
into apathy and inertia. It betokens the Spirit of New Life -
the life of a redeemed people, striving toward Nationhood. 
Toward the end of May, 1940, a black man - News Cor-
respondent in England, - in a final effort to hasten Garvey's 
end, sent out a news report that he had died in poverty. His 
Secretary tried to keep the newspapers with the report from 
him, but Overseas cables came often, he became suspicious and 
on the 5th June, demanded that all his mail be brought to him. 
She broke the news to him, he was sad; but when he saw the 
Coloured American press clippings - contained in letters - in 
which the Editors, in vicious glee had drawn on their own evil 
imaginations - he uttered a loud groan, held his head, and 
slumped in his chair. 
When 'he was revived and attended to by the Doctor, he 
made signs that he wanted to dictate a message to the Press, but 
his speech was almost gone, and he shook with anguish at his 
inability to answer back his gloating enemies. 
During the few remaining days of his life, he was con-
scious of happenings, not only around him, but of the major 
events of the world war: Belgium and Holland surrendered, 
British troops got their baptism of death at Dunkirk, Italy de-
clared war on Britain and France, Germans occupied Paris. To 
all these series of events he indicated his interest by nodding 
his head, or turning it from side to side, slowly, and sadly. This 
Captain of the Negro Race, no longer in command, albeit he 
had the satisfaction of knowing that he had weathered the 
storms; his log-book showed his day to day encounter with 
l'ia,~~'s most unpredictable and unstable Force - MAN. His 
gratification is expressed in these verses: 
"Our Fathers sowed with blood and tears 
The seed that ripens with the years; -
The glorious hour of harvest nears 
Africa for Africans . 
• 
Garvey and Garveylsm 273 
We shall forgive, but not forget -
The shackle bruises ranckle yet, 
And still with blood the ground is wet -
Africa for Africans. 
The darkness thins, the dawn is nigh, 
Its promise swells the pregnant sky, 
And soon shall burst the thunderous cry -
Africa for Africans." 
The first International Leader to unite in thought and action 
the scattered members of his Race - not as Allies in a war, 
but as Blood-Brothers in the pursuit of Freedom, Peace and 
Security - lay in the gathering darkness of his room, on the 
lOth of June, 1940; his thoughts travelled from those whom he 
was leaving behind, and spiritually he pleaded with his Maker, 
in the words of his "Guiding Hymn": 
"Forgive, 0 Lord my errors, 
Help me to all forgive 
And save us from life's terrors 
And peaceful let us live. 
"Let good-will eve~ guide me 
Till life's brief span be done, 
Then with my fathers hide me 
That we may still be One". 
• 
CHAPTER 47. 
ALL JAMAICA HONOURS GARVEY. 
It is said that people who live in the Tropics, live nearest 
to Nature. When Nature gets angry they feel her punishment, 
through hurricanes, earthquakes and drought, and when Nature 
smiles her children rejoice. The afternoon of November 4th, 
1956, Dame Nature was at her best. Previous showers had 
made the grass green, the trees looked refreshed, fog hung over 
Blue Mountain Peak, and the lower ridges of Red Hills and 
Stony Hill showed shades of purple, deep blue, and leafy green, 
softened by mist. These hills fonned the background of 
George VI Park - formerly Kingston Race Course. This was 
the setting for the unveiling of a bust to the memory of Marcus 
Mosiah Garvey. 
Nearly seventeen years after his death when many of his 
prophesies were being fulfilled, and his progressive plans adopt-
ed and carried out, in the House of Representatives, the King-
ston and St. Andrew Corporation, and the Parochial Councils, 
they were making amends to him. Twenty-seven years ago, 
through the Peoples Political Party, he had appealed to them 
to help him ring in the changes in the life of Jamaica. Today 
changes were evident everywhere; for the first time in its his-
tory a black man's bust would grace the main park. 
All classes of the Island and foreign invitees were there to 
take part in the ceremony, which had its inception years be-
fore when Kenneth Hill - then Mayor, - proposed it, and the 
present Mayor and Councillors brought it to its climax. Sculptor 
Alvin Marriott - a Jamaican, - had done, not only a good job, 
hut for years had pressed to have it bronzed and erected. The 
arrangements for the occasion were carefully and well planned 
by the Corporation, and Representatives from Government, 
military and social services - all willing to help, so that the 
ceremony would be truly representative of all Jamaica. In-
vitations had been sent out to persons representative of all 
walks of life. Thousands assembled. 
On parade were the Military Band in the colourful zouave 
dress unifonn of the Old West Indian Regiment - dark blue 
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274 
Garvey and Garveyism 275 
pants with cream leggings, scarlet tunics, cream shirts, topped 
with tasseled cream round caps; their buttons and instruments 
gleaming in the sun. A Police Guard of Honour, also in full 
dress - Navy pants with red stripes, white coats, with leather 
belts, white spiked helmets, and rifles - they stood motionless 
waiting for orders. The Girl Guides and Boy Scout troops, also 
hundreds of school children, representing different schools, com-
pleted the uniform ranks. 
On the platform, built for the occasion were seated: Mrs. 
A. Jacques Garvey, Widow, Rt. Rev. and Hon. P. W. Gibson, 
Bishop of Jamaica, His Lordship, the Roman Catholic Bishop, 
J. McEleney, S.J., Members of the Executive Council, House of 
Representatives and their wives. Among whom were: Ministers 
F. A. Glasspole, William Seivright, Sir Alexander Bustamante, 
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Douglas Fletcher, Lady Allan, 
members of the Chamber of Commerce included Mr. Abe Issa 
and Mr. C. B. Facey. Representatives of the Consular Corps. 
Members of the Corporation Council and their wives. Mr. and 
Mrs. Clare McFarlane - Poet Laureate; Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hill, 
Rev. Jack Peel of the Anglican Parish Church, Assistant Com-
missioner of Police Noel Crosswell, Mr. J. Downes, Director of 
Public Gardens, Dr. Varma, of the Indian Progressive League, 
Dr. Douglas of the Afro-West Indian League. Rev. Cowell 
Lloyd of the Baptist Denomination. Mr. Bernard Lewis, Direc-
tor of the Institute, Mr. J. J. Mills, former Inspector of Schools, 
Solicitor and Mrs. Neville Ashenheirn; other Solicitors were 
Messrs. Dayes, Calame and Evans. A Delegation of five persons 
from the U.N.I.A. in America, headed by William Sherrill, Pres-
ident-General, Messrs. Arnold Crawford, Levi-Lord, Thomas 
Benjamin. and Mrs. Walters of the Garvey Club, other pro· 
minent persons too numerous to mention. 
At 4.30 p.m. Sir Hugh Foot, the Governor, attended by his 
A.D.C. arrived, and was received by Councillor Walker, Deputy 
Mayor, and Mr. Russell Lewars, Town Clerk; on his way to 
the platform the Band played the National Anthem. Hon. Nor-
man Manley, Q.C., Chief Minister arrived. Two outriders of 
the Police Motor Cycle squad signified the arrival of the Mayor, 
Councillor Balfour Barnswell, in his robes of Office. He was 
escorted by Acting Police Commissioner L. P. BrOwning, while 
the Police Guard of Honour under Assistant Superintendent 
Neville Ernandez gave the salute. The Mayor inspected the 
Guards, to the accompaniment of drums and bugles. After 
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176 Carvey and Carveyism 
which he proceeded to the stage. 
The Town Clerk announced the singing of the Hymn (ODe 
of Garvey's favourites) "Shine on Eternal Light". He next pre-
sented the Mayor, who presided over the function. In his ad-
dress he said, "Garvey, single-handed, lit the torch and illumin_ 
ated the dark corners of Jamaica, leading the people and lifting 
them to a higher appreciation of themselves". Dr. Leslie, Mayor 
of Spanish Town, then read a paper on Negro History; before 
doing so, he said that when he /irst went to New York City, 
he took advantage of the many meetings held at Liberty Hall, 
then he realized how little he knew of Ancient Negro history, 
it was from Garvey he got the inspiration and stimulus to do 
so much research. 
A song was rendered by a large group of school children 
conducted by Mrs. W. Sutherland, and accompanied by the 
Band; followed by little Hugh Francis, singing unaccompanied, 
"The Lord's Prayer", which was appealingly rendered. Mr. 
Wycliffe Bennett, Pioneer Worker to establish Speech Festivals, 
read a review of the life of Garvey, which was written by 
Len Nembhard of the "Jamaica Times" Mter an Overture from 
the Band, the Hon. Norman Manley gave an address, in which 
he said: 
"I am particularly glad that Mr. Marcus Garvey's widow -
Mrs. Amy Jacques Garvey, is with us on this platform. I am 
sure that if her husband were alive, he would have noted with 
pride the great strides that the Negro peoples of the world 
have made in the last twenty five years, and moreso in the 
fields where he laboured. 
"Since Garvey dreamed his great dream in America con-
siderable progress has been made by the people whom he 
sought to serve, and at this moment they are witnessing in the 
U.S.A. what is verily believed to be the end, the last stage of 
the struggle of millions of Negro people there to achieve com-
plete equality in that land. 
"If they looked across the water at the great continent of 
Mrica they saw - in spite of difficulties that beset many 
countries - many groups of Negroes marching forward to 
nationhood and freedom. The Gold Coast - Ghana, as they call 
it - under the inspired leadership of that outstanding Negro 
Statesman Kw arne Nkrumah had made great strides. That coun-
try would outstrip all those in the Caribbean, and would become 
the first ,N egro Dominion in the world. Here at home in 
Garvey and Garveyism 277 
Jamaica, they stood on the threshold of self-government, and he 
was confident that after the Federation was launched - after the 
6rst Federal Parliament was elected in 1958 - it would be but 
a few short years within which self-government for Jamaica 
and Dominion status for the British West Indies would be a 
reality. 
"It was right that those of them who had the honour and 
privilege of leading the National Movement in these territories 
should remember that they did not start from nowhere. They 
started on the foundation of great pioneers that went before 
them. In Marcus Garvey's time in Jamaica, the determination 
was the great task of breaking through the spirit of Colonialism, 
and win for our people the sense of self-confidence and self-
respect - an acceptance of their own history, without which 
the national spirit would not have been possible. 
"That afternoon they would unveil the memorial in bronze 
which would stand for all times, as a testimony of his love for 
his people, and which would bear historic witness to the great 
part he played in liberating the spirit and minds of his people. 
That was a monument in bronze, but there was a greater and 
deeper living monument that would go down through all ages -
because if they today had oon6dence in themselves, if they to-
day were able to look back on their own past with pride, then, 
they would be worthy to be members of a great people, to 
meet as equals among equals, and they owed that in a great 
measure to the spirit of freedom, which Marcus Garvey liberated 
in his own people. 
"There could be no equality among men, there could be 
no one society, until all races and all admixtures met in friend-
ship and harmony as equals; and only free men could meet 
as equals with free men. Garvey stood to liberate the mind of 
his people. That was his great contribution to history, and it 
was their hope that that memorial would last longer than all the 
bronze statues they could unveil for history and posterity to 
see. May that great spirit abide with us always, inspire us to 
take up the challenge and be worthy of those who have blazed 
the trail and gone before." 
The Mayor mentioned that the two young Garveys -
Marcus and Julius were abroad, and could not attend on ac-
count of their studies. He then asked Mrs Garvey to stand, 
amidst applause. Mrs Manley - the Sculptress who devoted 
years of her time teaching and encouraging art in Jamaica -
G.G.-Z5 
278 G ..... ey aDd G. ....e yism 
motioned to Mrs Garvey to accompany her, while she graciously 
unveiled the bust, which had been placed on a tempo""y 
stand for the convenient view of the immense crowd, who 
clapped and cheered. 
Then followed the laying on of wreaths, - by CotmcilIor 
Vickie Grant on behalf of the Mayor and Council, the President 
General of the U. N. 1. A. on behalf of the American 
tion, who gave a eulogy. Other Local Fraternities 
wreaths. The bust was later put on its base near the East gate 
of the Park, facing North looking up to the hills, "I will lift up 
mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my strength" . 
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CHAPTER 48. 
Marcus and Julius were able to obtain Secondary education 
only through scholarships, and to attend Universities because 
of my continued sacrifices; having no support from the Organi-
zation, although persons have used the names of "Garvey's Sons", 
to collect funds only to pocket same. It was difficult after his 
death to teach them to be proud of a Race, which had "let 
them down", and a father who had left them on its charity, 
believing: "I have devoted my life to my people, surely if any-
thing happens to me they will look after my boys". 
Marcus obtained his B.A. degree (majoring in Economics 
and Law) as an External Student, London University, while 
working in the Government Service. Later he went to England 
and received his LL.B. degree from the same University. He 
did not take the Bar Finals, as he changed over to Civil 
Engineering, for in this capacity he believed he could better serve 
the needs of his people in a scientific Age. 
Julius, after leaving High School, worked at a Government 
Laboratory. He left for McGill University, Montreal, where he 
graduated in 1957 with his B.Sc. degree, and gained his M.D. 
in 1961. 
The following are their replies to invitations sent them by 
the Mayor and Council:-
35 Roland Gardens, 
London, S.W.7, 
29/ 10/ 56. 
Sir·,  
I thank you for your gracious invitation contained in -
A/ 7/ 93, of the 23rd October. Owing to my preoccupation with 
my present course of studies I am unfortunately unable to accept 
your invitation to attend. But I can assure you that although 
I may not be physically present, all my thoughts will be with 
those attending this signal and unique occasion. 
May I take this opportunity of conveying to His Worship 
the Mayor, the Council of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corp-
oration, and all the other well-wishers who were instrumental 
in conferring this mark of recognition upon my father, the deep 
279 • 
280 Garvey and Garveyism 
sense of appreciation which I feel at this time. 
I am, Sir, 
Yours faithfully, 
Marcus J. Garvey. 
3509 Hutchinson Street, 
Montreal, P.Q., 
Canada. 
28/10/56. 
Dear Sir, 
In reply to your letter dated 23rd October, nos: A/7/ 93, I 
regret to say that I am unable to accept your most gracious 
invitation. Although I cannot attend the ceremony because of 
my studies here in Montreal, I shan be there in spirit, along 
with the spirit of every true Jamaican. 
My father was dedicated to the betterment of Coloured 
people the world over, and I am proud and happy that his ser-
vices are being recognized in such a signal manner by fellow 
Jamaicans. 
May the Sun never set on the glory of man, for he is truly 
God's finest creation. 
I am, Sir 
Yours respectfully, 
J. W. Garvey. 
EULOGY OF WILLIAM SHERRILL. 
CITIZENS OF JAMAICA: 
GREETINGS: 
I am happy that it is my good fortune to visit this Island 
of Jamaica, and the great City of Kingston. We have been 
deeply impressed with your kindness and hospitality, and the 
courtesies shown our DelegatioIL We congratulate you on the 
progress you are making in commerce, industry, and the great 
strides toward self-government. We bring with us the best 
wishes of Negro America for success in your advance toward 
the goal of Statehood. 
We have come to Jamaica at the invitation of His Worship 
the Mayor to share with you the commemoration of a great 
Jamaican - Marcus Garvey. One whose greatness and achieve-
ments extend far beyond the boundaries of this Island. Though 
he is a son of Jamaica's soil, he belongs, not alone to the people 
of J amaicn, but to those millions of the world's population that 
struggle for freedom and independence in the United States of 
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Mrs. A. Jacquee Garvey viewing the buat of Garvey, erected at KingaloD, Jamaica, W.I., in hie memory, Novem-ber 4-, 195-6. ----
Garvey and Garveyism 281 
America and Mrica. He belongs not only to our times, but 
to the ages. His memory is written, not alone in bronze and 
stone standing in your Public Park, but in the hearts of the 
world's millions, who fight to emancipate themselves from 
economic and political bondage. 
We commend you for the honour you give him today, yet 
our hearts are grieved when we realize how little we appreci-
ated llim in life. It appears however to be a weakness of man-
kind that he never appreciates his great benefactors at the time 
they serve, and make their great contributions. It is only after 
they have passed, and time gives us greater perspective, that we 
are able to evaluate their work and greatness. 
Garvey was indeed a great man, and when we say great, 
we are not simply making a play on words. His greatness is 
proven by the standard which measures greatness. Greatness 
is determined by the impact a man's work and teaching has on 
his times. When viewing the individual and his work, we ask 
ourselves - was the world different because he lived? The 
answer to this question as it relates to Marcus Garvey places 
him in the company of the Great. 
Because Garvey lived, Jamaica is different; Because Garvey 
lived, Negro America is different; Because Garvey lived, Africa 
is different. His work and teaching gave birth to a New Negro, 
a New Mrica, and this impact went a long way in shaping a 
New World. For his cry was not alone 'Africa for the Mricans', 
hut 'Asia for the Asiatics' and 'Palestine for the Jews.' He did 
more to crystalize National sentiment in so-called backward 
countries than any Single individual of our times. Measured 
by the standard of Change, Garvey and his teachings have 
wrought in the world, Garvey rises to the heights of greatness. 
So great were the goals he set for his Race that small minds 
criticized, and little men laughed. Laughed as they always 
have at every new idea or venture. Some called him a fool. 
Others branded him a charlatan and buffoon; while the more 
charitable called him a Dreamer. Too blind and shortsighted 
to realize the possibility of black men building for themselves, 
they sought to belittle his work by terming it a dream. Little 
did they realize that in calling Garvey a Dreamer they instantly 
placed him in the ranks of the Great. 
Dreamerl Do you know who Dreamers are? They are 
the Architects of Greatness. Their vision lies within their souls . 
• 
Z8Z Garvey ad Garveyism 
They peer through the clouds of doubt and darkness, and pi",ce 
the walls of unknown time. 
Dreamersl They sail seas that have never been charted, 
because they are the makers of the charts. They scale moun-
tains that have never been scaled, because they are the blQ7~s 
of the way. They travel paths that have never been beaten, 
because Dreamers are the beaters of the paths. 
Dreamersl The great British Empire was first conceived 
and given birth to by the mind of a Dreamer. The great 
American Commonwealth was founded by Dreamers; the world 
reforms that now benefit mankind were born in the hearts and 
minds of Dreamers. Yes, Garvey was a Dreamer, and because 
he dared dream of an emancipated Negro Race, and Nation-
hood, Negroes of Jamaica are marching, Negroes of America 
are marching, and Negroes of Africa are marching. The torch 
of freedom has been lighted in their breasts, and all the forces 
of hell cannot blow it out. 
We from America consider it a privilege and great honour 
to participate with the people of Jamaica in paying tribute to 
Marcus Garvey. His contribution to Negro America was no 
less than he made to his Native land. I wish it were possible 
for me to do justice to the greatness of this son of Africa, but 
we cannot - words are inadequate; bronze and stone too frail 
to convey a true picture of the man. For Marcus Garvey was 
one of history's providential Geniuses. He came to his Race 
endowed with an extraordinary ability for organization and 
leadership, as Shakespeare had for poetry, Mozart for music, 
or Angelo for Art. His undaunted faith in the possibilities of 
his people; his courage to come forward and plead their cause, 
under any condition and circumstances, uniquely fitted him 
for leadership of the Universal Negro Improvement AsSOCiatiOD 
- an Organization which has been an eternal blessing to his 
Race and given immortal fame to his name. 
You, the people of Jamaica knew him; you worked with 
him; some of you fought with him; you knew his strength and 
his weaknesses. But no man is perfect; whatever Garvey's 
faults, whatever Garvey's mistakes, let us DOW cover them with 
the pure mantle of love and tolerance for an otherwise great 
and noble character. 
Nothing we say can add or take away from the stature of 
Marcus Garvey; the world will soon forget what we say today, 
but it will long remember what he did. His Dame has a fixed 
• 
Garvey and Garveyism 283 
place in history. As long as black men cherish the ideals of 
freedom and independence, Marcus Garvey's name will live in 
the hearts of his people everywhere." 
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CHAPTER 49. 
DESTINY BEING FULFll.LED 
"Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad", is the slogan 
of Garveyism, proclaimed by him in 1916 when there were 
only two independent nations in Africa, but the year 1960 was 
truly a year of Destiny, when most of the twenty-eight nations 
emerged from Colonial rule to use their freedom to fight ignor-
ance, poverty and disease, by developing the resources of their 
territories for the uplift and well-being of all their peoples. 
Truly, "Nationhood is the highest ideal of all peoples". 
Ghana - the /irst of the new nations to demonstrate to the 
world the fitness of Africans to control their own affairs, is 
relentless in her efforts that - "All Africa must be free" Osagyefo 
Dr. Kw arne Nkrumah, President of Ghana, in his address to the 
15th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 
23rd September, 1960, in part stated: 
"For years and years Africa has been the foot-stool of colo-
nialism and imperialism, exploitation and degradation. From 
the north to the south, from the east to the west, her sons lan-
guished in the chains of slavery and humiliation, and Africa's ex-
ploiters and self-appointed controllers of her destiny strode across 
our land with incredible inhumanity, without mercy, without 
shame, and without honour. Those days are gone and gone for-
ever, and now I, an African, stand before this august Assembly of 
the United Nations and speak with a voice of peace and free-
dom, proclaiming to the world the dawn of a new era." 
In the United States of America the impact of the Repre-
sentatives of the independent African states to the United 
Nations, their Embassies and Consulates pressurized the passing 
of the Integration Act, because their presence caused embarrass-
ment to the State Department when they were mistaken for 
American Negroes and discriminated against or mistreated. 
In commemorating Garvey's birthday, a Jamaican Journalist 
and News Analyst - Frank Hill - writing in the Daily Gleaner, 
17th August, 1960, under the caption - "The Prophet of Black 
Zionism" - states in part: 
"What makes a man great? It is, I think, the universal 
284 
Garvey and Garveyism 285 
quality of the contribution he makes to the civilization of his 
times. The accent is on the word universal, for the quality of 
his vision must be of such as to be able to hold the attention 
of mankind, rather than mere isolated pockets of men grouped in 
special circumstances ... 
"Garvey's message lighted new hope as much among the 
wandering Negroes, as among the cringing tribesmen of the 
African plains. A carefully cultivated sense of inferiority in 
black men started its slow death. The emotive word, black, 
symbolic of evil, lost its meaning. Fundamental concepts of 
religion and beauty were given a new garb; the Creator became 
personal and intimate as vast masses of men clothed Him with 
a black skin - rich, satiny ebony; and extended the frontiers of 
aesthetic experience by adding an authentic colour to the range 
of exciting beauty. 
"What was the Significance of Garvey? The Prophet of 
Black Zionism beat the drums for the ingathering to Africa. 
He may have meant it as a summons for a physical recall. But 
the message went more deeply, more enduringly than that. 
Eyes and hearts and minds turned to Africa - to the new values 
and standards and principles that earned their validity from the 
culture that grew out of the African community." 
Black Nationalism has awakened in the hearts of all peoples 
of African descent a consciousness of "being somebody", of be-
longing to a Race and people striving to impress their image 
and personality on a world in terms of freedom, justice and 
peace for all. 
Marcus Garvey was never privileged to set foot on African 
soil, he was always denied entry to any territory, and warned 
that he was an Agitator, and would suffer grave consequences 
if he got there in disguise; so the dearest wish of his heart was 
not accomplished, but the contacts he had kept him informed 
of the happenings, yearnings and desires of those on the great 
continent, and he used every means available to enlighten world 
opinion of these facts and truths which were suppressed by white 
news agencies; so it was with gratification and joy that I re-
ceived a cabled invitation from the Nigerian government to 
attend the inaugural ceremonies of the installation of Dr. Nnamdi 
Azikiwe as Governor-General, in November, 1960. After leaving 
Nigeria I was the guest of the Government of Ghana. Travel-
ling to and from West Africa via England and the United States. 
As one closely connected with Africa for years I expected 
• G.G.-26 -
286 Garvey aDd Garveyism 
to see the modem developments, but to get the feel of what's 
going on, one has to be in the atmosphere of Old and New 
Africa to capture the spell of the African tropics - the trees, 
flowers, animals, the mysteries surrounding them; the people of 
so many tribal backgrounds. all giving one a sense of purposeful 
active living; belonging to the whole, yet sharing it, with the 
joy of knowing that they are now masters of their destiny in 
their own country. 
Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopian Airways have modem, COM-
fortable planes, wholly or partially manned by Africans, also 
Air Hostesses, efficient and charming. On the seas Ghana has 
her Black Star Line fleet of ships. The railroads of Ghana and 
Nigeria are efficiently run, as also the buses. The roads are 
hundreds of miles into the interior linking villages with towns. 
City Banks are large and modem, with African Directors, Man-
agers and staff. White technical advisers are kept in the inner 
offices. Office buildings up to ten storeys are quite common. 
The interiors are of modern furnishings and equipment, air-con-
ditioned and elevators. New schools, Technical Colleges, Uni-
versities, hospitals and clinics are a part of the rapid progress 
made during and after the preparatory period to independence, 
which both England and France were wise enough to agree 
to as a period of extensive training. 
There are no drunks around the streets. Moslems do not 
drink intoxicating liquors, Christians and others act in moder-
ation, because of their home training. Women are not allowed 
to work in foreign homes and hotels, so as to preserve their 
chastity. Young men cook and wash, and are called House-
boys. Children respect their parents no matter bow politically 
and educationally advanced they become. Men do not leave 
illegitimate children with their mothers without support, care 
or training; their trihal, communal mode of life helps to weld 
them into responSible, easily discipined citizens. 
Foreigners who do business in these countries are not allowed 
to send large sums of money abroad. An African must be on 
each Directorate, and an understudy for the Manager. The 
economy of these countries are geared to the needs of the 
people; their livelihood and happiness come first. They realize 
that the masses form the foundation of the nation, and as such 
must be strengthened to carry the weight of expansion and 
progress. The human element must be of the finest quality in 
nation building. 
, 
Garvey and Garveyism 287 
In Ghana unemployed men and women are put in separate 
camps, given work and taught skills; they wear khaki uniforms 
and bear the dignified name of Builders Brigade. The children 
are organized as Young Pioneers. 
During my stay in Ghana, Emperor Haille Selassie of 
Ethiopia paid a state visit there to cement the ties of friendship 
between the Old Kingdom of the East and the young Republic 
of the West. The Emperor conferred on Dr. Nkrumah the 
Exalted Order of the Queen of Sheba, who in turn conferred 
on the Emperor the Exalted Order of the Star of Africa - the 
black star. 
I was treated royally everywhere I went - to the African 
I represented the spirit of Marcus Garvey, the "Returned One". 
We reminisced about the early years of awakening and struggles 
in America, England and France, and now . . . Full credit is 
given him for his prophetic warnings and declarations; as a 
prominent Nigerian said to me: "Whatever our leaders say to-
day, Garvey said more than forty years ago". 
Another said: "this son of Africa saw the light of day in 
an Island in the West Indies, but he followed the call of Africa 
to his dying day". 
His dreams of a redeemed continent, bf a United States 
of Africa, is almost a complete realization. Jamaica, Trinidad 
are independent, and the "Little Eight" islands of the Eastern 
Caribbean are follOwing this lead. 
Africa and Asia will play leading roles in this civilization, and 
Africa gives the cue when Dr. Azikiwe in his inaugural address 
stated: 
"The challenge of Nigeria as a free State in twentieth cen-
tury Africa is the need to revive the stature of man in Africa, 
and restore the dignity of man in the world. Nigerians believe 
passionately in the fundamental human rights. We regard all 
races of the human family as equal. Under no circumstances 
shall we accept the idea that the black race is inferior to any 
other race. No matter where this spurious doctrine may prevail; 
it may be in Lodwar, or Sharpeville or Decatur, we shall never 
admit that we are an inferior race, because if we accept the 
Christian or Muslim doctrine that God is perfect, and that man 
was made in the image of God, then it would be sacriligous, if 
not heretical, to believe that we are an inferior race. .. Respect 
for human dignity is the challenge which Africa offers to the 
World". 
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