Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)

Question 1

Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) (20th century)

Answer 1

1) Black pride –African people encouraged to be proud of their race and to see beauty in their own kind.

2) Pan-Africanism – that African people, in every part of the world, were one people and that they would never progress if they did not put aside their cultural and ethnic differences.

Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and is associated with black nationalism. He thought that African people should embrace and be proud of their cultural identity, including physical characteristics, (black pride) and wished for the creation of a United States of Africa. He advanced a philosophy of pan-Africanism, where the imperialist rule should be ended and modern, self-sufficient African nations should be developed. This would allow black people to be respected by white people, as they would prove capable of running and organising economically successful nations. He also supported racial separatism, although did not wish for hostility with white people.

Question 2

Pan-Africanism

Answer 2

At its core, Pan-Africanism is a belief that “African people, both on the continent and in the across the world, share not merely a common history, but a common destiny”. Pan-Africanist intellectual, cultural and political movements tend to view all Africans and descendants of Africans as belonging to a single “race” and sharing cultural unity. Pan-Africanism is a form of expansionist nationalism which promotes a sense of a shared historical fate for Africans in America, West Indies and on the continent itself centred on the Atlantic trade in slaves, African slavery and European imperialism.

Question 3

Human Nature

Answer 3

Garvey believed in the inherent dignity and potential of the African people. He rejected racist ideologies that denigrated people of African descent and instead emphasised the strength and resilience of African heritage. Garvey argued for the empowerment of Black people worldwide, advocating for racial pride and self-respect.

Question 4

Society

Answer 4

Garvey envisioned a unified global community of Black people, transcending national boundaries and uniting under a shared identity. He promoted the idea of African solidarity, encouraging cooperation and mutual support among Black individuals and communities worldwide. Garvey sought to create social cohesion and upliftment within the Black diaspora through his Pan-Africanist vision.

Question 5

The State

Answer 5

While Garvey’s focus was more on global Black solidarity than on the traditional nation-state, he still emphasised the importance of self-determination for African nations. He advocated for the independence of African countries from colonial rule and the establishment of strong, sovereign states governed by and for Black people. Garvey’s vision included the creation of political institutions that would serve the interests of African nations and their people.

Question 6

The Economy

Answer 6

Garvey recognised the economic exploitation faced by Black communities under colonialism and imperialism. He called for economic self-reliance and empowerment, encouraging Black economic entrepreneurship and cooperative ventures. Garvey’s economic vision included initiatives such as the development of Black-owned businesses, investment in education and vocational training, and the creation of economic institutions to serve the needs of Black communities.