Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League

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The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) is an international self-help organization founded by Marcus Garvey. It was originally chartered under the name "Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League" (the word "Conservation" later removed) in Jamaica on August 1, 1914. The organization is also known as the UNIA-ACL or simply the UNIA.

In an article entitled "The Negro's Greatest Enemy", published in Current History (September 1923) Garvey explained the origin of the organization's name:

"Where did the name of the organisation come from? It was while speaking to a West Indian Negro who was a passenger with me from Southampton, who was returning home to the West Indies from Basutoland with his Basuto wife, that I further learned of the horrors of native life in Africa. He related to me in conversation such horrible and pitiable tales that my heart bled within me. Retiring from the conversation to my cabin, all day and the following night I pondered over the subject matter of that conversation, and at midnight, lying flat on my back, the vision and thought came to me that I should name the organization the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities (Imperial) League. Such a name I thought would embrace the purpose of all black humanity. Thus to the world a name was born, a movement created, and a man became known."

According to the preamble of the 1929 constitution as amended, the UNIA is a "social, friendly, humanitarian, charitable, educational, institutional, constructive and expansive society, and is founded by persons desiring to the utmost to work for the general uplift of the people of African ancestry 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, realizing that if the strong oppresses the weak, confusion and discontent 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."

Amongst the auxiliary components of the UNIA were the Universal African Legion, a paramilitary group, the African Black Cross Nurses, African Black Cross Society, the Universal African Motor Corps, the Black Eagle Flying Corps, the Black Star Steamship Line, the Black Cross Trading and Navigation Corporation, as well as, the Negro Factories Corporation.

1 Early history
2 First international convention
3 Liberia programme
4 Post-Garvey era
5 Monrovia parent body
6 Philadelphia parent body
7 Notable members of the UNIA
8 External links

[edit] Early history

After traveling throughout the United States beginning in March 1916, Garvey inaugurated the New York Division of the UNIA in 1917 with 13 members. After three months, the organization's dues paying membership stood at three thousand five hundred.

The Negro World was established in January 1918, as a weekly newspaper expressing the ideas of the organization. Garvey's contribution to the publication was a front page editorial each week espounding upon the organization's position on different issues related to people of African ancestry around the world in general and the UNIA in particular. Eventually claiming a circulation of five hundred thousand, it was printed in several languages, contained a page specifically aimed at its women readers, documented events of an international nature related to people of African ancestry and was distributed throughout the African diaspora until publication ceased in 1933.

In 1919 the UNIA purchased what would be the first of its numerous Liberty Halls. Located at 114 West 138th Street, New York City the structure had a seating capacity of six thousand and was dedicated on July 27, 1919. Later that year the Association organized the first of its two steamship companies and a separate business corporation.

Incorporated in Delaware as a domestic corporation on June 27, 1919, the Black Star Line, Inc., was capitalized at ten million dollars and sold shares valued at five dollars to both UNIA members and non-members alike. Proceeds from stock sales were used to purchase first the S.S. Yarmouth and then the S.S. Shadyside. The Shadyside was used by the Association for summer outings and excursions, as well as, rented out on charter to other organisations. The BSL later purchased the Kanawha as its third vessel. This small yacht was intended as inter-island transportation in the West Indies and was rechristened the S.S. Antonio Maceo.

Also established in 1919 with a capitalisation of one million dollars, was the Negro Factories Corporation. It generated income and provided jobs with its numerous enterprises including a chain of grocery stores and restaurants, steam laundry, tailor shop, dress making shop, millinery store, publishing house and doll factory.

With the growth of its membership from 1918 through 1924, as well as, income from its various economic enterprises the organisation purchased additional Liberty Halls in the USA, Canada, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Jamaica and other countries. Furthermore, it purchased farms in Ohio and other states. Land purchased in Claremont, Virginia was intended to become Liberty University.

[edit] First international convention

By 1920 the association had over 1,100 divisions in more than 40 countries. Most of divisions were located in the United States, which had become the UNIA's base of operations. There were, however, offices in several Caribbean countries, Cuba having the most. Divisions also existed in such diverse countries as Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Venezuela, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, India, Australia, Nigeria, Namibia and Azania/South Africa.

Marcus Garvey chairing session of the UNIA in convention.

In 1920 the UNIA-ACL held its first international convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During event the 20,000 members of the UNIA in attendance promulgated the "Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World", and elected the leaders of the UNIA as "leaders for the Negro people of the world". Under the provisions of the UNIA constitution Gabriel Johnson was elected Potentate, G. O. Marke, Supreme Deputy Potentate and J. W. [H]. Eason leader of the fifteen million "Negroes" of the United States of America. Garvey was elected "Provisional President of Africa" a mostly ceremonial title. Amongst the declarations was one proclaiming the red, black and green flag the official banner of the UNIA on August 13, 1920 as well as a symbol representing the entire African race. Beginning in the 1960's the flag was adopted by black nationalists and Pan-Africanists as the Black Liberation Flag. A programme based on The Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World was adopted, marking the evolution of the movement into a black nationalist one, seeking the upliftment of the black race, encouraging self-reliance and nationhood. One of which resolves that the colors Red, Black and Green symbolize all people of African ancestry. Another officially designated the song "Ethiopia the land of our fathers" as the official anthem of "Africa and the Africans, at home and Abroad".

[edit] Liberia programme

Although it would be a poor summation to view the UNIA solely as the "Back to Africa" movement, the organization did make strides to repatriate African Americans. Beginning in 1921, an official UNIA delegation which included Robert Lincoln Poston and Henrietta Vinton Davis travelled to Liberia to survey potential landsites and the general condition of the country as an endpoint for UNIA members interested in living in Africa.

By 1924 President William Tubman conveyed via his Chief Justice, "The President directs me to say in reply to your letter of June 8th, 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 outlined by you, have no hesitancy in assuring you that they will afford the Association every facility legally possible in effectuating in Liberia its industrial, agricultural and business projects."

However 59 days later, the President unexpectedly ordered all Liberian ports to refuse entry to any member of the "Garvey Movement". Some historians fail to note that eleven days before this announcement the Firestone Rubber Company, with assistance from both American and European governments, convinced Liberia to offer the company a 99-year lease of one million acres (4,000 km²) of land, originally intended for the UNIA at an unprecedented dollar an acre ($247/km²). This agreement dealt a severe blow to the UNIA's African repatriation program.

The UNIA flag (also known as the Black Nationalist Flag) uses three colors: red, black and green.

[edit] Post-Garvey era

After Garvey's conviction and imprisonment on mail fraud charges in 1925 and deportation to Jamaica in 1927 the organization began to take on a different character. Numerous divisions, most notably in New York began to fragment into splinter groups under different factions. The result was the spawning of "Garvey Clubs" and other organizations based on its membership's interpretation of the original aims and objects of the UNIA. As a result of the reformation, the UNIA became officially known as the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League of the World, 1929. This came after amendments to the constitution during its seventh International convention during August 1929 in Kingston, Jamaica. Another outcome of that convention was the emergence of a rival "UNIA, Inc." in New York later that same year under Frederick Augustus Toote. Toote, who was succeeded by Lionel Francis in 1931 as President General of the UNIA, Inc., became the focus of allegations of financial mismanagement while Garvey was in prison during the 1929 Kingston convention.

The UNIA under Garvey continued operating in Jamaica until he moved to England in 1935. There he set up office for the Parent Body of the UNIA and maintained contact with all its divisions. UNIA conventions were held in Canada during 1936, 1937 and 1938. The 1937 sessions were highlighted by the introduction of the first Course of African Philosophy conducted by Garvey. In January of 1940 Garvey became ill and died on June 10, 1940. UNIA members worldwide participated in eulogies, memorial services and processions in his honor. Secretary General Ethel Collins briefly managed the affairs of the UNIA from New York until a successor to Garvey could be formally installed to complete his term as President General.

During an emergency Commissioners conference in June 1940, a successor was named in the person of James R. Stewart, Commissioner from Ohio and graduate of the Course of African Philosophy. In the months to follow the Parent Body of the UNIA was moved from its temporary headquarters in New York to Cleveland. October 1940 saw the publication of the New Negro World out of Cleveland. After the 1942 International Convention in Cleveland a rehabiliting committee of disgruntled members was held in New York during September.

[edit] Monrovia parent body

Stewart moved to Monrovia, Liberia in 1949 where he took Liberian citizenship in addition to moving the Parent Body of the UNIA there. From August to September of that same year the rehabilitating committee held a conference in Detroit, Michigan. Following that conference the UNIA fragmented once again, with former High Chancellor Thomas W. Harvey as President General and an International headquarters established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after an International convention there in August 1951. Although some divisions severed ties with the Monrovia Parent Body after the Rehabilitation Conference, a number also continued to report to Monrovia consistent with the laws set forth in the constitution. August of 1953 saw the first International Convention held under the auspices of President General Harvey. William Levon Sherrill was elected President General at that time. Sherrill, as First Assistant President General, previously served as acting President General beginning in 1925 during the time the UNIA's founder, Garvey, was incarcerated. During his administration Sherrill claimed to have 36 divisions associated with the Philadelphia Parent Body. Harvey was elected President General in August of 1956. Subsequent to his election the UNIA began publication of the third house organ, a monthly newspaper entitled "Garvey's Voice". In August of 1957 Sherrill was elected to the post of President General again. Sometime afterwards he resigns, an election is held and Harvey once more is President General of the UNIA. He was continuously reelected every four years until his demise in June of 1978.

When Stewart died in 1964 the Parent Body in Monrovia was moved to Chicago where James A. Bennett took the reins. He was succeeded in 1968 by Vernon Wilson upon whose death in 1975 Mason Harvgrave became President General and held that office until his death in 1988. In August of 1987, Hargrave testified during the congressional hearings in relation to the exoneration of Marcus Garvey on charges of mail fraud. The finding of the Judiciary Committee was that although Garvey was innocent of the charges against him and he was found guilty due to the social climate of America at the time, there was no legal basis upon which to exonerate a person who was deceased. Upon the death of President General Hargrave, all his papers and other Parent Body material were turned over to the Western Reserve Historical Society for safe-keeping.

[edit] Philadelphia parent body

International conventions were held in Philadelphia during August of 1973, 1976. The UNIA Executive Council elected Charles L. James to complete the unexpired term of Thomas W. Harvey July 1, 1978. On August 1980 the 28th International convention was held in Philadelphia. Conventions were held annually from August of 1981 to August of 1986 two of which were held in Chicago. At the 34th Annual Convention in Chicago, Illinois Louis Farrakhan gave the keynote speech on the role of Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Elijah Muhammad in his development. When President General Charles Lynell James died on August 16, 1990 he was the last surviving graduate of the Course of African Philosophy taught by Marcus Garvey. Reginald Wesley Maddox succeeded C.L. James as President General on August 26, 1990. In August 1993, Marcus Garvey, Jr. was elected President-General during the convention held in Washington, DC. He held that office until retiring by not seeking office during the 2004 convention. During the UNIA's 90th anniversary and the 47th International convention, Redmond Battle was elected the current President General.