Marcus Garvey Essay -- essays research papers fc

I believe one of the most influential African Americans of all time is Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey achieved accomplishments in not just one, but many areas. His accomplishments ranged from a worldwide Black political organization, The Untied Negro Improvement Association, to the first, and to this day the largest Black-owned multinational businesses, the Black Star Lines. Marcus was criticized by many of his fellow African American leaders because many of his projects failed. In despite of that, Marcus Garvey talent to attract followers towards his beliefs is inspiring.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born into a poor family on August 17, 1887 at St. Annà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Bay, Jamaica. Marcus was born the youngest of 11 children. His father was a stonemason who supposedly descended from the maroons. Maroons are African American slaves who defended their freedom from British and Spanish invaders. Garvey had to itemize his pride in the unmixed African heritage of his parents. Marcus grew up and received little education in Jamaica, so he was largely self-taught. At age 14 Marcus had to find work in a print shop to help out his family. Marcus began to doubt the value of trade union after he was involved the first printers strike of 1907. Marcus Garvey began to complain about the mistreatment of African workers to British authorities and was appalled by the little response and that left him very skeptical about any hope for justice from the white people (Rogoff 72). In 1912 Marcus Garvey studies abroad in London. He began writing African p ublications and became an avid supporter of African independence. I believe the turning point in Marcus Garveyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fight for African freedom and equality came after he read Booker T. Washingtonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s book, Up From Slavery. Garvey à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“responded warmly to ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s thesis of black self helpà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (Kranz, Koslow 86). With that notion in mind Marcus Garvey returned to Jamaica in 1914 ready to make a difference.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marcus was not noticed for just one accomplishment is his lifetime, but many on them. When Marcus returned to Jamaica he got re-acquainted with a group of friends and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which sought, among other things, to work on black emigration to Africa. It also promoted racial pride, education, and black business activity. In Jamaica Garvey didnà ¢... ...y of Wisconsin Press. The reason I believe this is a quality book that deserves more study is because it involves Marcus Garveyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s most renowned accomplishment, the organization of the UNIA. It also shows how Marcus overcame his failures to become a black role model and leader. All of the books on Marcus Garvey show people that no matter what happens, wither you fail or succeed, you can become a successful person as long as you believe in what your doing. BIBLIOGRAPHY à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Black Nationalismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 24 Feb. 1999 http://www.eb.com:180/bol/topic?eu=15698&sctn=1. Cronon, David E. Black Moses: The Story of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Madison Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press, 1969. Hill, Robert A. Marcus Garvey: Life and Lessons. Calif.: University of California Press, 1987. Krans, Rachel and Philip J. Koslow, The Biographical Dictionary Of African Americans. New York: Checkmark Books, 1999. Rogoff, Edward G., John Trinkus, and Alvin Puryear. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Perhaps the times have not yet caught up to Marcus Garvey, an early Champion of Ethnic Entrepreneurship.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? Journal of Small Business Management 3 (1998) 66-71