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"Life of M.M. Garvey"

Part 2

The black nationalist ideals of the UNIA were executed through the organizations economic programme. Real
political freedom, Garvey felt, would be facilitated by an independent economic base. thus, the independence
suggested by race first, self-reliance and nationhood, would first have to be an economic independence. By
linking the millions of blacks in Africa, the Americas and elsewhere into one vast network of production,
trade and political co-operation and eventual independence for the black race.

In an attempt to achieve this goal, the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation was launched in 1919. Between
1919 and 1925, the Black Star Line and its succesor company the Black Cross Navigation and Trading Company,
operated four ships which carried passengers and cargo between the USA and Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Costa Rica
and Panama. This was the most ambitious venture undertaken by the UNIA.

Another venture of the UNIA -- also started in 1919 -- was the Negro Factories Corporation, which sought
to, "build and operate factories in the big industrial centres of the United States, Central America, the
West Indies and Africa to manufacture every marketable commodity.".

A chain of grocery stores, a restaurant, a steam laundry, a tailor and dressmaking shop, a millinery store
and a publishing house, were started. The UNIA identified good business opportunities and tried to interest
blacks in developing them, providing executive and technical expertise where necessary.

The first convention of the UNIA, held in Harlem in 1920, significantly altered the course of the
association. 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 and emphasizing that blacks should put themselves
first as other races do.

The declaration detailed the injustices meted out to blacks, especially in the United States, and
condemned discrimination and the deprivation of the rights which were due to all people. These rights were
set out in a series of 54 Articles.

The document protested against the practice in th education system whereby black children were taught
white superiority and demanded that the word "Negro" be spelt with a capital "N" in keeping with the dignity
and self-respect of the race. This particular campaign achieved success over the next 10 years.

The official colours of the movement, red, black, and green were also endorsed.

Convinced that blacks should have a permanent homeland in Africa, Garvey's movement sought to accomplish
this by colonizing and assisting with the development of Liberia. In Garvey's words, "our success
educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the protection of a nation founded by ourselves.
And the nation can be nowwhere else but in Africa".

The Liberia programme, launched in 1920, was intended to build colleges, universities, industrial plants
and railroad tracks among other things but the project was abandonded in the mid 1920's after much opposition
from European powers with interests in Liberia.

In connection with the affairs of the Black Star Line Steamship Corporation, Garvey was charged with mail
fraud in the United states and imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1925. On his release in November
1927, Garvey was deported to his homeland where a large crowd met him at Orrett's wharf in Kingston.
A huge procession and band marched to the UNIA headquarters at Liberty Hall, where Garvey impressed the
crowd with his usual impassioned oratory.

He then worked to rebuild the membership of the UNIA in Jamaica and visited branches in the other West
Indian territories and in Central America. Going on to London, he established a European headquarters and
soon after opened a Paris branch.

He travelle to Geneva in 1928 where he presented the Petition of the Negro Race, on behalf of the blacks around
the world, to the League of Nations. The petition outline the abuse of blacks around the world and sought
redress through this Organization. One improtant aspect of the petition was its expose' of the barbarities
of the South African regime and its unfitness to administer Namibia.

In September 1929, Garvey founded the People's Political Party (PPP), Jamaica's first modern political party.
A 14 point manifesto -- the first of its kind in the island's electoral history -- was put forward by Garvey.
The points contained in the PPP's manifesto were far-reaching and perceptive as illustrated by a few of them,
such as:

- an eight-hour work day;
- a minimum wage;
- a larger share of self-government;
- protection for native industries;
- a legal aid department for the poor;
- technical schools for each parish;
- land reform;
- libraries and civic improvement for parish capitals;
- city status for Montego Bay and Port Antonio;
- a National Park at the Kingston Race Course.

Some of Garvey's visions as expressed in his manifesto have been fulfilled. Others are yet to be realized.

Garvey was elected Councillor for the Allman Town division of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC)
in 1929. He lost his seat, however, because of his absence from council meetings while serving a prison
sentence for contempt of court. In 1930 he was re-elected , unopposed, along with two other PPP candidates
and he agitated for the adoption of some of the points outlined in the PPP's manifesto.

In April 1931, Garvey launched the Edelweiss Amusement Company at 67 Slipe Road. This was an important cultural
project as through it Garvey sanctioned the necessity for artists to make a living from their work. In
addition to this, much of the entertainment was based on traditional church, school, and folk entertainment.