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Top 15 Sensational Facts about Marcus Garvey

Originally published by  Crispus on November 2022 and Updated by Beatrice J on January 2024

Regarded as one of the greatest black nationalists in history, Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political activist, Pan- Africanist, and the Founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League  (UNIA).

Born and raised in Jamaica before he moved to the United States and later to the United Kingdom, Marcus was a controversial figure who was both loved and hated in equal measure.

Ideologically, Garvey was a black nationalist but at the same time opposed the efforts of the progressive movement to agitate for social and political rights for African Americans. Instead, he advocated for the creation of one strong country of black people only.

Garvey was a different thing to different people. To some, he was a hero who fought for African American social justice, while to others he was a fraudulent rabble-rouser who collaborated with white supremacists to the detriment of black people.

Here are the top 15 Sensational Facts about him.

1. He was the Founder of UNIA

Marcus Garvey was the founder and the first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League  (UNIA). He founded the organization in July 1914 to work for the advancement of African Americans living in the United States and the Caribbean.

Garvey founded the organization after he became convinced that uniting Blacks was the only way to improve their living condition. This was after extensive travels that he made throughout Central America and England between 1910 and 1914.

Initially based in Jamaica before moving to the United States, the organization presented itself not as a political organization but as a charitable club focused on working to help the poor of African ancestry.

Its Foundation led to the establishment of various other entities including the African Legion (a paramilitary group), the African Black Cross Nurses, plus businesses such as the Black Star Steamship Line and the Negro Factories Corporation.

2. He Fought against Africa Colonialism

Photo Source – George Grantham Bain Collection –

From the late 19th century through to the mid-20th century, most African countries were under European colonization. Marcus Garvey became one of the leading voices campaigning for the end of colonization across Africa and emphasized the political unification of the continent.

He believed Africans should determine their own destiny and rallied the Africans in the diaspora to join in the struggle for the African nation鈥檚 independence. At that time the struggle to flee Africa was being spearheaded by a number of African leaders including Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, and Patrice Lumumba of Congo among others.

In Addition, Garvey believed that Africans would only be liberated by a combined effort of all black African whether living inside the African continent or in the diaspora.

3. He was a Racial Separatism Supporter

Contrary to all other Black civil rights leaders who were agitating for the abolishment of racial segregation in the United States, Marcus Garvey actually supported the vice. He argued that the U.S. was a white man’s country and thus, African Americans should not expect equal treatment within the country.

He vehemently opposed attempts to socially and economically integrate different races within the same country but instead proposed that African Americans should re-locate back to Africa and form a strong united African state.

In addition, Garvey openly supported racial separatism and had a cordial relationship with Ku Klux Klan (KKK), a group that strongly support racial segregation. His stand caused a serious conflict between him and other black civil rights leaders.

4. He was a Leading Pan-Africanist

Marcus Garvey with military Uniform – Photo by Associated Press from

Marcus Garvey is recognized as one of the greatest Pan- Africanists in history. His ultimate goal was to help all African countries gain their independence and later unite them to create one strong Nation inhabited by Black African only.

Surprisingly, Garvey never visited Africa continent himself but was heavily influenced by the pan-Africanist teachings of Dr. Love and Alexander Bedward. Through these teachings, he familiarized himself with the continent’s varied customs, languages, religions, and traditional social structures.

He was fully committed to the Back-to-Africa movement and encouraged people of African descent in the diaspora to migrate and settle in Africa. It is also believed that he tried to visit the continent severally but was denied permission by European colonial authorities who feared he would incite the African population.

5. He survived an Assassination Attempt

In October 1919, Garvey survived an assassination attempt after he was shot and wounded by an assailant identified as George Tyler. As the story goes, Garvey would not have survived the attack if his future wife had not heroically shielded him from his assailant.

George Tyler, who was rumored to have been sent by powerful government officials, was later apprehended by the police but died the next day while trying to escape by jumping through a window.  Garvey only suffered minor injuries on his right leg and was still able to address a public gathering one day later after the shooting.

6.  He was imprisoned for Fraud Charges

In 1922, Garvey and other three officials of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League were charged with mail fraud involving one of the organization鈥檚 business ventures, The Black Star Line.

Though Garvey dismissed the charges as politically instigated, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for the crime. Throughout the trial which took just over a month, he presented himself as a selfless leader who was betrayed by incompetent and thieving staff, causing all the problems for UNIA and the Black Star Line.

Garvey鈥檚 appeal for the convictions was also dismissed but he was later pardoned by President Calvin Coolidge, who also ordered his deportation immediately after his release. Garvey was released after serving more than two years in prison and was straight away deported to Jamaica never to set foot in the United States again.

7. He Established a Shipping Line to be used by Black African

Black Star Line Stock Certificate – Photo Source:

Determined to challenge white domination of the maritime industry, Garvey and the U.N.I.A launched a shipping company which they name the Black Star Line. He wanted the company to be the link between the Caribbean, the Americas, and the African continent.

Garvey incorporated the company and raised money to buy ships by selling the company鈥檚 stock to African Americans who also took great pride to be part of the company. He publically proclaimed that any African American who did not buy stock in the company “was worse than a traitor to the cause of struggling Ethiopia”.

Garvey reckoned he needed the company to transport millions of African Americans back to Africa which he envisioned would become one united nation in a few years to come. However, the company failed to perform as planned due to bad management and funds misappropriation which subsequently led to Garvey鈥檚 imprisonment and later deportation from the United States.

8. He was named a Jamaican national Hero

Upon his return to Jamaica from the United States, Garvey was received as a true Jamaican hero, owing to the achievement he had made in fighting for black people. By the time of his return, he was arguably the most popular Black man in the whole world.

Garvey later moved permanently to London where he stayed until his death. He became almost forgotten until 1962 when Jamaica became independent and the new government hailed him as a national hero.

In 1969, almost three decades after his death, Garvey was posthumously conferred with the Order of the National Hero by the Jamaican government, and in 2012, the Government declared August 17 as Marcus Garvey Day.

9. He advocated for black Christianity

Although he was a Catholic himself, Garvey advocated for a form of religion that would be designed specifically for black African people only. He However wanted the black religion to be designed in a way that was as close as possible to Catholicism.

He weighed the importance of black people worshipping a God who was also depicted as black. In his words, Garvey said, “If the white man has the idea of a white God, let him worship his God as he desires. Since the white people have seen their God through white spectacles, we have only now started out to see our God through our own spectacles, and we shall worship Him through the spectacles of Ethiopia鈥�.

10.He was a powerful orator and motivational speaker

People from a wide range of backgrounds were drawn to Garvey’s views by his remarkable oratory abilities, which were like a beacon. He had a remarkable talent for expressing the hopes and frustrations of the people he aimed to uplift, whether speaking to small or large audiences.

His talks were imbued with conviction, emotion, and a call to action, instilling in his audience a sense of mission and urgency. Garvey created striking visions of a day when people of African origin would be able to regain their self-respect, sense of pride, and status in society through her spoken words.

Marcus Garvey‘s oratory skills are an enduring monument to the transforming power of words, even beyond the recorded pages of history. In addition to moving the emotions of his contemporaries, his speeches have endured the test of time, motivating succeeding generations to pursue justice, equality, and the achievement of their greatest potential.

11.The Garveyism movement gained millions of followers worldwide

Garveyism developed into a potent intellectual force that cut across national boundaries. It was founded on the ideas of independence, pride in African history, and a demand for unification among people of African descent.

The ideas of Garveyism caught on like wildfire, appealing to people who were yearning for empowerment, a feeling of self, and a shared future vision. It offered a cohesive framework that inspired people to embrace their African heritage, reject the dehumanising impacts of colonialism, and imagine a future in which Black people might prosper both individually and collectively.

The concepts of Garvey were widely adopted, as seen by the creation of UNIA chapters around the world and the incorporation of Garveyite ideas into other social and political groups. Beyond Garvey’s lifetime, Garveyism had an impact on the American Civil Rights Movement and served as an inspiration to notable figures like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

12.Garvey inspired the Rastafari movement in Jamaica

Beyond his overt advocacy of political and economic empowerment, Garvey’s influence may also be seen in the spiritual and cultural spheres, most notably in the Rastafari religion.

Inspired by Garvey’s teachings, especially his focus on African pride, repatriation to Africa, and rejecting repressive systems, the Rastafari movement arose in Jamaica in the early 20th century. Rastafari followers found great resonance in Garvey’s portrayal of Africa as a spiritual homeland and a land of salvation, with Ethiopia serving as a hallowed and symbolic location.

The respect shown to Garvey as a prophet illustrates his influence on the Rastafari movement. Garvey is widely seen by Rastafarians as a trailblazer who helped to initiate their spiritual and cultural awakening.

13.His newspaper, Negro World, was a potent platform for spreading his ideas and garnering support.

Negro World, Marcus Garvey’s periodical, is extremely important. It acted as a vibrant and powerful forum that was essential in spreading Garvey’s ideas and rallying support for his vision of Black empowerment and unification.

Through Negro World, Garvey reached out to a broad readership, creating a forum for thought and a feeling of belonging among persons of African descent. The newspaper developed into a potent activist tool that spread Garvey’s messages and helped his cause gain international traction.

14. He died at the age of 54

Image by Edwardx from

Throughout his life, Garvey suffered from Asthma and was also plagued by lung infections. In his adult life, he was regularly affected by bouts of pneumonia which kept him immobilized for days.

In January 1940, Garvey suffered a stroke which left him largely paralyzed. He suffered another stroke and died on 10 June 1940. His remains were interred in a vault in the catacombs of the chapel of St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Kensal Green, West London.

In 1964 his remains were exhumed and returned to Jamaica where it was re-reburied in King George VI Memorial Park on 22 November 1964 with pomp and ceremony befitting a national hero.

15.His legacy continues to influence civil rights movements and black empowerment efforts globally

Even after so much time has passed, Garvey’s influence is still felt, and his ideas continue to motivate people and organisations working to advance justice, equality, and self-determination for people of African heritage.

The fact that Marcus Garvey’s theories served as a foundation for other civil rights leaders and movements demonstrates the lasting impact of his legacy. Garvey’s appeal for racial pride, self-reliance, and collective action served as inspiration for the American Civil Rights Movement, which gained steam in the mid-20th century.

Prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. recognised Garvey’s significance in the wider fight for civil rights. Moreover, Garveyism’s tenets have crossed international boundaries and shaped black empowerment movements elsewhere.

Garvey’s story is a wonderful tapestry of tenacity and vision, from legal troubles and imprisonment to people like the Honourable Elijah Muhammad acknowledging his influence. His influence may be seen in modern movements around the globe that aim to promote justice, equality, and the empowerment of people of African heritage in addition to the American Civil Rights Movement.

All together, Marcus Garvey’s Top 15 Sensational Facts tell the story of a visionary leader whose views have shaped the conversation about race, identity, and empowerment over the years.