Who was Marcus Garvey and why was he a divisive figure in the expanding movement for civil rights?

Question

Nativism , Harlem renaissance , Sacco and Vanzetti , racial perspective ,ethnic perspective, red scare , and the 1920’s

Answer 1

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born activist who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in the 1910s and 1920s. He promoted Black pride, economic self-reliance, and a “Back to Africa” movement that encouraged people of African descent to see Africa as their true homeland. Garvey’s message resonated during the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural flowering that celebrated African American art, literature, and identity. His calls for racial pride provided hope and dignity to Black communities facing racism, segregation, and violence.

At the same time, Garvey was a divisive figure in the civil rights movement. His vision clashed with leaders of the NAACP, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, who favored integration and legal strategies for civil rights. The NAACP often criticized Garvey’s separatist approach, his plan for the Black Star Line, and especially his controversial willingness to meet with the Ku Klux Klan.

The 1920s were also marked by intense nativism and fear of outsiders, as seen in the Red Scare and the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants executed amid prejudice. In this climate, Garvey’s movement was viewed with suspicion, both racially and ethnically. To some, his bold stance against white supremacy was inspiring; to others, including NAACP leaders and government officials, it seemed dangerous or misguided.

In summary, Marcus Garvey was celebrated for championing racial pride and independence but criticized for his separatist vision, failed business ventures, and conflicts with organizations like the NAACP. His legacy shows how different racial and ethnic perspectives shaped the civil rights movement during a turbulent era in U.S. history.

Answer 2

Marcus Garvey was the first leader of the NAACP, which was one of the first civil rights organizations for black people in this country. However, he has a controversial legacy as a leader who agreed with the KKK, by claiming "White and Blacks cannot possibly co-exist". He was also a champion of same race marriage, and was spearheading the charge to bring black people back to Africa because he thought that Africa was the only continent in which black people could be really safe. He was also indicted by the US Government for mail fraud in relation to his shipping company "Black Star Line". There has been some speculation over the years that these were actually trumped up charges levied against him, since the US Government, under Warren Harding, were not thrilled to have such radical presence in their country. After he was jailed, Garvey was later deported back to Jamaica and later died in exile.