Marcus Mosiah Garvey

August 17, 1887 - June 10, 1940

 

Garvey, most predominantly known for his influential voice in liberating poor Jamaicans during the early 1900's, was a black nationalist who encouraged blacks to find acceptance within themselves and reclaim Africa as their home. Among many other things, he was a journalist, entrepreneur, and activist who founded the Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League, the People's Political Party in Jamaica, and presented the Petition of the Negro Race to the League of Nations. Rastas considered Garvey to be a religious prophet. The earlier Rastas were active in his Back to Africa movement. Garvey was not a Rasta, but was committed to helping free their minds. He was raised Methodist and later became a Roman Catholic. Marcus Mosiah Garvey died in 1940 while living in London.