“Let no voice but your own speak to you from the depths. Let no influence but your own raise you in time of peace and time of war. Hear all, but attend only that which concerns you.”
– Marcus Garvey
Unlocking Our Voices gets its inspiration from the teachings and philosophy of the life of the late Marcus Garvey. A charismatic Black leader, Garvey was born in Jamaica and was key to the Pan-Africanism movement. He believed that the black race should have its own institutions that could help with the progress of the African diaspora people in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Influenced by Booker T. Washington’s ideas about creating a strong African-American economic base, Garvey would eventually advocate for a black-based economy control and run within black communities and black nations. Garvey led the first important American Black nationalist movement that was based in Harlem, NY.
Garvey attended school in Jamaica till 14, but to further his education between 1912-1914, he lived in London and then returned to Jamaica. His travels in the Americas eventually opened his eyes to the condition of the black race. Gravey’s conviction to better his race led him to co-found the Universal Negro Improvement (UNIA) with friends in August 1914. It sought for “separate but equal” status and the establishment of independent Black states globally.
By 1920, the UNIA boasted hundreds of chapters worldwide, hosting grand international conventions and publishing “The Negro World”. Garvey’s Pan-Africanist activities would later draw attention to the colonial rulers in Africa and the Caribbean to ban the Universal Negro Improvement (UNIA) for its liberating advocacy for black power, pride, joy, and one destiny.
In 1922, Garvey was indicted by the US federal government on mail fraud charges related to promotional claims for the Black Star Line, leading to the suspension of all its operations. Garvey was deported to Jamaica in November 1927, never to return to the United States.
Garvey encouraged black economic independence, and was a firm believer that "We—Black people—must canonize our own saints, create our own martyrs, and elevate to positions of fame and honor those Black men and women who have made distinct contributions to our racial history.”
This call by Garvey echoes in everything we do. He emphasized celebrating Black excellence, from Toussaint L'Ouverture’s military genius to Sojourner Truth’s legacy, highlighting that the achievements of Black men and women surpass those of many celebrated global figures.
In his later years, Garvey faded from public view, persecuted by his government, and forgotten by his fellow Jamaicans; he would eventually read his obituaries on June 10, 1940, a month before his actual death. However, thanks to many Garveyists worldwide, the Black Moses would be resurrected. On January 19, 2025, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey, recognizing his significant influence on the Civil Rights Movement and many others such as Louis Farrakhan, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and even the founder of Unlocking Our Voices, Greg Fuller.
At Unlocking Our Voices, Garvey's legacy inspires our commitment to reclaiming Black history. Like Garvey, we take pride in our heritage, and provide a platform where the stories of the Black Diaspora are celebrated and honored.
Garvey’s message of unity, pride, and empowerment continues to influence our work. We aim to bring his vision of a connected, empowered, and thriving African Diaspora.
