Why was Marcus Garvey a controversial figure?

Just in case! (this is also shared in a Google doc.) 

Charlie Spinale

F period

American Studies 1: History-H

3/6/13

Why was Marcus Garvey a controversial figure?

Marcus Garvey was displayed as a controversial figure through a lifetime of events. Marcus Garvey created the UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement Association) which prepared African Americans to leave; he wanted all African Americans to return to their “motherland” or homeland of Africa. Garvey’s plan differed greatly from African American leaders who wanted everyone to be together, while Garvey wanted everyone in their correct homeland.

Throughout Document A we see how Marcus Garvey was a controversial figure though the eyes of Malcolm X, Malcolm was one of the few throughout the documents who viewed Garvey’s controversial ideas as good rather than harmful. Malcolm was a political activist who encouraged black rights, and agreed with the ideas of Marcus Garvey. Malcolm states that Garvey encouraged African Americans to return to their homeland of Africa. Garvey encourage Malcolm’s father Reverend Earl Little, a Baptist minister, to preach about Garvey’s diverse ideas. Malcolm states “The Klansmen shouted threats and warnings at her that we had better get out of town because “the good Christian white people” were not going to stand for my father’s “spreading trouble” among the “good” Negroes of Omaha with the “back to Africa” preaching’s of Marcus Garvey.” Malcolm also states that Garvey was “raising the banner of black-race purity and exhorting the Negro masses to return to their ancestral African homeland-a cause which had made Garvey the most controversial black man on earth…”  This shows how controversial Garvey’s ideas were because they were being heard all around the world and were being encouraged in a positive way by African Americans like Malcolm’s father Reverend Earl Little.

In Document B which is a “letter to U.S Attorney-General” we see that Marcus Garvey’s controversial ideas are viewed in a negative manner. The letters states that the UNIA is composed of African Americans with black friendly business; the letter describes the members as “ignorant Negro fanatics.” Not only does the letter discriminate the members of the UNIA it describes the organization being more dangerous than the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). The letters states, “The Garvey organization, known as the U.N.I.A., is just as objectionable and even more dangerous as the KKK, inasmuch as it naturally attracts an even lower type of crooks, and racial bigots.” The letters describes that the signers of this letter “foresee the gathering storm of race prejudice and sense the danger of this movement, which caner-like, is eating away at the core of peace and safety—of civic harmony and interracial coexistence.” The authors fear the dangers of Garvey and the UNIA, they believe they will bring more racial problems, and break apart peace and safety.

In Document C which is a memo from Edgar Hoover, we see that he believes Garvey’s controversial ideas are also dangerous. Hoover thinks his Black Star Line Steamship is agitating the Negro movement. “…and in addition to his activities in endeavoring to establish the Black Star  Steamship Corporation he has also been particularly active among the radical elements in New York City  in agitating the Negro movement.” Hoover is actually angry that Garvey has not broken any federal laws, because if he had, what he’s doing would have been stopped. “Unfortunately, however he has not as yet violated any federal law…” Hoover’s fears how Garvey’s controversial ideas could be dangerous. Hoover realizes that there “might be some proceeding against him for fraud in connection with his Black Star Line propaganda…” Hoover’s thoughts may have been correct the timeline states the in 1923 Garvey was arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison for mail fraud. This was because Garvey had allegedly sent out brochures advertising a Black Star Line ship that he had not yet purchased.  

            In the last document we see An Autobiography of Marcus Garvey which portrays his thoughts on his own controversial ideas. Garvey states that his “downfall” was planned by his enemies. He states that they planned traps and spies among the employees of the Black Star Line and the UNIA. He also states that his own employees went against him. Although his Black Star Line was affected, Garvey states that the UNIA has 900 branches and over six million members. At the end of this autobiography we see how controversial Garvey’s ideas truly were. He states “We believe in the purity of both races…It is cruel and dangerous to promote social equality, as certain black leaders do. The belief that black and white should get together would destroy the racial purity if both.” This quote represents Garvey’s controversial ideas because he states that it is dangerous to promote equality and putting blacks and whites together will just destroy the purity of both races.

            A controversial figure is defined as “giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement,” this is exactly what Garvey did he rose against the ideas of most leaders and went with his own ways; Garvey’s unique ideas define a controversial figure. All Garvey truly wanted was a place where African Americans could thrive as their own race, he wanted this to be done in their original homeland of Africa, “we believe that the black people should have a country of their own where they should be given the fullest opportunity to develop politically, socially and industrially.”