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Who was Marcus Garvey and what did he advocate in Jamaica?

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Marcus Garvey (1887–1940) was a prominent Black leader and activist born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. In 1914, he founded the Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League (UNIA) in Jamaica.1

While in Jamaica, Garvey advocated for Black nationalism and Pan-Africanism, promoting the vision of a Black-governed nation in Africa and fostering pride in African heritage. His movement emphasized economic independence for Black people, arguing that they would only achieve respect through economic strength.12

Although he initially struggled to gain a significant following in Jamaica, he later achieved widespread influence after moving to the United States in 1916. Garvey’s legacy remains deeply tied to his homeland; his body was returned to Jamaica in 1964 and he was buried in Kingston.13