UAM - UNIA as a Model
Nearly twenty years ago, on August 17, 1988, United African Movement was established in honor of Marcus Garvey and the University Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. This gave UAM a big task. When an entity seeks to honor an ancestor, every effort should be made to fill big shoes.
The UNIA was truly a Pan-African organization. Henry Sylvester Williams was a pioneer in the Pan-Africanist Movement. No person, including Mr. Garvey, could have single-handedly made these accomplishments. A team effort was afoot. The “Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey” was published in 1923.
To say that UAM has emulated the UNIA, one has to speak in relative terms. UNIA had branches throughout the United States. Its steamship company was called the Black Star Line. There was a “Negro World” newspaper. The Negro Factories Corporation was capitalized at $1,000,000. Other business enterprises included laundries, tailor shops, a restaurant, a grocery store, a doll factory, a dressmaking shop, a printing business and a millinery shop.
The “Negro World” was a serious newspaper with a special emphasis on serious matters affecting the race including racial injustices. It was world-wide in perspective. The editorial staff included competent personnel like Hubert Harrison, William H. Ferris, Eric Waldrond and W.A., Domingo. Contributors included Professor William H.H. Hart, T. Thomas Fortune and Hodge Kirnon.
After the District Attorney of New York County summoned Mr. Garvey to his office and warned him not to sell stock in a shipping line absent incorporation, UNIA incorporated Black Star Line as a Delaware corporation. The capitalization was $500,000 and 100,000 shares were authorized to be issued to the public. There was an $800,000 investment by the public in the Black Star Line.
Mr. Garvey advocated that Black independence –militarily, economically and politically– could only be achieved through the efforts of Blacks. In other words, Blacks only had to rely only on themselves. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad made the same argument. Others who embraced this view included Cong. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Kwame Ture, Dr. Amos Wilson and Khallid Muhammad.
Today, it would be easier to find a needle in a haystack than to fine a Black leader in New York who adhered to this view. There are, indeed, Black liberals disguised as Black nationalists. Whites are in their backgrounds steering their words and actions. These Blacks are able to misdirect the energies of clueless Blacks. Few Blacks are embracing the teachings of our revered ancestors.
Against this backdrop, it will be difficult for us to embrace the teachings of our revered ancestors. We have been indoctrinated to follow the words of the living rather than the teachings of the dead. Black people understand the principles of organization as is witnessed by the survival of the black church but they are unwilling to apply those organizational principles to combat white supremacy.
Out of protest against segregated assemblies at First Baptist Church of New York City, a few free Blacks and a group of Ethiopian merchants established Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1808. The original venue was Anthony Street (Worth Street)in lower Manhattan. One hundred years later, Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. became its pastor.
UAM should be celebrating its twentieth anniversary on Sunday August 17, 2008. There should be many UAM activities predating August 17. This will require commitment, sacrifice, and resources. Organization requires that the masses uplift the body of the organization and not vice versa. It will take the many and not the few.
The UNIA was truly a Pan-African organization. Henry Sylvester Williams was a pioneer in the Pan-Africanist Movement. No person, including Mr. Garvey, could have single-handedly made these accomplishments. A team effort was afoot. The “Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey” was published in 1923.
To say that UAM has emulated the UNIA, one has to speak in relative terms. UNIA had branches throughout the United States. Its steamship company was called the Black Star Line. There was a “Negro World” newspaper. The Negro Factories Corporation was capitalized at $1,000,000. Other business enterprises included laundries, tailor shops, a restaurant, a grocery store, a doll factory, a dressmaking shop, a printing business and a millinery shop.
The “Negro World” was a serious newspaper with a special emphasis on serious matters affecting the race including racial injustices. It was world-wide in perspective. The editorial staff included competent personnel like Hubert Harrison, William H. Ferris, Eric Waldrond and W.A., Domingo. Contributors included Professor William H.H. Hart, T. Thomas Fortune and Hodge Kirnon.
After the District Attorney of New York County summoned Mr. Garvey to his office and warned him not to sell stock in a shipping line absent incorporation, UNIA incorporated Black Star Line as a Delaware corporation. The capitalization was $500,000 and 100,000 shares were authorized to be issued to the public. There was an $800,000 investment by the public in the Black Star Line.
Mr. Garvey advocated that Black independence –militarily, economically and politically– could only be achieved through the efforts of Blacks. In other words, Blacks only had to rely only on themselves. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad made the same argument. Others who embraced this view included Cong. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Kwame Ture, Dr. Amos Wilson and Khallid Muhammad.
Today, it would be easier to find a needle in a haystack than to fine a Black leader in New York who adhered to this view. There are, indeed, Black liberals disguised as Black nationalists. Whites are in their backgrounds steering their words and actions. These Blacks are able to misdirect the energies of clueless Blacks. Few Blacks are embracing the teachings of our revered ancestors.
Against this backdrop, it will be difficult for us to embrace the teachings of our revered ancestors. We have been indoctrinated to follow the words of the living rather than the teachings of the dead. Black people understand the principles of organization as is witnessed by the survival of the black church but they are unwilling to apply those organizational principles to combat white supremacy.
Out of protest against segregated assemblies at First Baptist Church of New York City, a few free Blacks and a group of Ethiopian merchants established Abyssinian Baptist Church in 1808. The original venue was Anthony Street (Worth Street)in lower Manhattan. One hundred years later, Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. became its pastor.
UAM should be celebrating its twentieth anniversary on Sunday August 17, 2008. There should be many UAM activities predating August 17. This will require commitment, sacrifice, and resources. Organization requires that the masses uplift the body of the organization and not vice versa. It will take the many and not the few.
posted by Attorney Alton Maddox at 12:55 PM
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