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THE GARVEY ERA

At the turn of the 20th century, Marcus Mosiah Garvey rose up to inspire the people to fight for social, political, and economic changes. Marcus Garvey and Amy Ashwood co-founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.) in 1914. He also established a rprinting press and was the producer of the first black owned newspaper in Jamaica. The newspaper was called The Black Man.

Garvey developed African Fundamentalism with the creed of "one God, One Aim, One Destiny". His headquarters in Kingston was called Liberty Hall. Garvey left Jamaica and toured Cuba, Haiti, Costa Rica, and other south American countries. In 1916 he migrated to the United States of America where he launched the largest chapter of the U.N.I.A., with the headquarters in Harlem, New York. He then started a newspaper in New York called The Negro World.

The U.N.I.A. grew to become the largest black organization of all times, enfolding an estimated five million active members worldwide. Marcdus Garvey preached that the former African slaves should be repatriated to Africa, and former slave trading countries should pay reparations for their participation in such endeavor. His organization (U.N.I.A.) established many business enterprises to encourage black people to be independent and self-sufficient. He also founded a shipping company called the Black Star Line in 1919. These ships were used for transporting cargo and passengers all over the black world. His organization made contact and signed a lease with President King of the Republic of Liberia in 1920, for the purpose of conducting trade with the African Diaspora and repatriating people of African descent from the west who desired to return to Africa. This lease included an agreement for the people to settle on a quarter million acres of land in Liberia.

Members of the U.I.N.A. eagerly boarded the fleet of five ships from ports in the Caribbean and the United States. They loaded on seeds, grains, tractors, water pumps, tools, trucks, other equipment and materials, necessary to build a settlemen in Africa. As soon as the U.I.N.A. contingent deperted for Liberia, the United States government dispatched a quick light cruiser with the secretary of states on board. The cruiser sped pass the U.N.I.A.'s fleet on the high seas, landing in Liberia ahead of the U.N.I.A. ant its fleet approached the shores of Liberia, the Liberian Navy blocked its passage, preventing them from coming ashore. The captain of the Black Star Line sought to have a meeting with President King immediately. The U.N.I.A. displayed the lease agreement, signed and agreed upon by President King. However, President King adamantly refused to meet the U.N.I.A. delegation.

After weeks of trying to negotiate with President King to allow the Black Star Line Crew to come ashore, and with the depletion of food and fresh water, the president of Liberia allowed only the unloading of equipment and materials from the ships. President King steadfastly refused to allow the crew to land. The equipment and materials were confiscated by the Liberian government. Eventually, Liberia's government decided to replenish the necessary supplies aboard the U.N.I.A.'s fleet of ships and instructed their navy to forcibly escort the U.N.I.A. ships out of Liberian waters.

Dejected and disappointed, the crew set sail for their return journey to the west. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the fleet of ships docked in Cuba. That night, the entire fleet was sabotaged and set on fire. No one was held accountable for this barbaric act. Then in 1923, Garvey was promptly arrested and charged with mail fraud and conspiracy. He was found guilty in 1925 and was sentenced to five years in prison, in the state of Georgia.

In November of 1927, Marcus Garvey was granted a pardon by President Calvin Coolidge. Upon his release from prison, Garvey was deported to Jamaica, where with his faithful lieutenants Saint William Grant, Stennett Kerr-Coombs, and others, he continued his work with the U.N.I.A. He decided to campaign for a seat on the legislative council in Jamaica. However, Garvey was arrested and found guilty of sedition. Just before sentencing, the presiding judge received a letter in chambers from the cairman of Jamaica's Council of Churches quoting "Will you Let The Tiger Loose?" When he was released from prison he left Jamaica for England, where he resided until he died in 1940.

After the Garvey era in Jamaica, Alexander Bustamante, Norman Washington Manley, Ken Hill, and other stalwars continued the struggle for changes in Jamaica's socio-politico and economico conditions. There were riots on Kingston's water fronts, rampages on the sugar estates, and general civil disobedience by the majority of Jamaica's working class.

Bustamante founded a labor union, The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (B.I.T.U.). Ken Hill founded the Trade Union Congress (T.U.C.). Norman Manley founded a political party called "The People's National Party" (P.N.P.). In 1938, events of civil disobedience escalated to the point where the government had no control over developments. Ensuing events caused the governor to declared a state of emergency throughout the island. Bustamante, Ken Hill, and others were arrested and detained. Bustamante was tried and convicted for sedition and was incarcerated at the governor's leisure. Eventually Bustamante was released and formed the Jamaica Labor Party (J.L.P.). Jamaica had its first universal adult suffrage vote for its government in 1944.

The Jamaica Labor Party (J.L.P.) won the elections and Sir William Alexander Bustamante became Jamaica's first chief minister and formed the first government of elected Jamaicans. Norman Manley's P.N.P. became Jamaica's first opposition party.