The Inherent Paradox of Garveys Black Nationalism Research Paper

The Inherent Paradox of Garveys Black Nationalism - Research Paper Example It is as if the movement known as â€Å"Garveyism† was blind to the consequences of its ideas outside the narrow aim of promoting the interests of one group of black people, namely those who are able and willing to migrate to Africa and engage in some kind of post-colonial â€Å"redemption† which will make good all the pain and suffering that black people endured in the past from slavery and discrimination. This paper examines three articles from the early twentieth century, all of which are written by black men, and which demonstrate this curious blindness to the colonialist ways and means that they have chosen for their movement. The first article, Marcus Garvey’s â€Å"Report of the UNIA Delegation to Liberia† of 1924 deals with the disappointment experienced when black leaders visited Liberia to view progress on the setting up of a new, non-colonial state for people of color. The gist of the article is outrage at the way a project very dear to black pe ople has been usurped by the business interests of powerful white corporations. One of the most striking features is the way that Garvey urges his people to respond, in particular by resisting the â€Å"bullies† France and England: â€Å"It is either that somebody must take a man’s stand for what is right, or play the part of a coward in front of the bully.† (Garvey Report, 1924). Alain Locke argues that Garvey’s report is a manifestation of the spirit of the New Negro, wherein a new brand of internationalism aimed to unite the scattered Negro population of the world (Locke 270). In addition, the strong opposition of the UNIA to the recurring pressures of colonial interest, especially in the acquisition of land for the economic activities of colonial powers, can be seen as another manifestation of the New Negro, wherein the American Negro, as represented by the Garvey as the leader of the UNIA, partakes in the future development and rehabilitation of the African homeland (Locke 270). That may be the reason why the UNIA has been reiterating its right in the colonization of Liberia, for a part of the New Negro; they would wish to lead an example in establishing a Negro homeland away from the restrictive conditions of colonial societies. In addition, this report also proves as a reflection of the growing aspirations of black economic nationalism (Dosset 119), wherein the UNIA would like to assert the economic independence of Liberia as part of its â€Å"redemption of Africa:† free from colonial economic interests and relying on black self-sufficiency. The second article to be analyzed in this paper is the speech of Marcus Garvey, dated August 28, 1924. This speech was actually addressed one day after the delegation of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA—whom Marcus Garvey himself founded) reported their findings regarding the negotiations of their colonization of the Republic of Liberia.