MARCUS GARVEY

Whatever may be their private thoughts and judgements as to the methods, purposes and final results of his efforts; the one conclusion at which close observing Colored and white people alike have unanimously arrived and publically admitted is that the Negro, Marcus Garvey (who is estimated to have united more than a million of his Race people into different organizations) has unquestionably become “The World’s Greatest Group Organizer” of today.

Relative to the Race interests, efforts and leaderships of Dr. DuBois and Mr. Garvey, the writer quotes below the very logical and impartial editorial that appeared in Editor J. Finley Wilson’s “Washington Eagle” that was published September 17, 1921, in Washington, D.C.

“WORLD LEAGUE OF THE AFRICAN RACES NECESSARY”

“We are very much in favor of the Pan-African movement which Dr. W. E. B. DuBois has in charge and is trying to make a success of. The race needs an international organization which will gather representatives of the African peoples of the world, where their rights and wrongs may be registered and looked after, and where, annually, they may gather in an open congress or a discussion and agreement upon questions affecting them. The question is a broad one, race-embracing, and should be considered from that viewpoint.

“On the other hand, we are very much in favor of the movement fostered by Mr. Marcus Garvey, the provisional president of Africa, to create a sentiment in Africa in favor of a oneness of sentiment among Africans themselves and the building up of African States for Africans. Mr. Garvey has been pointing out, recently, and very wisely, we think, that the time may come when Afro-Americans who are dissatisfied with their conditions in States of the United States may desire to go to Africa, and to a State in Africa governed by Africans. This is reasonable foresight.

“There are millions of Jews working hard for the rehabilitation of Palestine who have no desire to make it their home, as they are satisfied in the States where they are, but there are millions who are not satisfied, as in Turkey and Russia, who would go to Palestine and build its waste places while repatriating it. It is in the same way that we regard the building of a strong African State as a sufficient asylum of those of the race who are persecuted anywhere on the globe that they may be.

“Mr. Garvey is as much of a prophet in his way as Dr. DuBois, and we should be willing to hold up the hands of both of them in any plans they may advance which seems possible of working out for the good of the race. Both of them have ideas and methods we do not approve, but that would be the case with any movement whatsoever, that may be started, on a large or small scale, by any man or group of men of the race, but it should not prevent us from encouraging them in any idea or plan which appears reasonable and possible of resulting in good for the race.

“A World League of African People is necessary. An Independent African State in Africa is necessary. We already have Liberia and Abyssinia, but we need more than these, and stronger than both of them.”