Garvey was born into a middle-class Jamaican family and apprenticed himself to the print trade as a youth. Later he travelled to Panama, Costa Rica and London, founding Universal Negro Improvement Association there.
Garvey stressed the significance of church to black society and promoted separation, contrary to major thought leaders like W.E.B Du Bois.
1. Invest in People
One of the key responsibilities of any business owner is investing in their people. Engaging and rewarding your workforce will increase productivity while building loyalty to your organization – investing in people will ensure your business’s survival!
Garvey based his leadership on a firm conviction in individual empowerment and self-determination, creating the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), a multifaceted political, religious, and trade union body dedicated to black progress and independence. Garvey believed that blacks could gain some dignity and respect by breaking free financially from white-dominated societies. To achieve this goal, he established several businesses, such as Negro Factories Corporation and Negro World newspaper. Garvey also established the Black Star Line shipping and passenger company to foster cross-continental trade among black people. However, his successes were frequently marred by his controversial rhetoric and aggressive tactics; many even called him radical, iconoclast or even Black Moses!
Garvey was not only active politically and socially; he was also an acclaimed author and public speaker who used his platform to advance a vision of African redemption that included education, economic empowerment and spiritual renewal. Through these means he encouraged blacks to celebrate their heritage while simultaneously warning against white trade unions’ exploitation as well as Communist International’s promotion of class over race. Sadly his success led him into legal troubles with both European governments as well as J Edgar Hoover’s Bureau of Investigation which infiltrated and charged him with mail fraud related to fraudulent promotion of Black Star Line services he conducted fraudulently.
2. Create a Culture of Excellence
Garvey stressed the significance of creating a culture of excellence. He believed that black people must work hard and take pride in their achievements; treat all people with respect and dignity; pursue education and self-improvement initiatives – often using his personal experiences to show how hard work and perseverance could lead to success.
Garvey was one of the earliest proponents of black pride and self-worth, encouraging blacks to embrace their cultural history and African heritage as an affirmation of themselves and a way to unite communities toward reaching their goals. He believed this approach could unify black communities more effectively while inspiring individuals towards fulfilling them.
Though many of his ideas were contentious, Garvey was successful in spreading his message. His influence can be found within movements like Rastafari and the Nation of Islam as well as helping foster unity within African diaspora communities.
Garvey also stressed the necessity of self-education among blacks. He believed education to be key for success, and encouraged blacks to read books on self-improvement and read about great leaders like Alexander, Charlemagne, Hannibal Napoleon and Genghis Khan whose lives should be studied as sources for self-improvement and success. Garvey likened his movement’s effect on black consciousness to that of a religion: “The masses seem eagerly accept our doctrines just like they accepted Christianity.”
3. Create a Culture of Accountability
Garvey advised people to work hard and be proud of their accomplishments, believing this would earn greater respect from others – an essential ingredient of leadership. He also advocated creating a culture of accountability among leaders by holding them responsible for their decisions and actions – an act which encourages employees to be more productive while creating a pleasant working environment.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was widely revered by his followers as “Black Moses,” the founder and leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), one of the largest organized mass movements in black history. Garvey established UNIA in 1914 after reading Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery; further influenced by lessons gleaned during a printers’ union strike of 1912, travels in Central America and England and personal struggles to establish himself as a printer.
Garvey endeavored throughout his life to inspire people toward success with a philosophy he called The New Thought of the New Negro. This belief integrated Darwinian theories of survival of the fittest with Aristotelian concepts of self-reliance.
Garvey became an influential leader of African American communities during the 1920s. He helped many gain confidence that they could succeed in America, championed “back to Africa” movements, encouraged business ventures in order to achieve economic independence for themselves, promoted segregation laws despite this being in direct contrast with views held by key African Americans such as W. E. B Du Bois.
4. Create a Culture of Innovation
Implementing an innovative culture into your business is integral to its growth. Innovation allows you to discover new methods for reaching your goals, improve products or services already on offer and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. To establish such a culture of innovation in your organization, first identify its core values before making necessary adjustments so everyone is working toward similar objectives.
Garvey was an unforgettable orator who riveted audiences with his passionate racial politics and promises of future power. A self-made man, Garvey made his fortune as a printer and entrepreneur in Jamaica before venturing abroad on speaking tours across America to spread his doctrine of racial uplift through his Universal Negro Improvement Association and popular success ideologies like those found in Victorian literature to motivate blacks to work hard and ascend the economic ladder.
Garvey had attracted over 25.000 attendees to the first UNIA convention at Madison Square Garden by 1920, envisioning Harlem as being at the epicenter of black nationhood and creating the Declaration of Rights for Negro Peoples around the World which was approved at that convention.
Garvey encountered many adversaries as his movement expanded. These included European governments, integrationist organizations, the Communist International (which promoted class over race) and disgruntled members within his UNIA organization.
Though many considered Garvey an outrage, he instilled pride among African diaspora in the face of poverty, discrimination and colonialism. His followers saw him as their “Black Moses”, leading them toward their dream of an empire in Africa.
5. Create a Culture of Teamwork
Building and supporting a culture of teamwork in the workplace is vital to its success. Teamwork fosters open communication between employees and management, leading to improved productivity. Employees feel valued and appreciated – increasing job satisfaction as a result. According to Howard University Professor Caleighsta Edmonds, companies with strong cultures of teamwork tend to fare better; developing such an environment may take some time but the results make it worthwhile.
Garvey was an engaging leader who mesmerized audiences with his passionate oratory. His preaching combined black aspirations for intellectual and economic independence with traditional American ideas of success in order to craft a distinctive gospel of racial pride. He established the Universal Negro Improvement Association and published Negro World newspaper. Additionally, he organized speaking tours around America as well as creating Black Star Line shipping company to facilitate travel into Africa.
Garvey encouraged blacks to embrace their heritage and support black-owned businesses during his speeches, as he believed this would help achieve true equality with whites. He combined Darwinian ideas of survival of the fittest with Aristotelian concepts of self-reliance to develop his doctrine of success.
Garvey’s movement gained much traction; however, he encountered strong opposition from white political, labor, and religious leaders as well as major African leaders such as W. E. B Du Bois who disagreed with his ideology of segregation and separatism. Furthermore, Socialists and Communists who supported integrationist views had infiltrated UNIA leading to lawsuits against it and even threats of deportation from 1919 onward.
