Marcus Garvey (1887–1940) and W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) are often used to represent the tactics that civil rights activists used to promote a vision for African Africans during the Progressive Era.
Du Bois, himself educated at Harvard University, envisioned a future of an educated black elite. A founding member of the NAACP, Du Bois wanted nothing less than complete political equality for blacks as citizens. Du Bois's memorable slogan promoted the idea of a "talented tenth" of the African Americans, which would equip themselves by means of education and powerful political positions to lead blacks to this status of full equality.
Marcus Garvey was the most galvanizing contemporary leader of the black nationalist movement. He famously advocated for blacks to return to their ancestral lands in Africa (though few actually did this). Born in Jamaica, he established the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which eventually earned widespread popular support. Contrary to Du Bois, Garvey did not think the equality was possible on whites' terms, and so promoted the idea of black separatism. Garvey was especially successful in instilling a sense of pride in African Americans.
No comments:
Post a Comment