Marcus Garvey

Marcus Mosiah Garvey (August 17, 1887 – June 10, 1940) was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, crusader for black nationalism and founder of the UNIA-ACL. He was born in Jamaica. Garvey is best remembered as a champion of the "back-to-Africa" movement, which was interpreted as encouraging people of African ancestry to return to their ancestral homeland. He is also recognized as the most important prophet of the "back-to-Africa" Rastafari movement. Garvey said he wanted those of African ancestry to "redeem" Africa, and for the European colonial powers to leave it. Although Garvey was raised Methodist, he became Greek Orthodox.

Charged with mail fraud

After an FBI investigation, a charge of mail fraud was brought against Garvey for selling stock in the Black Star Line enterprise, when it was revealed that, contrary to representations, the corporation did not possess the ship in the company's stock brochure (or indeed, any other ship). The promoters of the enterprise found guilty of using the mail service to sell stock in an undercapitalized corporation by means of misrepresentation of its existing assets. Garvey supporters called the trial fraudulent. Garvey was sentenced to a five year term, and imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Prison in 1925. To this day, efforts on the part of his supporters to exonerate him from the charges continue. His sentence was eventually commuted, and on his release in November 1927, Garvey was deported from New Orleans to Jamaica, where a large crowd met him at Orrett's wharf in Kingston. A huge procession and band marched to the UNIA headquarters.

Related Topics:
FBI - Mail fraud - Black Star Line - Corporation - Stock - Under - Capitalized - Misrepresentation - Assets - Atlanta Federal Prison - 1925 - 1927 - New Orleans - Kingston

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