Final answer:
Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to promote black pride, create economic self-sufficiency, and establish independent black republics. While the organization faced economic struggles and declined after Garvey's deportation, it had a significant influence on future black empowerment movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marcus Garvey and the Goals of UNIA
Marcus Garvey, a dynamic leader and advocate of Pan-African unity, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) with the aspiration to uplift and empower individuals of African descent. The primary goals of UNIA were to instill black pride, foster economic self-sufficiency, and build a shared identity among the African diaspora. Garvey envisioned this movement would eventually result in the establishment of independent black republics in Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean. On a more immediate level, UNIA sought to create and support black-owned businesses, advance political independence, and culturally enrich its members. While the association launched numerous economic ventures, many unfortunately did not succeed, leading to its decline after Garvey's arrest and deportation.
The spirit of UNIA, with its large membership and broad reach via the The Negro World newspaper, went beyond just economic aspects; it also emphasized the importance of cultural and educational self-determination. The idea that "Black is Beautiful" was prevalent under Garvey's leadership, and he advocated for members of the African diaspora to take pride in their heritage and consider the potential of a collective return to ancestral homelands as part of a "Back to Africa" movement.
Although Garvey's tactics and strategies were sometimes viewed as controversial, and his economic ventures met with limited success, his impact on promoting a sense of collective identity and self-sufficiency among black individuals laid foundational work for future movements such as Black Power and influenced figures like Malcolm X.