Final answer:
Marcus Garvey believed that unity was the most important goal for African Americans, focusing on self-reliance and the foundation of autonomous black societies as pathways to achieving it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marcus Garvey, a prominent figure of African nationalism and leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), held a firm belief that the most important goal for African Americans was unity. Garvey was a staunch advocate for the economic self-sufficiency of African Americans and the establishment of independent black republics as vital steps towards achieving dignity and empowerment for black people around the world. By fostering a sense of pride and collective identity, Garvey's vision was centered on the idea that African Americans could reclaim their heritage and build a prosperous future independent of oppressive systems.
Garvey's UNIA worked hard to unite people of African descent and to promote an autonomous black society, essentially aiming for a significant cultural and economic renaissance. This was in contrast to the idea of assimilation, which Garvey did not view as the ultimate objective for African Americans, instead emphasizing the development of a thriving network of black-owned businesses and schools. Garvey's movement 'Back to Africa' was symbolic of his belief in the importance of African Americans finding self-determination away from racial prejudice and violence, and it remains a significant milestone in the history of the African diaspora.