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Difficulty: MediumPan-Africanism and Garveyism

Read the following excerpt from a speech delivered by Marcus Garvey in 1919:

'We are striking now for historic empire. We are not looking for a piece of reform here and a piece of reform there. We want a country of our own; we want a government of our own; we want a constitution of our own.'

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best describes how Marcus Garvey's ideological approach to Black liberation differed from that of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses?

  1. A
    Garvey focused on working through elite international organizations to lobby European powers for civil rights, while Du Bois organized a mass working-class movement aimed at complete economic separation and immediate migration to Africa.
  2. B
    Garvey sought to establish a single, culturally uniform nation in Africa for all Black people, ignoring the continent's diverse ethnic and linguistic heritages, whereas Du Bois advocated for the preservation of distinct pre-colonial kingdoms.
  3. Garvey advocated for global Black self-determination centered on building an independent African empire and economic self-reliance, whereas Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses focused on achieving racial equality and civil rights through international diplomacy and legal reforms within existing nations.Answer
  4. D
    Both movements rejected emigration to Africa and instead collaborated on establishing the Black Star Line to facilitate trade agreements between African American businesses and the League of Nations.

Answer

Marcus Garvey's approach differed because he advocated for global Black self-determination centered on building an independent African empire and economic self-reliance, whereas W.E.B. Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses focused on achieving racial equality and civil rights through international diplomacy and legal reforms within existing nations.
The correct option accurately identifies Marcus Garvey's goal of establishing an independent African empire and fostering economic self-reliance through mass populist mobilization. This contrasted with W.E.B. Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses, which sought to work within existing national and international frameworks to secure civil rights and end colonial abuses through diplomatic pressure and legal reform.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary source excerpt from Marcus Garvey's 1919 speech.
Identify that Garvey rejects 'reform here and a piece of reform there' and instead demands a 'historic empire,' 'government,' and 'constitution' of their own.
This establishes Garvey's emphasis on complete political independence, sovereignty, and empire-building rather than incremental civil rights reforms.
2
Compare Garvey's stated goals with the established historical platforms of W.E.B. Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses.
Recall that Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses focused on elite-led international diplomacy, petitioning organizations like the League of Nations, and seeking legal and civil rights reforms within existing colonial and national structures.
This allows for a direct contrast between Garvey's separatist, empire-building model and Du Bois's reform-oriented, integrationist, and diplomatic approach.
3
Evaluate the options to identify the one that correctly matches these two distinct approaches.
Select the option stating that Garvey advocated for building an independent African empire and economic self-reliance, while Du Bois and the Pan-African Congresses focused on achieving equality and civil rights through international diplomacy and legal reforms.
This option is the only one that historically aligns with the ideologies of both movements without reversing their roles or introducing misconceptions.

Key Concept

The distinction between Marcus Garvey's nationalist, empire-building approach (Garveyism) and W.E.B. Du Bois's reform-oriented, diplomatic Pan-African Congresses.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Pan-Africanism and Garveyism

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