|
|
|
THE BLACKMAN
On May 22, 2008, the Washington DC Division #183 of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League will celebrates its 87th Anniversary and a proud history of organizing in Washington DC. The UNIA-ACL, founded by the Honorable Marcus Garvey, established its local Division shortly after Mr. Garvey's initial visit to Washington in 1916. One of the oldest, largest and most prestigious Black Associations in the city, the local Division played as pivotal a role in developing the DC Renaissance as the Harlem Division played in establishing the Harlem Renaissance. Today, the local Division continues its message of Universal African Confraternity, Humanitarianism and African Redemption. 
Photo L. Betty Lyles, 1st Lady President of the UNIA Washington D.C. Division.
Shortly after the Honorable Marcus Garvey's initial August 16, 1916 visit to Anthony Bowen's YMCA (now Thurgood Marshall Center) to promote racial pride, African Redemption and the development of independent Black institutions, a number of local Garveyites began to answer the clarion call. A number Howard University's anti-war students such as Uzziah Miner and Caribbean/African students such as West African National Hogan Ebon Okokan were among the earlier supporters. As the UNIA began to publish the Negro World Newspaper, a number Washingtonians, (i.e. Zora Neale Hurston, Georgia Douglas Johnson, etc.), frequently submitted poetry for publication, while other Garveyites like famed Elocutionist Henrietta Vinton Davis and Songwriter Andy Raz joined the UNIA-ACL in Harlem. As the youth and the artists became attracted to the UNIA-ACL, a number of prominent ministers, politicians and attorneys soon flocked into the movement. Joseph H Stewart, William H H Hart, Perri W Frisby, L Melendez King, etc. were but a few of the legendary black lawyers in Washington who held office in the local UNIA-ACL. As Mr. Garvey began speaking regularly at a number of local churches (i.e. Metropolitan AME, Mt. Carmel Baptist, John Wesley AMEZ, etc), a host of ministers such as Rev. Campbell M Lewisstall (founded Sargent Memorial Presbyterian), Rev. Lewis C Sheafe (founded People's Seventh Day Adventist) and Rev. S A Gordon Grant (North Brentwood AME) became officers of the local Division. Even veteran politicians like Henry Lincoln Johnson, former Recorder of Deeds, and Aaron Prioleau, SC Congressman, became executive officers of Division #183. 
In 1921, when Division #183 officially received their charter at the Howard Theatre, there were 300 members. By 1924, the membership had reached 1000 with 3 Subdivisions and a Negro World subscription circulation of 900 a week. The success of the UNIA was due, in part, to a campaign of frequently submitting editorial articles and advertising in the local Black Newspapers, maintaining visibility through a number of parades of the uniformed ranks down Florida Avenue, Monster Mass Meetings and the establishment of a number of centrally located Liberty Halls. One such hall, located 1637-1639 11th St NW was actually called the Black House (the black counter-part of the White House) where Black leaders were welcome when they were slighted by the White House. Another hall was located at 1211 U St NW, formerly the Songhai Night Club, next door to Ben's Chili Bowl. Mr. Garvey understood the economic and political significance of the local Division and often staged rallies here to promote some the UNIA-ACL's boldest ventures. While the local UNIA never engaged in any major local industrial enterprises, many local members bought stock in the UNIA's Black Star Line and Negro Factories Corporation headquartered in Harlem. Local Garveyites also advertised their products in the Negro World and sold some of them wholesale at UNIA-ACL retail outlets abroad. Politically, the local Division was uniquely poised to help promote Garveyism before a national and international arena. Many historic speeches delivered by Mr. Garvey and other UNIA-ACL Executive Officers on matters such as the Armistice Conference, Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill and Liberian Repatriation were held in Washington, DC before overflow crowds of thousands including Congressmen and prominent heads of state. The Washington Division also shouldered the responsibility of defending the Association from a number of locally based enemies of the movement. The Bureau of Investigation's J Edgar Hoover and James Wormley Jones (the first black FBI Agent), both native Washingtonians, fought vigorously and deceptively to neutralize and decentralize the largest black movement of the masses in US history. The Friends of Negro Freedom, a staunch anti-Garvey group of activists, launched their organization and destructive campaign from Washington. Eventually, this brutal assault coupled with the incarceration of Mr. Garvey on trumped up charges, the Great Depression and the untimely death of our sainted leader in 1940, led to a decline in the membership and level of activity by the local Division. Today, we say the Honorable Marcus Garvey is alive and well and living in Washington, DC. The educational workshops, community outreach and diplomatic receptions with African heads of state, hosted by the local Division, are clear and convincing evidence that we have "buried the man, but continued the plan." Marcus Garvey once declared his principles would be adhered to "2,000 years hence." We, in Division #183, solemnly swear to uphold this declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. For more information about the history and local programs of the Washington, DC Division #183 of the UNIA-ACL, contact the General Secretary Yehudah Edwards (812) 760 - 7092. This article is respectfully submitted by the Washington Division of the UNIA-ACL #183. THE BLACKMAN Vol.2  
|