UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC.
(A NEW YORK CORPORATION)
AND
UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND AFRICAN COMMUNITES LEAGUE 1929 OF THE WORLD, INC.
(AN OHIO CORPORATION)

TIMELINE OF CONTINUED EXISTENCE

​

© 2011 Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League 1918 and 1929 of the World, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
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August 1, 1914 – The first attempt to found the UNIA is made by Marcus Garvey and others in Jamaica.

July 1917 – The New York Division was formed and became the new headquarters of the Association. This Division dissolved a few months later.

July 02, 1918 - The UNIA, Inc. is incorporated as a non-profit organization in New York by Isaac B. Allen, Irene M. Blackstone, Walter J. Conway, Carrie B. Mero, Harriet Rogers, and Marcus Garvey. Also, in July of 1918 the “CONSTITUTION AND BOOK OF LAWS” went into effect, and the African Communities League was incorporated as a for-profit business in August of the same year.

1920 – The “First Great Convention” of the UNIA, Inc. was held at Madison Square Garden in Harlem, New York, with an attendance of 25,000 and a parade ten miles long.

1920 - During the 1920, 1921, and 1922 Conventions also held in New York, the “Constitution and Book of Laws” were duly amended. Importantly, the 1920 Convention introduced the Red, Black, and green flag as the official flag of the Negro Race, produced the Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World, and declared August 31st as "Emancipation Day" for the Negro Peoples of the World. 

August 1922 – Isaiah Emmanuel Morter attends an International Convention of the UNIA, Inc. while in New York seeking medical treatment. He is Knighted Commander of the Distinguished Order of Ethiopia. After his visit to the 1922 Convention, he decides to bequeath 2/3 of his entire fortune to the UNIA, Inc.

1925 – Marcus Garvey, then President-General of the UNIA, Inc. was incarcerated in a prison in Atlanta, Georgia.

THE FIRST SPLIT

March 1926 – Marcus Garvey, President-General in exile (still incarcerated), calls an emergency Convention to impeach the Acting President-General Sherrill and elected President Fred Toote as Acting President-General. This Convention is deemed unconstitutional and not recognized by the majority of members from other Divisions of the UNIA, Inc. including Cincinnati, Detroit, East Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., Georgia, etc.

August 1926 – Due to Garvey's prison record--and the Constitution and Book of Laws mandating that no member with a prison record could hold office--an International Convention of the UNIA, Inc. is held in New York where George Weston defeats Marcus Garvey and is elected President-General. Afterwards, some disgruntled members loyal to Marcus Garvey called the Convention a sham, walked out and held a rival Convention a few blocks away where in his absence they elected Marcus Garvey as their President-General.

1926 - Immediately following Convention President-General Weston filed a series of legal grievances and complaints against the rival UNIA headed by Marcus Garvey and others, barring them from using the name UNIA claiming among other things, that Marcus Garvey and his disgruntled group were only using the name UNIA as a means of deceitfully acquiring the Morter Estate.

1926 - President-General Weston’s Convention having carried a majority of the membership, maintained jurisdictional authority over the corporate entity UNIA, Inc., and the members loyal to Marcus Garvey unofficially became known as the UNIA unincorporated.

December 1927 – Marcus Garvey is released from Prison and deported to Jamaica where he continued to organize and preside over the breakaway membership and attempts to move the headquarters from New York to Kingston, Jamaica.

August 1929 – Marcus Garvey and his unincorporated association hold convention in Jamaica where he publicly denounces and distinguishes his group as a separate unincorporated entity from the UNIA, Inc. of New York, forming the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League August 1929 of the World.  

1929 - The UNIA, Inc. remains active and headquartered in New York.

1930-1940 – During this time, the UNIA-ACL August 1929 of the World's headquarters was moved to London, where Marcus Garvey remained President-General until his death. 

June 10, 1940 - Marcus Garvey dies in London after suffering a second cerebral hemorrhage or cardiac arrest. 

July 21, 1940 - Memorial Service for the Honorable Marcus Garvey held at St. Marks Methodist Episcopal. Captain Alfred Leslie King was Master of Ceremonies; Bishop Frederick Augustus Toote, Reverend Father William Buchannan and Reverend H.A. Barnard were officiates. Ave Maria was sung by coloratura soprano Madame Ethyl Houghton Clarke & Ethline Smith. 3,000 attended. (Spady, p. 72, 73)

August 18 - 21 1940 The Emergency Conference of the UNIA-ACL 1929 was held to discuss, among other things, the Acting President-General to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Garvey’s term. Commissioner James Robert Stewart (Cleveland, OH) is elected Acting President-General unanimously; Commissioner Charles Lynell James from (Gary, IN) is elected Assistant Acting President- General; High Chancellor Thomas Watson Harvey retains his post; Secretary-General Ethel Collins retains her post; Daisy Whyte is elected Assistant Secretary-General; Theresa E Young is elected Second Assistant Secretary-General. Amy Jacques Garvey sends a letter of support to the Conference attendees. (NAN , 8-31-1940, p.4,9; CD, 8-31-1940; Spady, p.73; CCP, 8-8-1941, p.4-A)

October 19, 1940 - The New Negro World newspaper is launched in Cleveland, OH. (MGPP, Vol. X, p. 694)

1941- The UNIA Inc of 1918, headed by President General Lionel Antonio Francis, moved its headquarters from New York to Belize

August 15 -20, 1941-Western Hemisphere Conference of the UNIA-ACL was held in Cleveland with international delegates represented by proxy due to WWII. The Conference hosted a massive Garvey Day rally and parade on August 17. The Course of African Philosophy was also taught by President-General Stewart. This is the first UNIA Convention held in the US since Mr. Garvey’s death (CCP, 8-9-1941, p.4A; CD, 8-23- 31 CD, p.9; 8-16-1941 NY Amsterdam Star News, p.4; Photo Courtesy of Stewart Family).

 

1942- Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League August 1929 of the World, led by President General James Stewart, moves its world headquarters from London to Cleveland, Ohio, and is incorporated in the same year.

August 13 - 19, 1942 - The 9th International Convention was held in Cleveland, OH. The first in the US since Mr. Garvey died. Officers were elected, business reported, and resolutions issued. (UNIA Pamphlet; 8/9-1942, p.10 NNW) (Photo Attached)

Sept. 26-27, 1942 - A group of disgruntled members of the UNIA Rehabilitating Committee called a conference in New York to organize a campaign to oust President- General Stewart. Barrister Pitt becomes the first Chairman; Cleophus Jacobs Sr., Secretary-Treasurer. (Spady, p.83)

August 28-31, 1943 - National Conference of the UNIA-ACL 1929 of the World held at Liberty Farms in Oregonia, OH. (NNW, 9-1943)

August 16-24, 1946 - 10th International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World held at Liberty Farms in Oregonia , OH. James Stewart is President-General and Christina Lyons is Secretary-General. (CD 8-24-1946, p.19B; UNIA 1946)

October 24, 1946 - The Garvey Memorial Liberty Hall dissolves the Rehabilitating Committee and closes out its assets. The Hall attempted to sell its building to the UANM for one dollar through their mutual agent Llewlyn Campbell. (UNIA vs UNIA (RH))

January 12-16, 1947 - President-General Stewart Rallies in New York (NYAN, 1-18- 1947, p.12)

February 1949 - The President-General, first family et al repatriate to Liberia and transfer the Parent Body to Africa (the World Headquarters stayed in Cleveland, Ohio). They transport a deep freeze unit, dynamo, incubators, tractors, automobile, trailer, printing press, motors of various types and many other modern equipment and implements necessary in the development of a community. (UNIA 1950)

THE SECOND SPLIT

1949 - 1953 - Around this time and four years after President General Stewart left for Liberia, members of the UNIA-ACL 1929 Rehabilitation Committee formally split from the legitimate Ohio Corporation under President Stewart. They elected William LeVan Sherrill as President-General.

October 29, 1950 - The Moziah Club, affiliated with the Rehabilitating Committee, hosts an event in Cincinnati to explain the reason for the Rehabilitation and recruit new members. Barrister Pitt is the Chairman with headquarters in Detroit. (CD, 11-4-1950, p.19)

August 1954 - The New York Vanguard Division of the UNIA hosts a Mass Meeting for visiting delegates enroute to the 12th International Convention being held in Gbandela, Liberia, West Africa. (CD, 9-4-1954, p.5)

1956 – Disgruntled family member of Division #121 tried to claim the building was their personal property, then attempted to sell the property and create a new organization for Marcus Garvey's family called the Universal African Improvement Association. The State Supreme Court in Philadelphia, PA decrees that the real property rightfully is owned by Division #121 and was held in trust by the Parent Corporation in Ohio.

1961 – President General Lionel Francis of the UNIA 1918 Belize, dies. When Lionel Frances died and UNIA 1918 became dormant, many of the remaining UNIA division loyal to Marcus Garvey join the UNIA-ACL August 1929 of the World under James Stewart, the second President-General of 1929, continuing the merging of the UNIA, Inc. (1918) and UNIA-ACL August 1929 of the World--becoming one organization.

April 30, 1964 - President-General James R. Stewart dies in Gbandela, Liberia. James Bennett of Youngstown, OH succeeds as President-General. 

January 13, 1968 - President-General James Bennett dies. Vernon Wilson succeeds, naming Roberta Bennett Secretary-General. (CCP, 1-13-1968, p.12A)

February 24, 1968 - The UNIA-ACL hosts a Convention at St. John AME in Cleveland. Rev. Joseph E. S. Ray is reappointed Public Relations Coordinator by Counsel-General Wesley J Gray. Mrs. Roberta Bennett is elected Secretary-General, filling the office recently vacated by the death of Mrs. Mary Thompson. (CCP, 2-24-1968, p.6A)

September 19, 1970 - President-General Vernon Wilson Appoints Mason Hargrave President of the Cleveland Division and Commissioner of District 8. His appointment is expected to expedite the development of the proposed $10 Million Marcus Garvey Complex. (CCP, 5-31-1969)

December 20, 1970 - The Honorable Colonel Thomas Payne returns from Liberia to speak at the American Headquarters in Cleveland on the “Black Potential in Africa.” Rev. DeForest Brown, President of the Hough Area Development Corporation, and Councilman J. H. Bell also share the podium emphasizing the importance of cooperation in achieving the aims and objects of the Association. (CCP, 12-19-1970, p.11B)

May 21 – 23, 1971 - A “Unification Council” is formed by the UNIA-ACL and the remnants of the renegade Rehabilitating Committee headquartered in Philadelphia. A meeting was scheduled at the Garvey School of Education in Youngstown, OH to iron out differences in programs and approaches in an effort to consolidate the movement. (CCP, 5-8-1971, p.15A)

March 1972 - The UNIA-ACL is granted a temporary injunction and other equitable relief by Judge George J McMonagle against 13 dissident members of the Association. The court found that the alleged “Unification Convention” held by these dissident members were ‘not in conformity with the rules and regulations governing the Association.’ The dissidents were further enjoined by the courts from interfering with or disrupting the business of the UNIA-ACL and two of the members were ordered to move their residency from the building within 10 days.

March 9, 1974 - President Mason Hargrave succeeds in flying the Red, Black and Green flag over Cleveland City Hall. (CCP, 3-9-1974, p. 6a)

August 1974 - President-General Vernon Wilson is re-elected in convention. Shortly afterwards he falls ill. Get well letters are sent to Mercy Hospital. (CD, 11-19- 1974, p. 17)

October 1974 - Lt. Parks, Mary Louise Mason and 19 others are denied an immediate restraining order against the UNIA-ACL and file a complaint to dissolve the corporation. (CCP, 10-5-1974, p.2A)

January 1975 - President-General Vernon Wilson dies at 72 years old. He was memorialized at the A. R. Leek’s Funeral home in Chicago, IL. (CCP, 1-18-1975, p.4A)

February 1975 - Mason Alexander Hargrave succeeds Vernon Wilson (CCP, 2- 8-1975, p.5A)

August 17, 1980 - President-General Mason Hargrave attends the unveiling of the bust of the Most Honorable Marcus Garvey in Washington at the Organization of American States. Queen Mother Audley Moore is also in attendance. (Interview of Tarik A Oduno, attendee at the event)

July 28, 1987 - President-General Mason Hargrave gives testimony on behalf of the UNIA-ACL at the US Congressional Hearing before the Sub-Committee on Criminal Justice concerning the mail fraud charges against Marcus Garvey. (Congressional Transcript)

October 2, 1988 - President-General Mason Hargrave invites the Conscious Community to join the UNIA in taking a Walk Thru The Projects to lend moral support to those in need and inspire hope in those less fortunate. (Open Letter To The Conscious Community)

November 16, 1988 - UNIA-ACL International Headquarters is destroyed by fire. (PD, 11-17-1988)

December 12, 1988 - President-General Mason A. Hargrave Sr dies.

April 27, 1989 - Cleophus Miller Jr succeeds President-General Mason Hargrave as the 6th President-General of the UNIA-ACL 1929 of the World. President-General Miller vows to restore the movement to prominence, rebuild the International Headquarters (Liberty Hall) in Cleveland, make the UNIA-ACL Historical Society viable and mobilize former members to return and rebuild the premier association for the uplift of the race. (CCP, 4-27-1989, p.A1, 2B)

February 7, 1990 - President-General Miller leads the Mayor, City Officials and 300 students in reciting a Toast To The Flag as part of Cleveland’s salute to the Red, Black and Green Flag and Black History. (CCP, 2-22-1990, p. 2B)

September 2009 – After much lengthy civil litigation, the Honorable Judge Maurice Ross of the District of Columbia Superior Court in the case of Muhammad vs. Hawkins [Civil Action Number 2007 – 06662B], reversed the previous Court Ruling and issued an Order overturning the previous adjudication of fraud alleged by the by members of the Rehabilitating Committee, then Judge Ross DENIED the claims presented in their civil complaint, and altogether DISMISSED the case the Rehabilitating Committee then brought against the officers of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Inc. of New York, and the UNIA-ACL 1929, Inc. of Ohio

November 14-17, 2019 - City of Raleigh, Universal Negro Improvement Association African Communities League, President General Cleophus Miller Jr., and The Carolinian and Carolina Call newspapers welcome honored dignitaries from Ghana to celebrate Year of Return Ghana 2019. Black Agriculturalists meet with Ebenezer Obeng Baffoe- CEO, Casa De Ropa to discuss partnership. Free Land In Ghana for African Descents Information Session. Dignitaries from Ghana, West Africa, receive “Key to the City” Honor.

February 1, 2020 - ANNUAL FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY Assembly Front Steps of Cleveland City Hall, Cleveland, OH to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Red, Black & Green flag. Sponsoring groups include The Underground Railroad, U.N.I.A., RNA ( Republic of New Africa), African American Cultural Gardens, and a host of community organizations. (Free, Open to Public).

February 3, 2020 - The Ghanaian Delegation visits the descendants of the kidnapped Africans at the UNIA ACL Parent Body — Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Dignitaries from Ghana included 1. Okatakyi Dr. Amanfi VII, Omanhen of Asebu, Traditional Area  2. Nana Obokese Ampah, Apagyahen of Asebu, Traditional Area 3. Eric Kwesi Armo-Himbson, Chief Director, Ministry of Special Development Initiatives and  4. Kingsley Kofi Karikari-Bondzie, Deputy CEO, Coastal Development Authority.

May 2020 - Under President-General Cleophus Miller Jr, the UNIA-ACL signs on as a founding member of the Exodus Alliance. Led by Rashad J Mahdi of Atlanta GA based in Senegal, the alliance brought together proven champions for repatriation to assist in the mass and immediate repatriation of the African Diaspora back to the African continent. Founding organizations included the UNIA-ACL (OH USA), State of the African Diaspora (UK) , Sankofa Repatriation Assistance Program (GH), Black Star Action Network International (SL), the Made in Africa Project & Alkebulan Development Group (SN). The 6 organizations sponsored Africa Day 2020 on May 25th, 2020, via livestream due to the COVID19 Pandemic. The 8-hour program was watched live by 70,000 viewers and hosted entirely by Rashad J Mahdi.  (MBBA, 2-6-2020, MN, 5-26-2020)

Nov 2020 - President-General Miller serves as mediator alongside the leaders of other Exodus Alliance organizations to calm a very public dispute among repatriates in Brusubi, The Gambia. Attorneys from the African Diaspora Returnee Association were appointed to review the case and assist in amicable solution. (AA, 11-9-2020)

2020-Present - Tens of thousands of Afro Diasporans from around the world begin relocating to Africa following the 2019 Year of Return and amid the 2020 Covid Pandemic. Concentrated communities begin to form in Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Liberia. Many of whom are members of the Exodus Club formed out of the 2020 Exodus Alliance. The official media networks of the collective totaled over 1 million online subscribers as of June 2022. (AJZ, 1-1-21, BBC 8-24-20, CBS 9-21-21, CN 6-20-22, DM, 8-23-21) TEA, 3-5-22, TN, 8-22)

 

2021- Three Ghanaian kings visited the UNIA-ACL World Headquarters and celebrate Black History with the city of Cleveland, and invite Black People to come back home to Africa after 400 years of slavery. 

Cited Sources:

AA All Africa News
ADW Atlanta Daily World
AJZ AlJazeera News
ALK Alfred Leslie King Papers
AO African Opinion
BA Baltimore Afro-American
BBC British Broadcasting Cannel
CBS Columbia Broadcasting System
CC Carlos Cooks and Black Nationalism
CD Chicago Defender
CCP Cleveland Call and Post (CCP)
CN CNBC News
DM Diaspora Messenger
G&G Amy Jacques Garvey, Garvey and Garveyism
GV Garvey’s Voice
GT Rev. Pastor Georgina Thornton Papers
MBBA My Beautiful Black Ancestry
MGPP Marcus Garvey & UNIA Papers
MN Medium News
NAN New Amsterdam News
NNW New Negro World
NYT New York Times (NYT)
PD Plain Dealer
TEA The Eastern African News
TN Travel Noire

Spady James Spady, Marcus Garvey, Africa and the Universal Negro Improvement Association: a UMUM perspective on concentric activity in the Pan African World

UNIA 1946 Minutes of the 10th International Convention, 1946

UNIA vs UNIA (RH) Trustees of Division #121 vs Garvey Memorial Liberty Hall Appeal

UNIA 1950 UNIA 1950 Convention Pamphlet -----