Learn the real stories from the individuals who have experienced the front lines of the UNIA

UNIA Blog 4/16/2020 - Brother Oduno - Washington DC Chapter

Learn the untold stories of the UNIA

UNIVERSAL AFRICAN LEGIONS                                                    

The Universal African Legions and shall consist of men of Negro blood and African Descent who are active members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities' League, who are between the ages of 18 and 55 years and in good health. This Auxiliary body shall have the special designation of the Universal African Legions and shall prepare men for service by teaching them military skill and discipline and by registering them according to the various trades in which they have been trained.

There shall be among them non‑commissioned officers and men of three classes: First Class Master Workmen. Second Class Skilled Workmen and Third Class Unskilled Workmen .The Master and Skilled must have trade identifications, and the unskilled workmen must be grouped without trade identifications.

THE UNIVERSAL BLACK CROSS NURSES   

The Universal Black Cross Nurses shall consist of women of Negro blood and African Descent who are between the ages of sixteen and forty‑five, who are active members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

 All women of the Race not desiring active membership may become honorary members upon payment of One dollar or more annually.

All men of the Race shall be permitted to become Honorary members of this auxiliary upon payment of One dollar or more annually.

All Honorary members shall be known as Annual or Sustaining members.

The Objects of this Black Cross Nurses shall be to carry on a system of relief and to supply the same in mitigating the suffering, caused by pestilence famine, fire, floods, and other great
calamities. And also to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.

The Black Cross Nurses shall attend to the sick of the Division(s). And also to devise and carry on measures for preventing sam he public Auxiliary is attached and be ready for service at any time when called upon by His Highness the  Potentate.

To Black Cross Nurses shall issue pamphlets which will tend to educate the public to the user of safety devices and prevention of accident; to instruct in sanitation for prevention of epidemics; and to instruct in First Aid.

THE UNIVERSAL AFRICAN MOTOR CORPS                                                                    

The Object of the Universal African Motor Corps shall be to assist the Universal African Legions, in the performance of their duties. All active members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association between the ages of sixteen and forty‑five may become members of this auxiliary. The male membership shall, however, be confined to only those who are in active command of the units of the various Divisions. All Commissioned Officers above the rank of Major shall automatically be Officers of this Auxiliary.

   This Auxiliary shall be trained in "Military Discipline" by the Officers of the Universal African

   Legions. They shall also be given such Automobile instructions as, driving, repairs, etc.

THE UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION CHOIRS 

The Universal Negro Improvement Association Choir shall consist of men and women who are active members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. Its object shall be to furnish vocal talent in the form of solos, duets, trios,  quartettes, quintets, choruses, etc. for the various meetings and services held by the organization as  maybe expedient.

THE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITIES LEAGUE CHARITABLE TRUST

The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League Charitable Trust was established and recorded in the District of Columbia on October 18, 2002, for the
purpose of preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring the historic legacy of Marcus Mosiah Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, in

Washington, D.C. in particular, and throughout the nation and world in general.

As an active auxiliary of the parent corporation, and in fulfilling this purpose the Charitable Trust is able to receive and accept property, whether real, personal, or mixed, by way of gift, bequest,or devise, from any person, firm, or corporation. To this end in 2005, the Charitable Trust made an official claim to the Isaiah Morter Estate in Belize on behalf of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Inc., acting under the expressed authority of His Excellency the Potentate and Supreme Commissioner.

 The UNIA Official Headquarters located in Cleveland Ohio

During Black History month Feburary of 2020 the City of Cleveland Ohio City Hall, along with the Collaboration of the UNIA - ACL,  honored  2 Kings from Ghana with a welcame to Cleveland kickoff event that included a UNIA Flag  rasing above the city of Cleveland's City Hall.

THE UNIA HONORS THE KINGS

Our President General of The Universal Negro Improvement Association Cleophus Miller Jr was able to bring 2 Kings from different regions of Ghana to Cleveland to be honored for their involvement during the YEAR OF RETURN!!..They were present to kick off this years Black History Month in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the RED BLACK & GREEN Flag Raising Ceremony.. The 3 day visit was concluded with & question & answer session at The Karamu House where a Blockbuster announcement were made by the KINGS!!!.

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 The UNIA and Its President-Generals:

Since the passing of its founder, the UNIA, through a series of succeeding President-Generals has continued to advance its objectives toward the fulfillment of its great commission: " African Redemption...not only to recover Africa for the Africans but to rescue the souls of Africa's sons and daughters from social, political, economic and spiritual bondage.

		(1) Marcus M. Garvey/Founder Service: 1914 - 1940 When most people think of the UNIA, they recall the photographs of elaborate Harlem parades in the 1920s reflect upon our Founder's prolific speeches and regard the Garvey Movement as a success during a time when we did more with less. However, few know that the Association outlived its founder and continues to champion the ideals first advocated by Mr. Garvey nearly 100 years ago.
		(2) James R. Stewart Service: 1940 - 1964 After Mr. Garvey died in 1940, his successor, The Honorable James R Stewart of Cleveland, OH, wasted no time reorganizing the movement, launching the New Negro World Newspaper establishing independent farm communities and repatriating the UNIA Headquarters to Liberia, West Africa. He fiercely advocated African Independence, appealing for an African Freedom Charter in 1945 before the United Nations, supporting a host of African Repatriation Bills in the US Congress while actively establishing Divisions of the Association throughout Africa to promote the spirit of independence and Universal African Nationalism. Undoubtedly, his words and works were a driving force behind many African Leaders who religiously considered themselves Garveyites and regarded their independence as a fulfillment of the UNIA's vision of "Africa for the Africans.
		(3) James Bennett Sr. Service:1964 - 1968 Upon President-General Stewart's death in 1964, the Honorable Commissioner James Bennett, Sr. of Youngstown, OH inherited the responsibility of spearheading the Association during the height of the turbulent 1960s. Despite his efforts to expand the Movement and host a series of massive conventions to revitalize the base, his ill health and untimely demise deprived him of the opportunity to fulfill his administrative mandates.
		(4) Vernon Wilson Service: 1968 - 1975 In 1968, the Honorable Vernon Wilson of Chicago, IL was elected President-General. Upon taking his oath, he immediately devised plans to erect an $11 million Marcus Garvey Complex in Cleveland, OH and sought to mend a rift between the UNIA and one of its renegade out-growths. When efforts to reconcile with this dissident faction failed, President-General Wilson was forced to vigorously defend the Association from a number of legal attacks waged by the group. Fortunately, he was able to successfully protect the UNIA from these copious legal challenges and attract a host of ambitious young leaders before his death in 1975.
		(5) Mason A. Hargrave Service 1975 - 1988 President-General Mason A Hargrave succeeded Wilson and came in roaring like a lion. He quickly defeated all legal disputes and pressured Cleveland's City Hall to Fly the UNIA's Red, Black and Green Flag. He actively engaged in political education with the community and introduced a walk through the projects campaign started inviting local civic leaders to share their program, ideology, precepts, and example with the underprivileged communities and help service their needs. P-G Hargrave also attended a number of important national and international events, including. The Unveiling of Marcus Garvey's Bust at the Organization of American States' Hall of Heroes in 1980; the US Congressional Hearing for the Exoneration of the Most Honorable Marcus Garvey in 1987. Sadly, President-General Hargrave died shortly after the International Headquarters of the UNIA in Cleveland was destroyed by fire in 1988.
		(6) Cleophus Miller Jr. Service: 1988 - Present Succeeding P-G Hargrave was his mentee, President-General Cleophus Miller Jr. In 1989, P-G Miller vowed to end the schism in Garveyism and restore the movement for improvement to its past glory and prestige. He continued P-G Hargrave's now traditional Black History Month unfurling of the Red, Black and Green Flag. He established the UNIA Historical Society and donated a substantial portion of the UNIA archives to Western Reserve Historical Society for preservation. He humbly reached out to dissident and former members of the UNIA all over the globe (e.g. UAIA, UNIA Rehabilitating Committee, etc.) extending amnesty and offering reconciliation in fulfillment of our aim of the universal confraternity. Additionally, he's responsible for launching the Official UNIA-ACL Website, he held a host of diplomatic conferences with important heads of state in support of the African Union's Diaspora Initiative and he's currently preparing to host a Post-Colonial Cultural and Economic Conference in 2014 during the UNIA's Centennial. Truly, the prophetic words of our beloved Founder are being fulfilled: "If Garvey dies, Garvey lives...Great ideals, great principles, great truths never die. Individuals die. Christ died. Muhammad died. But, you did not destroy Christianity or Muhammadism (Islam). Garvey in the flesh can die and he is ready to die at any time; but, gentlemen, the greater force will live on...I tell you the world shall hear from my principles even two thousand years hence."