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The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) is, according to its 1929 constitution, a "social, friendly, humanitarian, charitable, educational, institutional, constructive and expansive society, and is founded by persons desiring to the utmost to work for the general uplift of the people of African ancestry of the world. And the members pledge themselves to do all in their power to conserve the rights of their noble race and to respect the rights of all mankind, believing always in the Brotherhood of Man and the Fatherhood of God. The motto of the organization is 'One God! One Aim! One Destiny!' Therefore, let justice be done to all mankind, realizing that if the strong oppresses the weak, confusion and discontent will ever mark the path of man but with love, faith and charity towards all the reign of peace and plenty will be heralded into the world and the generations of men shall be called Blessed."
Founded by Marcus Garvey in Jamaica during the year 1914 this organization has a history that is rich and telling of the experience of Africa and its diaspora. In 1920 the UNIA-ACL held its first convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During that convention the 20,000 members of the UNIA in attendance promulgated the "Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World". In that declaration a number of articles stand out. One of which resolves that the colors Red, Black and Green symbolize all people of African ancestry. Another officially designated the song "Ethiopia the land of our fathers" as the official anthem of "Africa and the Africans, at home and Abroad".
Notable Members of the UNIA
Shirley Chisholm
Rev. J.L. Diggs
Zora Neale Huston
Joseph Robert Love
Chief Alfred Sam
Isaac B. Allen
Irene Moorman Blackstone
Walter J. Conway
Carrie B. Mero
Harriet Rogers
Isaac S. Bright
Irene W. Wingfield
James Hamble Perkins
Clarence A. Carpenter
Fleming Du Bignon Webster
Sidney Smith
Janie Perkins
Julia E. Rumford
Daisy Dunn
Amy Haynes
James Haynes
Henry Dolphin
Granzaline Marshall
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