Negro with a hat : the rise and fall of Marcus Garvey and his dream of Mother Africa

Discover the definitive biography of Marcus Garvey 'Grant is an accomplished storyteller and writes with an elegance leavened by wit and cynicism that makes this book eminently readable' Guardian At one time during the first half of the twentieth century, Marcus Garvey was the most famous black man on the planet. Hailed as both the 'black Moses' and merely 'a Negro with a hat', he masterminded the first International Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World, began the Universal Negro Improvement Association and captivated audiences with his powerful speeches and audacious 'Back to Africa' programme. But he was to end his life in penury, ignominy and friendless exile, after serving jail time in both the US and Jamaica. With masterful skill, wit and compassion, Colin Grant chronicles Garvey's extraordinary life, the failed business ventures, his misguided negotiations with the Ku Klux Klan, the two wives and the premature obituaries that contributed to his lonely, tragic death. This is the dramatic cautionary tale of a man who articulated the submerged thoughts of an awakening people. 'Engrossing...Writing in a concise, expressive style...drawing on gargantuan research ...Grant show's Garvey's heady triumphs and crushing disappointments, his complexity and his paradoxes' Independent on Sunday Marcus Mosiah Garvey was once the most famous black man on earth. A brilliant orator who electrified his audiences, he inspired thousands to join his "Back to Africa" movement, aiming to create an independent homeland through Pan-African emigration--yet he was barred from the continent by colonial powers. This self-educated, poetry-writing aesthete was a shrewd promoter whose use of pageantry fired the imagination of his followers. At the pinnacle of his fame in the early 1920s, Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association boasted millions of members in more than forty countries, and he was an influential champion of the Harlem Renaissance. J. Edgar Hoover was so alarmed by Garvey that he labored for years to prosecute him, finally using dubious charges for which Garvey served several years in an Atlanta prison. This biography restores Garvey to his place as one of the founders of black nationalism and a key figure of the 20th century.--From publisher description At One Time During The First Half Of The Twentieth Century, Marcus Garvey Was The Most Famous Black Man On The Planet. Hailed As Both The 'black Moses' And Merely 'a Negro With A Hat', He Masterminded The First International Convention Of The Negro Peoples Of The World, Began The Universal Negro Improvement Association And Captivated Audiences With His Powerful Speeches And Audacious 'back To Africa' Programme. But He Was To End His Life In Penury, Ignominy And Friendless Exile, After Serving Jail Time In Both The Us And Jamaica. With Masterful Skill, Wit And Compassion, Colin Grant Chronicles Garvey's Extraordinary Life, The Failed Business Ventures, His Misguided Negotiations With The Ku Klux Klan, The Two Wives And The Premature Obituaries That Contributed To His Lonely, Tragic Death. This Is The Dramatic Cautionary Tale Of A Man Who Articulated The Submerged Thoughts Of An Awakening People. With A New Introduction For The Paperback Edition