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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
What is the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League?
What pledge do the members make?
Who founded the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.?
What is the slogan of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L?
What is the jurisdiction of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L?
Who are the ordinary members of the Association?
What are the monthly dues for members?
What are the objects and aims of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L?
How may a Charter be secured to establish a Division of the organization in any community?
What is the governing body of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.?
Who are the High Officials and Rulers of this Association?
What are the qualifications for office in the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L?
From what source is the revenue of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. derived?
How is money transferred from the Local Division to the Parent Body?
Is there any assessment levied on members of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.?
May the Divisions admit any member of an alien race to active membership in the Association?
What Provision is made for children and juveniles in the membership of this Association?
What commercial and industrial organizations are allied with the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.?
Is the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. against the elite race or other races?
Explain the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.'s desire for a United States of Africa?
What is the official symbol of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.?
Why does the UNIA still use the word Negro in its official title?
Why does the UNIA have conventions?
What is the
Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League?
It is a social, friendly, humanitarian, charitable, educational,
institutional, constructive and expansive society, organized for the general
uplift of the Black people of the world. Top
What
pledge do the members make? 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. Top
Who founded
the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.? The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, in
Jamaica, West Indies in 1914, and in Harlem, New York in 1918. Top
What is
the slogan of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L? "Africa for Africans, Those At Home and
Those Abroad." Top
What is the
jurisdiction of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L? The jurisdiction of the U.N.I.A. and
A.C.L. includes all communities where people of African descent are to be
found. Top
Who are
the ordinary members of the Association? All African people are regarded as
ordinary members and are entitled to the consideration of the
organization. Top
Who are the active
members? Those who pay monthly dues for the upkeep of the organization, and
who in consequences have first claim for all benefits to be
dispensed. Top
What are
the monthly dues for members? There is a $5.00 joining fee for all
members and monthly dues of $2.00. Top
What
are the objects and aims of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L? To establish a united
Brotherhood among the race; to promote race pride and love; to assist the needy;
to aid in the abolishment of alien control in the whole of Africa; to establish
diplomatic agencies in the principle countries and cities of the world for the
representation and protection of all members of the race; to build educational
institutions in Africa to conduct worldwide commercial and industrial
intercourse for the good of the race; to improve conditions in all African
communities. Top
How
may a Charter be secured to establish a Division of the organization in any
community? Seven or more citizens of intelligence, having the respect of the
people of their community, on application, may be given a charter; provided
there is no Chartered Division already existing in such community. Chapters and
Branches of divisions may receive Charters to work under the auspices of the
Chartered Division in any community where circumstances justify the existence of
such Chapters and Branches. Top
What is
the governing body of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.? The International
Convention, which meets annually otherwise, provided for. Top
Who
are the High Officials and Rulers of this Association? A President-General, a
Secretary General, 2 Assistant Secretary-Generals, a High Chancellor, a Chaplain
General, a Counselor General, an International Organizer, an Auditor General, a
Minister of Education, a Chief of Protocol, a Director of Public Relations, and a Minister of Labor and Industry. Top
What is
their term of office? The Executive Officers hold office for four years, provided their
conduct conforms at all times with the laws and principles of the
Association. Top
What are the qualifications for office in the U.N.I.A.
and A.C.L?
Candidates must be registered active members with all dues paid up; shall
be members of the race; shall be conscientious in the course of race uplift; and
shall be of reputable moral standing and good education. Top
From
what source is the revenue of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.
derived? From monthly dues, donations, gifts and profits from business
entertainment functions, or general amusements of an innocent
nature. Top
How is
money transferred from the Local Division to the Parent
Body?
The Secretary of each Division and Subordinate Organizations remits at the end
of each month through the Secretary General, to the Parent Body, a specified
percentage of monthly dues, and the net profits from local business under
control of said Division, donations, grants, gifts, and proceeds from
amusements, entertainment and other functions, to be applied to the general fund
of the Organization, and used to pay operating expenses of the Parent Body, and
promote the general program of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. Top
Is there any assessment levied on members of the
U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.? Yes. A yearly assessment is levied on every member, payable on January
1st, for the purpose of defraying expenses of the High Officials of
the Organization and the leaders of the African peoples of the
world. Top
May the
Divisions admit any member of an alien race to active membership in the
Association? They shall admit none to active membership who is not of African
blood. Top
What Provision is made for
children and juveniles in the membership of this Association? In every Division, a Juvenile Branch shall be formed in which moral,
spiritual, and racial instruction shall be given to members. Top
What commercial and industrial organizations are allied
with the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.? The African Communities League was set up
for the purpose of promoting trade between Africans, those at home and those
abroad; to establish in African communities, factories, corporations, and any
business designed to advance the economic well-being of all members of the
race. Top
Is the
U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. against the elite race or other races? The U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.
believes in the rights of all humanity. However, we believe in the purity
of our race and we promote the ideals as set forth by our African
ancestors. Top
Explain the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L.'s desire for a
United States of Africa? As U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. members, we
are Garveyites. Garveyites realize that race and color play an important part in
the world today. We realize that the coming into being of a powerful African
nation will mean the easing of the color bar wherever African people live. The
difference in the Garveyite and the African person who has "lost nothing in
Africa" lies in their conception of freedom. Garveyites have been taught that
freedom can only be firmly established in consecrated soil. It must be sown deep
in belief in one's self, and in one's own ability to conquer adversity. Freedom
is carved out of dreams of greatness, and a determination to turn those dreams
into living realities. It is planted in a common longing to shape one's own
fate.
The non-Garveyite is seeking freedom through others. They doubt their ability to establish it for themselves. The environment in which they live has robbed them of their faith in their own powers of creative endeavor, and their own human and moral worth. Having little confidence in their own ability to create and build, they feel that their future depends on begging others for privileges and opportunities, and eventually escaping from themselves by means of amalgamation.
We believe God created all women and men equal, that he gave us all the ingredients of greatness. What one race can do, all others may accomplish. This being true, our fight for recognition and equality will fall short of the goal so long as we are content to follow the initiative of others. Such a course will always leave us a step behind.
Until we prove to the world, that we too, are women and men capable of doing what other men and women have done, we will always be looked upon as a little less than other women and men. Only when we too have created states, built nations, and created the governments comparable to those of the modern men and women, will we be able to erase the stigma of inferiority. Top
What
descriptive emblem do members of the U.N.I.A. and A.C.L. by which they may be
known to other members wear? They wear on their coats or blouses, a
button with colors RED, BLACK, and GREEN. These are the authorized colors of the
Association. Top
Why does
the UNIA still use the word Negro in its official title? The
answer is complex and one needs to know a little about the history of the
melanin dominated peoples we call African, Black, Negro, etc. According to
J.A. Rogers, the forefather of Black Anthropology, "Negro" is the oldest known
and most ancient name to describe our family of the human race.
During Marcus Garvey's era, Negro was indeed the name of our race that was most acceptable. Since Dr. ben Jochannan and other Black historians have given us so much insight and information on the history of Kemit and our race, we can no longer accept "NEGRO" as the sole description for us as a people.
The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League is very much aware of this situation today that provides "Africans" another excuse for not joining in with the Grandfather of Black Nationalist Organizations.
To drop "NEGRO" from our official title could bring legal disaster to the UNIA. European governments, particularly the U.S. government, seized millions of dollars in property and assets and still has the UNIA in a legal bind due to the frameup of Mr. Garvey. This perhaps is the main reason for not changing "NEGRO" TO "AFRICAN".
"The name will be changed, but now is not the time," says Marcus Garvey, Jr. President General of the UNIA.
The bottom line is, until we establish ourselves a government and nation, we are still Negroes to some. We may call ourselves Blacks, Africans, African-American, Kemetian, Nubian or otherwise. It makes no difference in our eco-political status of the world as of now.
Marcus Garvey knew we have been and still are a great people. The UNIA's use of the name African is in our title "ACL" and proves we are aware that we are an African people.
Join us in our struggle to maintain the dignity of our people! Top
Why
does the UNIA have conventions? The convention is where the
executive authority governing the entire movement is set into operation and
where laws are made for its international government. The review of the
work and the attempt made by the delegates to amend the constitution, set the
association out as being progressively anxious to have the race fulfill its
duties and obligations so that in process of good time its aims and objects will
be realized. Top
How may I
contact the UNIA? You may contact the
UNIA via the following mail address and phone number and or E-Mail address.
Thomas W. Harvey Memorial Division #121
1609-11
Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19121
Phone: 215-236-0782
UNIAHQ@UNIA-ACL.ORG
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