UNIA Redemption Medal

1919

The UNIA was part of Marcus Garvey's vision of global Black unity.

In 1914, the Jamaican politician Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) to promote Black nationalism. His goal was to improve conditions for people of African descent worldwide. Garvey and his pan-African ideology led to the international movement known as Garveyism.

The UNIA had chapters around the world. People who donated to the organization received an African Redemption medal. This bronze, eight-pointed star was given for a donation between $50 and $100. Donations helped fund Garvey’s initiatives, such as the UNIA newspaper The Negro World and the Black Star Line steamship corporation.