Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born political leader, publisher, journalist, and orator who was a prominent figure in the early 20th-century Pan-Africanism movement. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, which sought to unify people of African descent worldwide and promote black economic empowerment and self-reliance.

Garvey is best known for his "Back to Africa" movement, which encouraged African Americans and people of African descent around the world to return to their ancestral homeland. He famously declared, "Africa for the Africans, those at home and those abroad."

Garvey's message of black pride and self-determination resonated with many African Americans who were seeking empowerment and equality in the face of widespread racism and discrimination. He also established the Black Star Line, a shipping company aimed at facilitating trade and transportation among black communities globally.

Despite facing opposition from various quarters, including the U.S. government, Garvey's influence and legacy endure. He is considered a key figure in the history of the Black liberation movement and an inspiration to subsequent generations of activists and leaders advocating for racial justice and equality.