The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was founded by Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey in 1914. It was one of the most influential Black nationalist organizations of the early 20th century. The UNIA aimed to promote unity and self-reliance among people of African descent worldwide and to fight against racial discrimination and colonialism.

Under Garvey's leadership, the UNIA grew rapidly and established branches in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and various countries in Africa and the Caribbean. The organization's most famous program was the Back to Africa movement, which encouraged Black people to return to the African continent and establish an independent nation of their own.

The UNIA also promoted economic empowerment through the establishment of Black-owned businesses, such as the Black Star Line, a shipping company that aimed to facilitate trade between Black communities around the world.

Although the UNIA faced internal divisions and external challenges, it played a significant role in inspiring a sense of pride and self-determination among people of African descent during a time of widespread racism and colonialism. The legacy of the UNIA can be seen in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for Black people around the world.