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CONTENTS:
1. Religious Knowledge
2. Historical Knowledge ^
/ J *
3. Constitution and Laws of the U.B.M.I.A
4. Declaration of Independence
RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE
Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, that is to say, He is
vithout body, or visible form.
Q. Are there more Gods than one?
A. No, there is but One living and true
jod.
Q. Mention some of the attributes of God.
A. He is everlasting, omniponent, omnis-
:ient, omnipresent, and of infinite wisdom,
goodness, truth, love, holiness, justice and
mercy.
Q. By what title do we address God?
A. "Our Father in Heaven."
Q. Why is God called ''Father?"
A. Because He is the Creator of all beings,
visible and invisible, and the Maker of all
things in the natural world.
Q. Are all human beings then the children
of God?
A. Certainly, He is the great All-Father,
and all members of the human race are His
children.
O. How did God create man?
A. Male and female created He them after
His own image, in knowledge, righteousness,
and holiness, with dominion over all the earth
and the lower animals.
Q. Did God make any group or race of
men superior to another?
9
A. No, He created all races equal, and of
one blood, to dwell on all the face of the
earth.
Q. Is it true that the Ethiopian or Black
group of the human family is the lowest group
of all?
A. It is a base falsehood which is taught in
books written by white men. All races were
created equal.
Q. What, then, is the chief reason for
the differences observed among the various
groups of men?
A. Environment, that is, conditions con¬
nected with climate, opportunity, necessity,
and association with others.
Q. What's the color of God?
A. A spirit has neither color, nor other
natural parts, nor qualities.
Q. But do we not speak of His hands, His
eyes, His arms, and other parts?
A. Yes, it is because we are able to think
and speak of Him only in human and figur¬
ative terms.
Q. If, then, you had to think or speak of
the color of God, how would you describe it ?
A. As b1ack since we are created in His
image and likeness.
Q. On v/hat would you base your assump¬
tion that God is black?
A. On the same basis as that taken by
3
white people when they assume that God is
of their color.
Q. Who is Jesus Christ?
A. The Redeemer of all mankind.
Q. What does the name "Jesus" mean?
A). It means "a Saviour."
Q. What does the name "Christ" mean?
A. It means "Anointed."
Q. Why is Jesus Christ spoken of as
"God's only Son," when we are all sons of
God?
A. Because He is the only-begotten Son,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
while we were created since the world began.
Q. Who was His mother?
A. Mary, the Virg-in, blessed among
women.
Q. Who was His foster-father?
A. Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth.
Q. Where was Jesus born?
A. In Bethlehem, a town six miles from
Jerusalem.
Q. Who came from far to worship the
infant ?
A. Wise men, called "Magi."
Q. How many Magi came?
A. It is generally believed that there
were three: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar,
and that Balthazar was of the Black race.
Q. Who sought to slay the infant child?
4
A. Herocl, King- of Jerusalem.
Q. Where did His parents take Him far
refuge ?
A. Into the land of Egypt, on the Con¬
tinent of Africa.
Q. How long did He live in Africa?
A- Until He was two years of age.
Q. Where did He spend the rest of His
life?
A. In Palestine, the Holy Land.
Q. How old was He when He was cru¬
cified?
A. Thirty-three (33) years.
Q. Upon whom did they lay His cross as
He ascended Mount Calvary?
A. Simon, the Cyrenian, a man of Africa.
Q. How many times then in His life do
we find mention of Africa?
A. Three times: when the wise men
visited Him at His birth, when He was taken
to Egypt for safety, and when He was about
to be crucified.
Q. Of what race was Jesus Christ?
A. The Hebrew race, through Abraham,
Judah, David and others.
Q. Of what larger group is the Hebrew
race a part?
A,. The Semetic.
Q. Was there' any admixture of other
blood than Semetic in the veins of Jesus?
A. Yes.
5
Q. Give an instance.
A. Pharez, the son of Judah and an an¬
cestor of Jesus, was born of Tamar, a woman
of Canaan and a descendant of Ham.
Q. Mention another instance.
A. Rahab, the mother of Boaz, who was
the great-grandfather of David, was also a
Canaanite woman.
Q. For what purpose did Jesus die?
A. For the salvation of all men without
distinction.
Q. What contains the sum of His teach¬
ing's ?
A. The Sermon on the Mount.
Q. Where is that to be found?
A. Iu the 5th, 6th and 7th Chapters of
the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Q. In which verse do you find the essence
of that sermon?
A. In the 12th verse of the 7th chapter.
Q. Repeat it.
A. "All things therefore whatsover ye
would that men should do unto you, even so
do 3^e unto them; for this is the law and the
prophets."
Q. What name is usually applied to this
verse ?
A. The "Golden Rule."
Q. How did Jesus Christ summarize the
Ten Commandments, which were given to
the world by Moses?
<5
A. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with ail thy soul, and
with all thy mind,. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto
it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
On these two commandments hang the Law
and the Prophets."
Q., What did Jesus Christ teach as the es¬
sential principle of true religion ?
Af The universal brotherhood of man
growout of the universal Fatherhood of God.
Q. Did His Apostles preach the same
truth ?
A. Yes, especially St, Paul who is known
as the great Apostle to the Gentiles.
Q. Mention a verse in this connection
from t,he writings of St. Paul?
A. Colossians 3rd chapter, 11th verse
(R.V.) "There cannot be Greek and Jew, cir¬
cumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian,
Scythian, bondman, freeman: but Christ is
all, and in all.."
Q. Did St. -Peter also proclaim the same
doctrine ?
A,.. Yes, for in the Book of the Acts of
the Apostles, 10th chapter, 35th verse (R.V.),
he says: "Of a truth I perceive that God is
no respector of persons: but in every nation
hp that feareth Him, and worketh righteous¬
ness, is acceptable to> Him."
7
Q. Will there be any separation of men
in Heaven?
A. No, for in the Book of the Revelation
of St. John the Divine, it is written in the 7tli
chapter, 9th verse (R.V.), "After these things
I saw and beheld a great multitude, which no
man could number, out of every nation, and
of all tribes and peoples and tongues, stand¬
ing before the throne and before the Lamb."
Q. Is is true that Noah cursed his son
Ham ?
A. No, he cursed Canaan, the youngest
son of Ham, saying, "Cursed be Canaan, a
servant of servants shall he be unto his
brethren."
Q. Who are the descendants of Canaan?
A. The Canaanites who dwelt in Pales¬
tine before the Jews took possession of it.
Q. Are Negroes concerned in this curse
of Noah ?
A. Certainly not.
Q. How are the people of our race des¬
cried in the Holy Scriptures?
A. As Cushites or Ethiopians.
O. From whom did they descend?
A„ From Cush, who was the first son of
Ham and the grandson of Noah.
O. Who was the most famous son of
Cush ?
A. Nimrod, the first mighty man of the
a
earth.
Q. What saying concerning him became
a proverb?
A. "Like Nimrocl, a mighty hunter be¬
fore the Lord."
Q. What is really the fact about Nimrod?
A. He was the pioneer explorer and nation
builder.
Q. Of what Kingdom was he the
founder ?
A. Babylon and Assyria.
Q. What great city in Assyria did he
build ?
A. Nineveh, its capital.
O. Who was Ishmael?
A. The son of Abraham and Hagar.
Q. Who was Hagar?
A. An African from the land of Egypt.
Q. How were Hagar and Ishmael subse¬
quently treated?
A. They were driven out of Abraham's
house into a wilderness to provide for them¬
selves.
Q. Who was the wife of Moses, the great
leader of the Jews?
A,. Zipporah, an Ethiopian woman!
Q. Who was her father?
A. Jethro, a prince and priest in Ethi¬
opia. ,
Q. When did Moses go to Ethiopia?
9
A. When his life was threatened by
Pharoah, king of Egypt, for having slain an
Egyptian.
Q. Was Moses marriage pleasing to his
relatives ?
A. No, Miriam, his sister, who was a pro¬
phetess, and Aaron, his brother, who was a
priest, both upbraided him for having married
an Ethiopian woman. Read Numbers 12:1.
Q. What does this show?
A. That race prejudice is as old as the
human family, and that even religious teach¬
ers are not free from it.
Q. What punishment came to Miriam for
speaking against the Ethiopian woman?
A. She became afflicted with leprosy, and
was placed in quarantine for seven days until
Moses prayed for her restoration.
Q. What appears, then, to be the most
effective cure for race prejudice?
A. Leprosy.
Q. From whom did Moses first receive
instruction in the principles of civil govern¬
ment ?
A. From Jethro, his father-in-law.. Read
Exodus. 18tn chapter.
Q. Who was the guide to Moses when
hp led Israel through the wilderness?
A. Kobab, his brother-in-law, the son of
Jethro, Read Numbers 10:29-32.
.10
Q. Who is resposible for the color of the
Ethiopians ?
A, The Creator, and what He has done
cannot be changed. Read Jeremiah 13 :23.
Q. Mention a verse in the Bible in which
a person of black color was proud of the fact.
A. "I am black but comely, O ye daugh¬
ters of Jerusalem." Solomon's Song 1:5.
Q. Explain the connection.
A,. Shulamith, daughter of Pharoah, king
of Egypt, betrothed to King Solomon, thus
describes herself to her Jewish rivals.
Q. How do the best Negro scholars tran¬
slate the words mentioned above?
A. "I am dark, and comely." It seems
that white translators use "but" in preference
to "and" to create the impression that one
who is dark is not expected to be comely.
Q. Who first informed David of the death
of Absalom, his son?
A. A fleet runner of the Cushite or Ethi¬
opian race. Read 2 Samuel 18:21, 23.
Q. What person went from Africa to visit
King Solomon?
A. Balkis, the wise and wealthy Queen of
Sheba.
Q. What African people claim that their
emperors are descended from Solomon and
the Queen of Sheba?
A. The Abyssinians.
11
Q. By what name are the Abyssinian Em¬
perors usually known?
A. Menelik.
Q. When the prophet Jeremiah was in
prison, who was it that brought about his
release ?
A. A God-fearing Ethiopian official by
the name of Ebed-Melech. Read Jer. 38:7,
10, 12.
Q. What distinguished African personage
was baptized by St. Philip?
A. An Ethiopian eunuch, a high official in
the Court of Candace, Queen oi the Ethio¬
pians. Read Acts 8:27.
Q. Who was the first great military ge¬
nius whose deeds are recorded in the Bible?
A. Zerah, an Ethiopian general, who com¬
manded an army of a million men and 300
chariots.
Q. Mention a verse of Scripture which re¬
fers to the precious stones of Ethiopia,
A. ''The price of wisdom is above rubies,
the topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it."
Job 28: 18, 19.
Q. What is the first Book of Enoch?
A. It is a sacred book as old as others
which were included in the present Bible, but
which was left out of the collection intention¬
ally by white men.,
12
y. Why did they not include it in the
jbiDier
A. .Because it was taken from the litera¬
ture ot the Etniopians, and was known as
Jithiopic Enoch.
Q. Mention one thing stated m this Book
of i^noch about our race.
A. "We are true sons of God."
Q. Was not this book read by the early
Christians ?
A. Yes, it was read by them for 300 years.
Q. What prediction made in the 68tb 1
Psalm and the 31st verse is now being ful¬
filled ?
A. "Princess shall come out of Egypt,
Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands
unto God."
Q. What does this verse prove?
A. That Black Men will set up their own
government in Africa, with rulers of their
own race.
HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
Q. Whoin did the ancients call Ethio¬
pians ?
A. All men of dark-brown or black color.
Q. Why did they select this name?
A. Because "Ethiopian" is derived from
a Greek word which means "sun-burnt."
Q. To whom was the name more particu¬
larly given at a later period?
A.. To the inhabitants of the countries
13
south of Egypt and west of the Red Sea, in
Africa, along the upper Nile Valley.
Q. What place was the first important
capital of Ethiopia?
A. The island of Meroe, formed by the
junction of two tributaries of the River Nile.
Q. What celebrated oracle was located
there ?
A. The oracle of Jupiter Ammon.
Q. Tell what you can of Meroe.
A. The extraordinary fertility of the soil,
the abundance of animals and metals, made it
the chief resort of all inhabitants of adjacent
parts, as well as the emporium of Egypt.
Carthag'e, Arabia, and India, Even as early
as 1000 B. C. it was counted as one of the
most powerful states of the world.
Q. What connection had the Ethiopians
with the Egyptians?
A. They were kindred nations, but were
constantly at war, sometimes the Egyptians
being subject to the Ethiopians, and some¬
times the Ethiopians to the Egyptians. Later
both nations emigrated freely into each
other's country, and the greatest kings of
Egypt, especially Rameses I, II and III were
Ethiopians. We cannot separate the early
civilization and accomplishments of the
Egyptians and Ethiopians. Their religion, art
and form of government were identical, and
both of these African nations contributed to
build 'a hig-h civilization when Europe was
still, a continent of barbarians.
14
Q. Name some of the ancient university
cities of Egypt.
A. Memphis, Thebes, Heliopolis.
Q. Where was Memphis located?
A. About nine miles south of where Cairo
now stands.
Q. Describe Memphis as it was 4000 years
ago.
A. It was the seat of the highest culture
of the world. Its avenue of sphynxes com¬
pelled the admiration of the world: its mag¬
nificent temple was thronged with pilgrims
from over the world. In its university, Moses,
the leader and lawgiver of Israel, received
theological and scientific instruction. Greece
sent her Homer, Thales and Solon to Mem¬
phis to receive the finishing touch, and Plato
himself spent thirteen years there getting
inspiration.
Q. What shepherd race lived in Egypt as
slaves during this time?
A. The Hebrews.
Q. Were the Hebrews regarded as social
equals when they first came into Africa from
Asia ?
A. No, the cultured Egyptians looked
upon them as an inferior people and consid¬
ered it an abomination to eat at the same
table with the shepherds.
Q. What unrivalled monuments of African
architecture are still the wonder of the world ?
A. The pyramids and sphynxes.
Q. What are hieroglyphics?
15
A. The ancient African characters or sys¬
tem of writing" on stone by which our early
achievements nave been preserved.
Q. Who destroyed the ancient Ethiopian
capital on the island of Meroe?
A. The Romans under Augustus and
Nero, during the first Christian century.
Q. What is the most powerful Ethiopian
state in existence?
A. Abyssinia, whose emperors are known
as Menelilc, the first being a son of Solomon
and the Queen of Sheba.
Q. What was the fate of the African
people other than the Egyptians and Abys-
sinians ?
A. Dwelling in the Hinterland and their
civilization destroyed by the Romans, they
lapsed into a wild and nomadic life. Multiply¬
ing rapidly, they formed numerous tribes and
soon peopled the whole African continent. For
over a thousand years they lived unknown to
white men.
Q. Did they lose all their knowledge of
the civilization, arts and science of. their
ancestors ?
A. No, they retained the tribal form of
government with Kings and Chiefs; they
pursued such arts as agriculture, smelting
of iron, and the weaving of cotton. They also
practiced medicine and knew certain medical
facts1 and treatment which white men have
since learned in Africa and claimed as their
discoveries.
Q. Mention one of these medical facts
16
A. They knew that sleeping- sickness was
caused by the bite of the tse-tse fly and Koch
a German physician learned this from them
and published it to the world as his discovery
Q. To whom do foreigners resort for the
most effective treatment of African fevers?
A. The native herb-doctors.
Q. Who were the first Europeans to get in
touch again with the Africans who had then
covered all of West, Central, South and East
Africa ?
A. The Portuguese, who were great navi¬
gators.
Q. Were the Africans heathens when these
white men visited them?
A. No, most of the tribes had very clear
ideas about God, or gods, and worshipped
after their own rites.
Q. Were they immoral ?
A. No, the native Africans are the most
moral people in the world. Their vices have
come from contact with immoral white people.
Wherever white men go they sow the seeds
of immorality.
Q. What terrible institution began with
the visits of the Portuguese to Africa?
A;. Slavery.
Q. What European nations conducted the
traffic in African bodies and souls ?
A. Portugal, Spain, England, TToli?i;d,
and others.
Q. Where were these slaves ctnefly trken ?
A. To the West Indies and North and
17
South America.
Q. How long" did slavery last in the
Western Hemisphere?
A. For over 250 years.
Q. When and how were the West Indian
Black men emancipated?
A. In some islands on August 1, 1834, and
in others on August 1, 1838, by an Act of
the British Parliament.
Q. How and when were American Black
men emancipated?
A. By Proclamation of President Abra¬
ham Lincoln, January 1, 1861, although this
proclamation did not become generally effec¬
tive until the close of the Civil War in 1865.
Q. Have Western Black men befitted from
their forcible exile from Africa?
A. Yes, they have progressed wonderfully
in the arts and sciences, in industrial skills,
and in the possession of property.
Q. Do they enjoy all their civil rights in
the alien countries in which they live?
A. No, while in theory they possess all
the rights and privileges of other citizens,
they are denied the full enjoyment thereof in
practice.
O. Will Black men ever be given equal op¬
portunity and treatment in countries ruled by
white men?
A. Km, thev will enioy the full rights of
mar.hwwd and liberty only when thev establish
tin', w-yn nation and government in Africa.
Q. What great event occurred in 1492?
18
A. Christopher Columbus made his first
visit to the West Indies.
Q. Was Columbus the real discoverer of
the West Indies and America?
A. The reports brought by representatives
professor of Harvard University that African
navigators crossed the Atlantic from Africa
to the Western Hemisphere, visiting several
of the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the
mainland of America.
Q. What proof of this fact exists?
A. Tobacco and peanuts were brought by
Black men from Africa and given to the
Indians, who soon learned to cultivate and
use the same.
Q. What event of importance occurred in
1619?
A. The landing of the first cargo of
African slaves in Jamestown, Va.
Q. Mention some important Negro national
holidays.
A. In Liberia, July 26th is observed as In¬
dependence Day and December 1st as New
Port Day, in the West Indies. August 1st is
Emancipation Dav, in the United States,
Tanuary 1st is Emancipation Dav, August
31st was set aoart bv the erpat International
Convention which met in New York Citv,
in 1920. as the International Hohdav for
Black men.
O. Who was Edward Wilmot "Blvden?
A. The most learned Black men of modem
19
times, born in the Danish West Indies in 1831,
was identified with Africa for fifty years, he
was a distinguished statesman, philosopher,
linguist and Arabic scholar, the author of
several works on Negro history and sociology,
he died on February 7r 1912, in Sierra Leone,
West Africa.
Q. Who was James Africanus Horton?
A. A native of Sierra Leone, West Africa,
who became a surgeon-major, the highest
rank ever granted a Negro in the British
Army; he published a work on Tropical Dis¬
eases which was considered the highest auth¬
ority on the subject; he died in 1880.
Q* Who was Sir Samuel Lewis?
A. A native of Sierra Leone, and for
nearly a half century the greatest jurist of
British West Africa; he was the second
African to be made a Knight in the British
Empire; he died in 1903.
Q. V/ho was the Right Reverend Samuel
D. Ferguson ?
A. The first African Bishop of Liberia;
he died August, 1916.
Q. Who was Sir Conrad Reeves?
A. The first African to be made a Knight
in the British Empire; a native of Barbados,
B. W. I. and later Chief Justice; he died
January, 1901.
Q. Who was Toussaint L'Overture?
A. A distinguished soldier, statesman and
martyr, Vim in Haiti, May 20. 1743; became
emancipator of Haiti, and the conqueror of
20
the European forces.
Q. Who was Crispus Attucks?
A. A Negro who led a mob in Boston
against the British troops in the struggle for
American liberty and freedom; he was the
first to shed his blood for the cause of In¬
dependence, being killed in the streets of
Boston, 1775.
Q. Who was Frederick Douglas?
A. A great Negro orator and statesman
of international fame; born in Maryland in
1817; escaped fom slavery in early man¬
hood ; lectured in America and England
against slavery; died in Anacostia, D. C.,
February, 1895.
Q. Who was Booker T. Washington?
A. A famous Negro leader and industrial
educator; founder of Tuskegee Institute;
born in slavery in Virginia, 1858; trained at
Hampton Institute; died in 1915.
Q. Who was Prince Hall?
A. The founder and organizer of Negro
Masonry in America; he was born in the
West Indies.
Q. Who was Reverend Alexander Grum-
m ell ?
A. A distinguished clergyman of the Pro¬
testant Episcopal Church; born in New York
City in 1819; his father was a prince of an
African tribe; he received his early education
in America, and later graduated from Cam¬
bridge University, England; was missionary
21
in Liberia for several years i wrote several
books on Africa; was a ripe scholar and the
founder of the American Black men Academy
Q. What are the independent Black gov¬
ernments ?
A. The Abyssinian Empire, the Liberian
Republic, the Haitian Republic.
Q. In what other countries do Black men
have a large share in the government?
A. In Santo Domingo, Cuba and in sev¬
eral of the South and Central American Re¬
publics.
Q. What is the present Black men popula¬
tion of the United States.
A. About 15,000,000.
Q. What is the Black men population of
the West Indies and adjoining provinces?
A. About 10,000,000.
Q. What is the total Black men popula¬
tion of the Western Hemisphere?
A. About 50,000,000.
Q, What is the total Black men popula¬
tion of the world?
A. About 400,000,000.
THE UNIVERSAL BLACK MEN
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Q What is the Universal Black men Im-
povciuent Association and African Commun-
itic.- League?
A. It is a social, friendly, humanitarian,
charitable, educational, institutional, con¬
structive and expansive society, organized
22
for the general uplift of the Black peoples of
the world.
Q. What pledge do the members make?
A. 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.
Q. Who founded the Universal Black Men
Improvement Association and African Com¬
munities Leagues?
A. The Honorable Marcus Garvey in
Jamaica, W. I. in 1914 and in New York,
U.S.A. in 1918.
Q. What is the motto of the organization ?
A. "One God! One Aim! One Destiny!''
Q. What other motto has been selected?
A. "Pro Deo, Africa et Justitia;" which
means, "For God, Africa and Justice."
Q. What is the slogan?
A. "Africa for the Africans."
Q. What is the jurisdiction of the Uni¬
versal Black men Improvement Association?
A,, Its jurisdiction includes all communities
where Black people of African blood and
African, descent are to be found.
Q. Who are the ordinary members of the
Association.
All people of African blood and African
descent are regarded as ordinary members
and are entitled to the consideration of the
organization.
23
Q, Who are the active members?
A. Those who pay monthly dues for the
upkeep of the organization, and who in conse¬
quence have first claim for all benefits to be
dispensed.
Q. What are the objects of the Universal
Black Men Improvement Association and the
African Communities League?
A. To establish a united brotherhood
among the race; to promote race pride and
loyalty; to assist the needy; to aid in the
civilization of the native tribes of Africa; to
develop independent Black nations and com¬
munities ; to establish diplomatic agencies in
the principal countries and cities of the world
for the representation of all Black men and
women; to build educational institutions in
Africa; to promote a conscientious spiritual
worship among the native tribes; to conduct
world-wide commercial and industrial inter¬
course for the good of the race; to> improve
conditions in all Black communities.
Q. How may a charter be secured to es¬
tablish a Division of this Organization in any
Community ?
A. Seven or more citizens of intelligence,
having the respect of the educated and cul¬
tured people of their community, on applica¬
tion, may be given a charter; provided there
is no chartered Division existing in such
community. Chapters and branches of divi¬
sions may receive charters for work under
24
the auspices of the chartered Division in any
community where circumstances justify the
existence of such chapters and branches,.
Q. What is the governing- body of the
Universal Black Men Improvement Associa¬
tion and African Communties League?
A. The International Convention which
meets annually unless otherwise provided for
Q. How is the Convention composed?
A. Of Deputies and Delegates from the
various Divisions, and kindred Organizations
Societies and Orders subordinate to the Uni¬
versal Black men Improvement Association
and the African Communities League, such
Deputies holding office for four years after
election.
Q. Who are the High Officials and
Rulers of this Association?
A. A Potentate, a Supreme Deputy, a
President General, an Assistant President
General, a Secretary General, an Asst. Secre¬
tary General, a High Chancellor, a Chaplain
General, a Counsel General, an Assistant
Counsel General, a High Commissioner Gen¬
eral, a Speaker in Convention, an Inter¬
national Organizer, * an Auditor General, a
Surgeon General, and a Minister of Legions.
Q. What body do these High Officials
form?
A. The High Executive Council, which is'
the ruling Body of the Organization in the
interim between sessions of Convention
Q. What is their term of officer
25
A. The Potentate and Supreme Deputy
hold office permanently; all other High O.f-
ficals hold office for four years, provided
their conduct conforms at all times with the
laws and principles of the Association.
Q. What are the qualifications for office
in the Universal Black men Improvement
Assn. and the African Communities League?
A. Candidates must be registered active
members with all dues paid up; shall be Black
Men; shall not be married to anyone of alien
race; shall be conscientious in the cause
of race uplift; shall be free from criminal con¬
viction, and shall be of reputable moral stand¬
ing and good education.
Q. From what source is the revenue of the
Universal Black men Improvement Assn.
and African Communities League derived?
A. From monthly subscriptions of not
more than 25 cents per month being the auth¬
orized dues of each active member, donations,
colljections, gifts, profits derived from busi¬
ness, entertainment, functions or general
amusements of an innocent nature.
Q. How is this revenue employed?
A. To defray the general expenses of the
Organization, and to carry out its objects.
Q. How is money transmitted from the
Local Division to the Parent Body?
A. The Secretary of each Division and
subordinate Organization remits at the end
of each month, through the Secretary General,
to the High Chancellor, one-fifth of all
26
monthly dues, and the net profits from local
business under control of said Division, as
also from all donations, grants, gifts, and
proceeds of amusements, entertainments, and
other functions, to be applied to the general
fund of the Organization.
Q. Is there any tax levied on members
of the Universal Black Men Improvement
Association ?
A. Yes! a tax of one dollar is levied on
every member, payable on January first, for
the purpose of defraying expenses of the
High Officials of the Organization and the
leaders of the Black peoples of the world.
Q. What is the entrance fee?
A,. Each prson pays an entrance fee of
25 cents when joinig the Association.
Q. Who is the working-head of the
Black Men Improvement Association and
the African Communities League?
A. The President General, to whom all
Divisions and subordinate Organizations
are responsible, and on whom re3ts the
genral administration of all Local Divisions.
Q. May the Divisions admit any member
of an alen race to active membership?
A. They shall admit none to active mem¬
bership who is not of African blood.
Q. What descriptive emblem is worn by
the members of the Universal Black men
Improvement Association and African Comr
muniities League by which they may be
known to other members?
27
A. They wear oil their coats or blouses a
button, witjh the colors red, black and green,
which are the authorized colors of the Associ¬
ation.
Q. Is a charitable fund maintained by the
Association?
A. All Local Divisions or Societies main¬
tain a charitable fund for the purpose of as¬
sisting distressed members or needy individ¬
uals of the race.
Q. Are any loans made to members?
A. Each Local Division is required to
maintain a fund for rendering assistance by
way of loans of honor to active members.
Q. Does the Organization help its members
to find employment?
A. Each Local Division is required to man¬
age an employment bureau for the purpose
of finding employment for the members of
the Universal Black Men Improvement As¬
sociation and African Communities League.
Q. Where are the meetings of the Associa¬
tion held?
A* Each Local Division is required to
maintain as far as possible a building of its
own (rented, leased or purchased), in which
the general meetings shall be held every
Sunday afternoon or evening, presided over by
the President; meetings shall also be held on
weekday evenings.
Q. Has the Organization a Weekly Jour¬
nal?
28
A. Yes; the ''Negro World." controlled
and directed by the President General, and
circulated among Black Men everywhere, giv¬
ing regular accounts of the progress of the
Association, and spreading propaganda of the
Movement.
Q. Who are the subscribers to this Jour¬
nal?
A. Each member of the Universal Black
Men Improvement Association and the Afri¬
can Communities League is required to be
regular subscriber to this Journal, in addition
to paying the monthly dues and taxes.
Q. What provision is made for children
and juveniles in the membership of this As¬
sociation ?
A. Infants are required to be brought by
their parents to be dedicated by the Chaplain
of the Division not la,ter than three months
after birth, at which time they enter the gen¬
eral membership of the Organization. In every
Division a Juvenile Branch shall be formed, in
which moral, spiritual, and racial instruction
shall be given to the members.
Q, What is the African Legions Society ?
A. An allied organization under the di¬
rection of the Executive Council and Poten¬
tate, for the purpose of giving military train¬
ing to the men of our race between the ages
of 18 and 55.
Q. What is the Black Cross Nurses
Society ?
22
A, It is another allied organization having
for its purpose the training of women of the
African race in First Aid to the Injured,
and in promoting the charitable objects of
the Organization as may be required of them
by the High Executive Council.
Q. What commercial and industrial organ¬
izations are alljted with the Universal Black
men Improvement Association and American
Communities League?
A. The Black Star Line Steamship Com¬
pany Inc., which trades between the United
States, the West Indies, Central America
and West Africa; the Negro Factories Cor¬
poration, which conducts a laundry, a mil¬
linery store, and other establishments.
THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
Q. When was the Declaration of Inde-
pendlenc of the Black people of the world
drafted and adopted?
A. At the first International Black Men
Convention, held in Liberty Hall, New York
City, U. S. A., from August 1 to August 31,
1920.
Q. Who presided over this Convention?
A. The Honorable Marcus Garvey, Presi¬
dent General of the Universal Black Men
Improvement Association, the Organization
under whose auspices the Convention was held
Q. Who composed this Convention?
A. Black Deputies from every country of
30
the World inhabited by people of our race.
Q. By what name is this Declaration
known ?
A. The Declaration of Rights.
Q. What were the causes for this Declara¬
tion?
A. The reports brought by representatives
from all over the world concerning the
wrongs and injustices which our people suffer
at the hands of white men; their determina¬
tion in the future to secure their just rights*
and to demand equal opportunity and treat-
mnt with other men..
Q. When was the Declaration signed?
A. At 5:00 P.M. on August 13, 1920, be¬
neath a display of flags of many countries,
includng those of the United States, the
Provisional African Republic, Liberia, Haiti
and Abyssinia.
Q. What were some of the grievances
reported by the various delegates?
A. Discrimination in public hotels be¬
cause of race and color; denial of the right
of public trial when accused of crime;
lynching and burning by mobs; discrimina¬
tion in public conveyances in the southern
part of the United Stats; inferior education
for our children in separate schools; denial
of an 'equal chance to earn wages for the
support of our families; exploiting of the
Continent of Africa, and inhuman treat¬
ment of the natives by European nations;
&
denial of the| privilege to vote in some south-
fern states, and of a voice in the adminis¬
tration of the laws; discrimination in the
Civil Service, and other departments of the
Government; secret and cunning devices in
British and other West Indian Islands and
colonies to deprive our people of those fuller
rights of governmnt which white citizens en¬
joy ; peonage and serfdom both in the West
Indies and the southern states of America.
Q. WThat decision was arrived at after the
Convention had listened to these grievances
for a space of one week?
A. That the Deputies should emphatically
protest against all such inhuman, unchristian
and uncivilized treatment and invoke the con¬
demnation of all mankind in order to en¬
courage our race all over the world to over¬
come the handicaps and difficulties surround¬
ing- us, and to push forward to a higher
destiny.
Q. What does the first clause of the Dec¬
laration of Rights state concerning the citi¬
zenship of Black Men?
A. It declares all men, women and chil¬
dren of our blood throughout the world free
denizens of the countries in which they live
but claim them as free citizens of Africa, the
Motherland of all Black Men,.
Q. On what principle do we claim Africa
for the Black people of the world?
A- On the principle of Europe for the
32
.Europeans, and Asia for the Asians, we also
demand Africa for Africans at home and
abroad.
Q. Should the Black Man endeavor to
possess himself of Africa?
A. We believe it is his inherent right so to
do, and that such possession shall not be
regarded as an infringement on any claim
made by any race or nation.
Q. What is our attitude towards those
nations who have seized the territories and
treatment accorded the natives of Africa?
A. We strongly condemn their cupidity
and place on record our solemn determination
to reclaim the treasures and possessions of
this vast continent of our forefathers.
Q. What protest do we make against the
treatment accorded the natives of Africa?
A. We protest against depriving them of
their lands, and exercise of free citizenship
within their own country; against the atro¬
cious crimes of whipping, flogging, and over¬
working of such natives, and demand that all
such barbarous practices be abolished,
Q. Mention one such atrocious and dis¬
graceful practice.
A. The shaving of the. heads of Africans,
including females, when placed in prison as a
punishment for crime.
Q. Should Black Men demand the right to
elect their own representatives in the Legis¬
lature?
33
A. Wheresoever they form a community
among themselves they should be given the
right to elect their own representatives in all
law-making bodies, councils or other institu¬
tions which exercise control over that partic¬
ular community.
Q. Should Black Men be represented on
juries ?
A. We declare it unfair and prejudicial to
the rig-hts of Black Men in communities where
they exist in considerable numbers to be tried
by a judg'e and jury composed entirely of an
alien race, and demand that in all such cases
Liiembers of our race be given representation
on the jury.
Q. What do we declare concerning "tax¬
ation without representation?"
A- We declare it unjust and tyrannical
and that there should be no obligation on the
part of Black Men to obey the levy of taxes
by any law making body in which they are
denied representation.
Q. What do' we believe about any law dis¬
criminating against the Black Man?
A. That is is not only unfair and immoral,
but an insult to the race as a whole, and there¬
fore should be resented by the entire body
of the Black people.
Q. How should the word "Black" be
written ?
A. Always with a capital "Bwe should
demand that all newspapers, periodicals, and
34
books published should observe this rule.
Q. Should the Black Man endeavour to live
in peace with all other men?
A. Undoubtedly so ; but when other races
and nations provoke our ire by infringing"
upon our sacred rights, war becomes inevit¬
able, and any attempt on our part to free our¬
selves and protect our rights and heritage
becomes justifiable.
Q. What does the Declaration of Rights
say concerning lynching?
A. That the lynching of human beings by
burning, hanging, or any other means is a
most barbarous practice, and a shame and a
disgrace to civilization, and that any people
guilty of such atrocities should be considered
outside the pale of civilization.
Q. What does it state concerning the "Free¬
dom of the Press?
A. That we believe in the doctrine of the
"Freedom of the Press," and protest against
the suppression of our newspapers and per¬
iodicals in various parts of the world, and
call upon our people everywhere to employ
all available means to prevent such suppres¬
sion.
Q. Mention some further conditions
against which protests are made.
A. Boycotting of Black Men from industry
and labor in any part of the world; the sys¬
tem of education which denies Black Men the
35
same privileges and advantages as other
races; segregated districts; separate public
conveyances and accommodations by land or
sea; curtailing of free speech; the publica¬
tion of scandalous and inflammatory articles
by the white press tending to create racial
strife; the exhibition of picture films repre¬
senting the Black Men as a cannibal, and the
caricatures on the stage which hold up our
race to ridicule.
Q. Mention some important rights which
we demand in the Declaration.
A. Self-determination of all peoples; free¬
dom of religious worship; the right of an un¬
limited and unprejudiced education for our¬
selves and our children; the right of free
emigration of Black Men to any country or
state without molestation or discrimination es¬
pecially when they pay equal fare with
travellers of other races.
Q. Did the International Convention
choose any Leaders for our race?
A, Yes; it elected a Provisional President
of Africa, a Leader for the American Black
Man and two Leaders for the Black Men of
the West Indies, Central and South America,.
Q. Why were these Leaders elected?
A. To look after the welfare of our people;
everywhere, and to demand from the vari¬
ous government under which they live equal
opportunity and equal treatment with other
races of people.
36
Q. What are the National Colors of the
Organization as selected by the Convention?
Red, black and green.
Q. What do these Colors represent?
A. Red is the color of the blood which
men must shed for their redemption and lib¬
erty ; black is the color of the noble and dis¬
tinguished race to which we belong; green
is the color of the luxuriant vegitation of our
Motherland.
Q. What National Anthem did the Con¬
vention authorize for our race?
A. That which begins "Ethiopia, thou
land of our Father," composed by Burrell
and Ford.
Q. As this anthem should be known by
all Black youth, please recite it.
Ethiopia, thou land of our fathers,
Thoa land where the gods loved to be,
As storm cloud at night suddenly gathers
Our armies come rushing to thee.
We must in the fight be victorious,
When swords are thrust outward to
gleam;
For us will the victory be glorious
When led by the red, black and green.
Chorus
Advance, advance to victory!
Let Africa be free!
Advance to meet the foe
3Z
With the might
Of the red, the black, and the green.
Ethiopia, the tyrant's falling
Who smote thee upon thy knees;
And thy children are lustily calling
i^rom over the distant seas..
Jehovah the Great One has heard us,
Has not our sighs and our tears,
With His spirit of love He has stirred us
To be one through the coming years.
Chorus
O Jehovah, Thou God of the ages
Grant unto our sons that lead
The wisdom Thou gav'st to Thy sages
When Israel was sore in need.
Thy voice thro' the dim past has spoken,
Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand,
By Thee shall all fetters be broken
And Heav'n bless our dear Motherland.
Q. What will this Declaration of Rights
accomplish for Black Men?
A. It will secure for them their complete
rights and privileges and the unlited enjoy¬
ment of liberty.
Q. Did not an Act of the British Parlia¬
ment and the Emancipation Proclamation
of President Lincoln give freedom to Black
Men in the West Indies and in the United
States ?
.38
Aj. Only in the sense of freedom from
compulsory labor and servitude.
Q,. What is our attitude to the League
of Nations? .
A. We declare it null and void in that it
deprives millions of Black Men of the right
of liberty, self-determination and self-
government.
Q. Do we believe in the "Golden Rule?"
A. Yes; we cheerfully accord to all men
their rights and privileges and in turn make
the just demand that they do unto us as we
would unto them.
Q. What declaration do we make con¬
cerning our women and children.
A. That, with the help of Almighty God,
we swear to protect their honor and virtue
even with our lives.
Q. Should Black Men engage in any war
which alien races are waging against each
other?
A. Only in case of the defence of the
country in which they live from external
aggression, and onlty when given con¬
sent by th'e chosen Leader of the Black
people of the world.
Q. What do we declare concerning the
seas?
A. We believe in the absolute freedom of
the seas for all peoples and demand a free
and unfettered ocean intercourse with Black
Men everywhere!.
Q. What International Holiday for the
Black Men of the world was ordered by the
32
Convention ?
A. August 31st of every year.
Q. Do Black Men intend to support this
Declaration of their Rights and Indepen
dence ?
A. They pledge to mantain it as the
Magna Chirta of their race and solemnly
swear to defend it with their lives, their for¬
tunes, and their sacred honor.
Q. Who were the signers of this im¬
mortal Document?
A. Marcus Garvey, James D. Brooks,
James W. H. Eason, Henrietta Winton
Davis, Lionel Winston Greenidge, Ardian
Fitzroy Johnson, Rudolph Ethelbert Brissaac
Smith, Charles Augustus Petioni, Thomas
H. N. Simon, Richard Hilton Tobitt, George
Alexander McGuire, Peter Edward Baston,
Reynold R. Felix, Harry Walters Kirby,
Sarah Branch, Marie Barrier Houston,
George Ll O'Brien, F. O. Ogilvie, Arden A.
Bryan, Benjamin Dyett, Marie Duchaterlier,
John PhilliD Hodge, Theophilus H. Saunders
WTilford H. Smith, Gabriel E. Stewart,
Arnold Josiah Ford, Lee Crawford, William
McCartney, Adina Clem. James, William
Musgrave La Motte, John Sydney de Bourg,
Arnold S. Cunning, Vernal J. Williams,
Frances Wilcem Ellegor, J. Frederick Selk-
ridge, Inis Abel Horsford, Cyril A. Crichlow,
Samuel Mclntyre, John Thomas Wilkins,
Mary Thurston, John G. Befue, William
Ware, J. A. Lewis, O. C. Kelly, Venture R.
40
Hamilton, R. H. Hodge, Edward Alfred
Taylor, Ellen Wilson, G WJ. Wilson, Richard
Edword Riley, Nellie Grant, Whiting, G. W.
Washington, Maldena Miller, Gertrude Davis,
James D. Williams, Emily Christmas Kinch,
D. D> Lewis, Nettie Clayton, Partheria Hills,
Janie Jenkins, John C. Simpns, Alphonso A.
Jones, Allen Hobbs, Reynold Fitzgerald
Austin, Jamjes Benjamin Yearwood, Frank
O. Raines, Shedrick Williams, John Edward
Ivey Frederick Augustus Tootei, Philip Hem-
mings, F,. F. Smith, E. J. Jones, Joseph
Josiah Cranston, Frederick Samuel Ricketts,
Dugald Augustus Wade, E, E. Nelom, Flordia
Jenkins, Napoleon J. Francis, Joseph D.
Gibson, J. P., Jasper, J. W. Montgomery,
David Benjamin, J. Gorden, Harry E. Ford,
Carrie M,. Ashford, Andrew N. Willis, Lucy
Sands, Louise Woodson, George D. Creese,
W. A,. Wallace, Thomas E, Bagly, James
Young, Prince Alfred McConney, John E.
Hudson, William Ines, Harry R;. Watkins,
C. L. Halton, J. T. Bailey, Ira Joseph Tous-
saint Wright, X. H. Golden, Abraham Ben¬
jamin Thomas, Richard Cf Noble, Walter
Grelen, C. S. Bourne, G. F. Bennett, B. D.
Levy, Mary E. Johnson, Lionel Antonio Fran¬
cis, Carl Roper, E. R. Donawa, Philip Van
Putten, I. Brathwaite, Jesse W. Luck, Oliver
Kaye, J, W. Hudspeth, C. B. Lovel,l, William
C. Matthews, A. Williams, Ratford E. M.
Jack, H. Vinton Plummer, Randolph Phillips,
A- I. Bailey, duly elected representatives of
the Black people of the world.
41
Sworn before me this 15th day of August,
19201
(Legal Seal).. JOHN G. BAYNE,
Notary Public, New York County.
New York County Clerk's No. 378; New York
County Register's No. 12102. Commission
expires March 30, 1922.
4?.