Misplaced Pages

#528471

54-559: Merigold (sometimes misspelled as Marigold or Merrigold) is a town in Bolivar County , Mississippi , United States. Per the 2020 census , the population was 379. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km), all land. As of the census of 2000, there were 664 people, 268 households, and 191 families residing in the town. The population density

108-555: A historic 1939 British Supreme Court decision, President-General Francis was recognized as the rightful administrative heir to the huge Sir Isaiah Emmanuel Morter (DSOE) Estate in Belize . The organization's administrative headquarters were shifted to Belize in 1941 when the President-General relocated there from New York. Upon Francis's death in 1961 during Hurricane Hattie , the presidency shifted back to New York under

162-445: A household in the county was $ 23,428, and the median income for a family was $ 27,301. Males had a median income of $ 27,643 versus $ 20,774 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 12,088. About 27.90% of families and 33.30% of the population were below the poverty line , including 43.90% of those under age 18 and 27.90% of those age 65 or over. According to the most recent data on U.S. life expectancy, published in 2010 by

216-458: A man became known. Originally from Saint Ann's Bay , Jamaica , Marcus Garvey left at 23 and traveled throughout Central America and moved for a time to England . During his travels he became convinced that uniting Blacks was the only way to improve their condition. Towards that end, he departed England on June 14, 1914, aboard the SS Trent , returning to Jamaica on July 15, 1914. He founded

270-608: A restaurant. Later that year the Association organized the first of its two steamship companies and a separate business corporation. Incorporated in Delaware as a domestic corporation on June 27, 1919, the Black Star Line, Inc. (BSL) was capitalized at 10 million dollars. It sold shares individually valued at five dollars to both UNIA members and non-members alike. Proceeds from stock sales were used to purchase first

324-451: A severe blow to the UNIA's African repatriation program and inspired speculation that the actions were linked. After Garvey's conviction and imprisonment on mail fraud charges in 1925 and deportation to Jamaica in 1927, the organization began to take on a different character. In 1926, George Weston succeeded Garvey in a UNIA Convention Election, becoming the second elected President-General of

378-675: Is in Moorhead in Sunflower County . School districts: Former school districts: The five school districts other than the Cleveland School District, were, in 2012, among the 20 smallest of the 152 school districts in the State of Mississippi. In the State of Mississippi, Bolivar County was the only county that had six school districts. Consolidation was urged to save money and facilitate cooperation. In 2012

432-634: Is land and 29 square miles (75 km ) (3.2%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Mississippi by land area and fourth-largest by total area. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 30,985 people, 12,114 households, and 7,719 families residing in the county. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 34,145 people living in the county. 64.5% were Black or African American , 33.5% White , 0.6% Asian , 0.1% Native American , 0.9% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races . 1.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). As of

486-508: Is located in the Mississippi Delta , or Yazoo Basin, of Mississippi. This area was first developed for cotton plantations. Large industrial-scale agricultural operations have reduced the number of farm workers needed, and the population is half of its peak in 1930. Today, soybeans, corn, and rice are also commodity crops. In 1836, when it was founded, the land was originally Choctaw, and was taken for use in agriculture, with some of

540-564: Is still operating today). Bolivar County, Mississippi Bolivar County ( / ˈ b ɒ l ɪ v ər / BOL -i-vər ) is a county located on the western border of the U.S. state of Mississippi . As of the 2020 census , the population was 30,985. Its county seats are Rosedale and Cleveland . The county is named in honor of Simón Bolívar , early 19th-century leader of the liberation of several South American territories from Spain . The Cleveland, Mississippi, Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Bolivar County. It

594-487: The Firestone Rubber Company's agreement with Liberia for a 99-year lease of one million acres (4,000 km ) of land. It was extracting and processing rubber for the world market. This land deal had been assisted by American and European governments. Originally Liberia had intended to lease the land to UNIA at an unprecedented dollar an acre ($ 247/km ). The commercial agreement with Firestone Tire dealt

SECTION 10

#1732772665529

648-761: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , a male in Bolivar County could expect to live 65.0 years, the second shortest for any county in the United States, following McDowell County, West Virginia . The national average is 76.1 years for a male. Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Joseph S. Clark, Jr. had visited "pockets of poverty" in the Mississippi Delta 40 years earlier. In Cleveland, they observed barefoot, underfed African-American children in tattered clothing, with vacant expressions and distended bellies. Kennedy stated that he thought he had seen

702-649: The Mississippi Senate Education Committee passed a bill asking the State of Mississippi to consolidate the six school districts in Bolivar County to three or two. The Mississippi Senate passed the bill 37–11. As recently as the 1960s the school board of Bolivar County censored what black children were allowed to learn, and mandated that "Neither foreign languages nor civics shall be taught in Negro schools. Nor shall American history from 1860 to 1875 be taught.” The Bolivar Commercial

756-699: The New Negro World started publishing out of Cleveland. After the 1942 International Convention in Cleveland, a rehabilitating committee of disgruntled members was held in New York during September. Stewart moved to Monrovia , Liberia, in 1949. He took Liberian citizenship and moved the Parent Body of the UNIA there. He continued to lead the Association as President-General until his death in 1964. Stewart and his entire family relocated deeper into

810-622: The North Sunflower Academy in unincorporated Sunflower County . Po' Monkey's is a juke joint located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) west of Merigold. The Mississippi Blues Commission placed a historic marker at the Po Monkey's Lounge in 2009 designating it as a site on the Mississippi Blues Trail for its contribution to the development of the blues (and one of the few authentic juke joints that

864-704: The SS Yarmouth and then the SS Shady Side . The Shady Side was used by the association for summer outings and excursions, as well as rented out on charter to other organizations. The BSL later purchased the Kanawha as its third vessel. This small yacht was intended for inter-island transportation in the West Indies and was rechristened the SS Antonio Maceo . Also established in 1919

918-491: The census of 2000, there were 40,633 people, 13,776 households, and 9,725 families living in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18/km ). There were 14,939 housing units at an average density of [7] per square mile (7/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 65.11% Black or African American , 33.24% White , 0.10% Native American , 0.49% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.48% from other races , and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.17% of

972-599: The red, black and green flag as the official banner of the African race. (Beginning in the 1960s, black nationalists and Pan-Africanists adopted the same flag as the Black Liberation Flag.) UNIA-ACL officially designated the song " Ethiopia , Thou Land of Our Fathers" as the official anthem of "Africa and the Africans, at home and Abroad". Under the provisions of the UNIA constitution, Gabriel Johnson

1026-764: The American field after his ouster to Jamaica. She was a fiery orator and spoke both Spanish and English, helping with the spread of the organization through Latin America and the Caribbean . The UNIA, Inc., after Garvey's departure, continued to operate out of New York until 1941. After Weston's 1926 election to President-General, he was succeeded by Frederick Augustus Toote (1929), Clifford Bourne (1930), Lionel Antonio Francis (1931–34), Henrietta Vinton Davis (1934–40), Lionel Antonio Francis (1940–61), Captain A. L. King (1961–81) and Milton Kelly, Jr. (1981–2007). In

1080-519: The Negro Peoples of the World" on August 13, 1920, and elected the leaders of the UNIA as "leaders for the Negro people of the world". The organization put forth a program based on this declaration, marking the evolution of the movement as one promoting black nationalism. It sought the uplift of the black race and encouraged self-reliance and nationhood. Among the declarations was one proclaiming

1134-640: The UNIA headquarters on West 135th Street, went uptown as far as 145th and downtown as far as 125th Street, taking it beyond the boundaries of black residence into white areas. Four mounted policemen, and the heads of Black Star Line and Negro Factories Corporation, led the parade, followed by cars carrying Garvey and Mayor of Monrovia, capital of Liberia, and other UNIA officials, then the Black Star Line Choir, on foot, and contingents from throughout US and Caribbean, Canada, Nigeria, carrying banners, and including 12 bands, with about 500 cars bringing up

SECTION 20

#1732772665529

1188-625: The UNIA in Kingston later that month, intending to unite all of Africa and its diaspora into the organization. After traveling through the United States beginning in March 1916, Garvey inaugurated the New York Division of the UNIA in 1918 with 13 members. The Negro World was founded on August 17, 1918, as a weekly newspaper to express the ideas of the organization. Garvey contributed a front-page editorial each week in which he developed

1242-539: The UNIA purchased the first of what would be numerous Liberty Halls . Located at 114 West 138th Street, in Harlem , New York City , the building had a seating capacity of 6,000. The single-level hall with low ceilings had previously been home to the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle. It was dedicated on July 27, 1919. On Sunday evenings, it was the site of the weekly UNIA meeting; it also housed

1296-548: The UNIA, Inc. Many Garvey supporters were angered, and split off into rival entities such as the "Garvey Clubs" and other organizations, based on members' differing interpretation of the original aims and objects of the UNIA. But the UNIA continued to be officially recognized as the "Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League". A rival "UNIA-ACL August 1929 of the World" emerged, headed by Marcus Garvey after his deportation to Jamaica. Garvey appointed Maymie de Mena as his official representative to head

1350-852: The UNIA-ACL led to the establishment of numerous auxiliary components, among them the African Legion (a paramilitary group), the African Black Cross Nurses , plus businesses such as the Black Star Steamship Line and the Negro Factories Corporation . In an article entitled "The Negro's Greatest Enemy", published in Current History (September 1923), Garvey explained the origin of the organization's name: Where did

1404-636: The US, Canada, Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Java, and other countries. UNIA also purchased farms in Ohio and other states. It purchased land in Claremont, Virginia with the intention of founding Liberty University. By 1920 the association had over 1,900 divisions in more than 40 countries. Most of the divisions were located in the United States, which had become the UNIA's base of operations. There were, however, offices in several Caribbean countries, with Cuba having

1458-511: The affairs of the UNIA from New York until a successor to Garvey could be formally installed to complete his term as President-General. During an emergency commissioners' conference in June 1940, James R. Stewart , a commissioner from Ohio and graduate of the course of African philosophy, was named the successor. In the months to follow, the Parent Body of the UNIA was moved from its temporary headquarters in New York to Cleveland . In October 1940

1512-421: The age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 23.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.96. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under

1566-460: The age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 24,375, and the median income for a family was $ 27,500. Males had a median income of $ 26,250 versus $ 21,250 for females. The per capita income for

1620-538: The aims of your organization as outlined by you, have no hesitancy in assuring you that they will afford the Association every facility legally possible in effectuating in Liberia its industrial, agricultural and business projects. About two months later, however, the Liberian President unexpectedly ordered all Liberian ports to refuse entry to any member of the "Garvey Movement". This action closely followed

1674-418: The delta. The county had 18 documented lynchings in the period from 1877 to 1950. In the 1920s, Bolivar county was a hotspot for UNIA chapters, with 17 chapters, and by 1960, it had a significant local civil rights movement, and remains a mostly black area today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 906 square miles (2,350 km ), of which 877 square miles (2,270 km )

Merigold, Mississippi - Misplaced Pages Continue

1728-500: The following night I pondered over the subject matter of that conversation, and at midnight, lying flat on my back, the vision and thought came to me that I should name the organization the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities (Imperial) League. Such a name I thought would embrace the purpose of all black humanity. Thus to the world a name was born, a movement created, and

1782-595: The general condition of the country from the standpoint of UNIA members interested in living in Africa . By 1924 the Chief Justice J. J. Dossen of Liberia wrote to UNIA conveying the government's support: The President directs me to say in reply to your letter of June 8 setting forth the objects and purposes of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, that the Government of Liberia, appreciating as they do

1836-641: The interior of the country, establishing themselves in Gbandela , Bong County , Liberia . There they established a hospital, school and farm. When Stewart died from cancer in 1964, the Parent Body was moved from Monrovia to Youngstown , Ohio, where James A. Bennett took the reins. In 1968 Bennett was succeeded by Vernon Wilson. After President-General Wilson's death in 1975, Mason Harvgrave became next President General. Hargrave testified during United States congressional hearings in August 1987 in relation to

1890-522: The leadership of Captain A. L. King, formerly president of the Central Division of the UNIA in New York. After his death in the early 1980s, longtime Garveyite organizer Milton Kelly, Jr. assumed the administrative reins and continued to head the association until 2007. The UNIA 1929 headed by Garvey continued operating in Jamaica until he moved to England in 1935. There he set up office for

1944-430: The most valued land in the state. In 1840, there was only one free black person, 384 free whites, and 971 enslaved people, making its population 60% slaves. This number only increased, because around 1860, the population was about 87% slaves, due to its mostly agricultural economy, and continued to gain a high black population, relating to it being in the delta, and mound bayou's pressure for African-Americans to move to

1998-863: The most. Divisions also existed in Central and South America: Panama , Costa Rica , Nicaragua , Ecuador , and Venezuela ; in Africa: Gold Coast (now Ghana ), Sierra Leone , Liberia , Nigeria , South West Africa (now Namibia ), and the Union of South Africa ; and in India and Australia . For the entire month of August 1920, the UNIA-ACL held its first international convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City . The 20,000 attending members promulgated "The Declaration of Rights of

2052-543: The name of the organization come from? It was while speaking to a West Indian Negro who was a passenger with me from Southampton , who was returning home to the West Indies from Basutoland with his Basuto wife, I further learned of the horrors of native life in Africa. He related to me in conversation such horrible and pitiable tales that my heart bled within me. Retiring from the conversation to my cabin, all day and

2106-459: The organization's position on different issues related to people of African ancestry around the world, in general, and the UNIA, in particular. Eventually claiming a circulation of 500,000, the newspaper was printed in several languages. It contained a page specifically for women readers, documented international events related to people of African ancestry, and was distributed throughout the African diaspora until publication ceased in 1933. In 1919,

2160-510: The organization: "Universal Negro Ritual" and "Universal Negro Catechism". For these he drew from his interest and knowledge of religion and race history. In Philadelphia , where he had earlier been the rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church , McGuire had been an early member of the American Negro Historical Society. The opening parade was one of the most striking features of the 1920 convention. It began outside

2214-583: The parent body of the UNIA 1929 and maintained contact with all its divisions. UNIA 1929 conventions were held in Canada in 1936, 1937, and 1938. The 1937 sessions were highlighted by the introduction of the first course of African philosophy conducted by Garvey. Garvey became ill in January 1940, and died on June 10, 1940. UNIA members worldwide participated in eulogies, memorial services and processions in his honor. Secretary-General Ethel Collins briefly managed

Merigold, Mississippi - Misplaced Pages Continue

2268-537: The path of man but with love, faith and charity towards all the reign of peace and plenty will be heralded into the world and the generations of men shall be called Blessed. Although UNIA was not solely a "Back to Africa" movement, the organization did work to arrange for emigration for African Americans who wanted to go there. In late 1923, an official UNIA delegation that included Robert Lincoln Poston and Henrietta Vinton Davis traveled to Liberia to survey potential land sites for possible purchase. They also assessed

2322-442: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 13,776 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.20% were married couples living together, 27.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

2376-595: The proposed exoneration of Marcus Garvey on charges of mail fraud. The findings of the Judiciary Committee were: Garvey was innocent of the charges against him. Although the Committee determined he had been found guilty earlier due to the social climate of America at the time, they had no legal basis upon which to exonerate a person who had died. After President General Hargrave died in 1988, all his papers and other Parent Body material were turned over to

2430-466: The rear. Similar dramatic parades were featured in the 1922 and 1924 conventions. Many photographs survive of the 1924 Convention Parade, as Garvey employed noted photographer James Van Der Zee to record the event. Even after Garvey had left Harlem (he was imprisoned in 1925 and deported to Jamaica in 1927), the UNIA paraded each August throughout the 1920s, with the place of honour given to portraits of their absent leader. The crowds were transfixed by

2484-418: The spectacle of uniformed UNIA members, particularly the African Legion and Black Cross Nurses. According to the preamble of the 1929 constitution as amended, the UNIA is a social , friendly, humanitarian , charitable, educational, institutional , constructive and expansive society , and is founded by persons desiring to do the utmost to work for the general uplift of the people of African ancestry of

2538-685: The town was $ 16,185. About 21.4% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over. Merigold is served by the Cleveland School District . The district operates the Hayes Cooper Center for Math and Science, located on old Highway 61 . Secondary students are zoned to Cleveland Central Middle School and Cleveland Central High School . As of 2002 some children in Merigold attended

2592-545: The world. And the members pledge themselves 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. The motto of the organization is 'One God! One Aim! One Destiny!' Therefore, let justice be done to all mankind, realizing that if the strong oppresses the weak, confusion and discontent will ever mark

2646-524: The worst poverty in the nation in West Virginia, but it paled in comparison to the poverty he observed in Cleveland. The county has a county administrator, who acts upon the requests of the board of supervisors primarily. The county is within the boundaries of two community college districts: Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College . CCC's main campus is in rural Coahoma County outside of Clarksdale, and MDCC's campus

2700-401: Was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.36. In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.70 males. The median income for

2754-421: Was 686.1 inhabitants per square mile (264.9/km). There were 280 housing units at an average density of 289.3 per square mile (111.7/km). The racial makeup of the town was 42.62% White , 56.93% African American , 0.15% Asian , 0.15% from other races , and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population. There were 268 households, out of which 28.0% had children under

SECTION 50

#1732772665529

2808-452: Was distributed in Bolivar County. 33°47′N 90°53′W  /  33.79°N 90.88°W  / 33.79; -90.88 Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League The organization was founded to work for the advancement of people of African ancestry around the world. Its motto is "One God! One Aim! One Destiny!" and its slogan is "Africa for the Africans, at home and abroad!" The broad mission of

2862-445: Was elected Supreme Potentate; G. O. Marke, Supreme Deputy Potentate; J. W. [H]. Eason, leader of the fifteen million "Negroes" of the United States of America; and Henrietta Vinton Davis , International Organizer. Garvey was elected "Provisional President of Africa", a mostly ceremonial title. George Alexander McGuire , an Episcopal priest, was elected as the first chaplain-general of the UNIA. McGuire wrote two important documents for

2916-509: Was the Negro Factories Corporation , with a capitalization of one million dollars. It generated income and provided around 700 jobs by its numerous enterprises: three grocery stores, two restaurants, a laundry, a tailor shop, a dressmaking shop, a millinery store, a printing company, and doll factory. However, most went out of business by 1922. With the growth of its membership from 1918 through 1924, as well as income from its various economic enterprises, UNIA purchased additional Liberty Halls in

#528471