Marcus Garvey in Harlem, 1924

Marcus Garvey in Harlem (1924)

AP African American Studies Guide

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Topic 3.18

James Van Der Zee, Marcus Garvey in a UNIA Parade in Harlem (1924)

An open-topped car with four passengers in a parade. The driver is a Black man with a dark jacket, white shirt, dark tie, and dark driver's cap. In the back seat, from left to right, is a Black man in a military uniform (dark jacket, dark cap with gold flourishes); a Black man wearing academic regalia (dark robe and hood, dark mortarboard and tassel); Marcus Garvey, a Black man, wearing a military uniform (dark jacket, dark hat with a white feather) and holding a sword. Next to the car is a Black man wearin


Source: James Van Der Zee, [Marcus Garvey in a UNIA Parade], 1924 (Gelatin silver print, Image: 6 7/16 × 9 7/16 in. (16.4 × 24 cm); Sheet: 8 in. × 9 15/16 in. (20.3 × 25.2 cm) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Funds from various donors, 2018 (2018.96). © James Van Der Zee Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

Discussion Questions

  1. What messages were Garvey (second from right in the image) and his entourage sending through their attire?
  2. How is the car decorated? Why is this significant? 
  3. From what you can see in the background, what was Harlem like in 1924? How could you verify if this street is representative of Harlem at this time?