Statement of the African Blood Brotherhood after their supporters were expelled from the August, 1921 second congress of the United Negro Improvement Association.

‘Garvey Shows His Hand’ from The Crusader. Vol. 5 No. 2. October, 1921.

Publication Authorized by Supreme Council, A.B.B.

Dominating Convention, He Expels A.B.B. Delegation He Invited Because They Demanded More Progress and Less Tomfoolery

THE African Blood Brotherhood believes that Negroes, to wage an effective struggle for liberation, must be united. To success fully oppose the evil machinations of our myriad enemies, to successfully wage our fight for liberation there must be unity.

For this reason the A.B.B., accepted the invitation which Mr. Garvey through the press issued to all “Colored Churches, Lodges, Organizations, Clubs and Fraternities” for the Second International Negro Congress at Liberty Hall, New York, which we were led to believe was to be a genuine all-Negro Congress: “an international Convention of the Negro Peoples of the World” through their various organizations, and accordingly we sent a delegation to represent us at the Congress.

We carried to the Congress ideas and a cordial spirit of co-operation. We were friendly. But we demanded that the Congress function in the interests of the Negro race who were hoping for so much from it, and not for the gratification of selfish personal ambitions. We suggested that it get down to work and formulate a program for the Negro race in its Fight for Liberation; that it devise means to organize our people to the end of stopping the mob-murder of our men, women and children and to protect them against sinister secret societies of cracker whites and fight the ever-expanding Peonage System: that it devise means to raise and protect the standard of living of the Negro people; that it take steps to bring about a federation of all Negro organizations, thus molding all Negro factions into one mighty and formidable factor, governed and directed by a central body made up of representatives from all member organizations.

And when twenty-five days had gone by and the Congress had done nothing along these very essential lines, the A.B.B. had printed and distributed among the delegates a program formulated by us to meet both the general needs of the Negro race and the specific needs of the geographical sections into which it is divided. We offered this program for the consideration of the delegates and to show that we had not asked the Congress anything that was impossible when we asked that it formulate a program to meet the growing needs of the Negro people. And two hours after the appearance of the bulletin carrying our program the African Blood Brotherhood was denounced by Mr. Garvey and its delegation expelled from the Congress!

Why did Mr. Garvey prevent the A.B.B. delegation from presenting its program?

Is Mr. Garvey really in earnest when he talks about the liberation of Africa? Would he really like to engage in the struggle for liberation or is he too busy resurrecting medieval systems and titles and making of the glorious U.N.I.A. movement a tinsel show and a laughing stock to give time to real efforts in the liberation struggle? What does Mr. Garvey mean by pledging Negro loyalty to the United States Government and giving that government a blanket endorsement for all its future wars, whether those wars be against friendly Soviet Russia, racial Japan, China, or Haiti; and whether the U.S. Government take steps to protect Negroes in their constitutional rights or refuse, as in the past, to take such steps? What does he mean by advising Negroes to “be loyal to all flags under which they live?” How can Negroes liberate Africa if they remain loyal to Great Britain. France, Belgium and other European plunderers: Has Mr. Garvey a “yellow streak” that he has not denounced the continued presence and savage acts of United States Marines in Haiti: And lynchings and race riots in the United States: Why has not Mr. Garvey given support to the idea proposed by the A.B.B. of organizing Negroes for self-defense and protection? Why has he ignored the Invitation of the A.B.B. to a conference looking to closer co-operation between the two organizations? Why has he tried to make the Congress believe that it was to legislate for a government in existence, rather than to formulate a program for the liberation of an enslaved and oppressed people? Why has he proposed a useless and expensive Bureau of Passports and Identifications? Why has he opposed a motion to give permission to U.N.I.A. divisions to buy for lease) and operate farms wherever feasible for the purpose of supplying employment and keeping down the cost of living? Why has he ignored the Mohammedan and Ethiopian Movements in Africa–the two greatest factors working for liberation in that continent? Why has he persistently refused to come out against the proven enemies of the Negro race? Why has he failed to endorse the proven friends of the Negro? Why has he ignored the suggestion of the A.B.B. for a federation of all Negro organizations in order to present a united front to the enemy? Is Mr. Garvey in earnest? Or is he just tinsel-mad?

The A.B.B. stands ready as ever to cooperate with all organizations working for Negro liberation. The major aim of the U.N.I.A. and the A.B.B. is the liberation of Africa. True, the A.B.B. goes further in declaring as its major aim: “Immediate protection and ultimate liberation for Negroes everywhere.” And we put the first principle in practice at Tulsa where, according to the Associated Press, the A.B.B. “directed the race riot.” The A.B.B. also has the advantage over the U.N.I.A. in having a definite program, both general and specific, for the guidance of its members and the race as a whole, and a carefully considered set of tactics for use in the actual struggle. In the main, however, the major aim of both organizations is identical. And for this reason there should be co-operation and fraternity between the two organizations. The A.B.B. has clearly demonstrated its desire to co-operate. We refuse to engage in intra-racial strife that would weaken the race. We are too busy fighting the enemies of the Negro to fight any Negro save a matter of principles. We offer co-operation. We seek Cooperation. We ask sober consideration for our plan of a federation to include all Negro Organizations. In the meantime we invite every RED-BLOODED NEGRO, EVERY NEGRO PROUD OF HIS RACE AND WILLING TO DEFEND ITS HONOR, to Join the African Blood Brotherhood, the great PROTECTIVE, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE RACE. You do not have to give up your other organizations. But you should be a part of this great movement for “IMMEDIATE PROTECTION AND ULTIMATE LIBERATION OF NEGROES EVERYWHERE.”

(Signed) THE AFRICAN BLOOD BROTHERHOOD. International Office: 2299 Seventh Avenue, New York City.

The Crusader was published in New York City between 1918 and 1922, becoming the paper of the The African Blood Brotherhood for African Liberation and Redemption and the earliest Black Communist publication in the US. Founded by Cyril V Briggs, who had arrived to the city from the Caribbean in 1905, at first it was the journal of the Hamitic League of the World, a Pan-African group led by George Well Parker. Increasingly in sympathy with the Russian Revolution and new Communist International, in October 1919 the paper announced the African Blood Brotherhood and its adherence to Marxism. In June 1921, The Crusader officially became the journal of the ABB and the Black publication of the US Communist movement. Antipathy with Marcus Garvey’s movement led the Communist Party, at the insistence of Claude McKay, to withdraw support and Its last issue was in January, 1922. The African Blood Brotherhood with dissolve into the Workers Party of America with many activists joining the American Negro Labor Congress in 1925.

PDF of full Issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/crusader/v5n02-oct-1921-crusader-r.pdf