Thomas W. Harvey Memorial Division #121 (Part II)
For (72) years, The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League-Thomas W. Harvey Memorial Division #121 has stood against the test of time and served as–a righteous beacon and symbol of African Sovereignty and Universal African Nationalism.
Unfortunately, the Government of the UNIA-ACL, except for Division #334 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Division #121, has literally lost all of our tangible real-estate and land from Cuba to Harlem, New York. It will take not only UNIA-ACL membership–but the entire Black community to re-build and protect the only ‘brick and mortar’ property that the UNIA-ACL owns in this country. In spite of all the internal struggles, (4) alarm fire, external law suites, break-ins, strategies and tactics to take the building, the Philadelphia Garveyites have prevailed! By rebuilding the UNIA-ACL Headquarters, the surrounding Black community will realize that it too, can rebuild itself.
Prior to November 12, 1978, all UNIA-ACL Division Headquarters/Liberty Halls throughout the globe–were recognized by a significant number. After President-General Charles L. James of Chicago division #401 visited and spoke to the membership of division #121, he issued a proclamation dedicating the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania division as the Thomas W. Harvey Memorial Division #121. Shortly thereafter, other UNIA-ACL divisions were commissioned to attach their divisions with powerful, influential, and relevant names of African ancestors. On June 27, 1978 President-General Thomas W. Harvey joined the Ancestors. He was a loyal and dedicated member of the UNIA-ACL since 1919 and served as the President-General for 26 years.
Spirits Unbroken, members continue to Rebuild
On the evening of January 16, 1992, a mysterious fire broke out on the second and third floor of the concrete and wood building. With the (4) alarm fire raging out of control and the fire department’s slow response, the headquarters was battered by the inferno. When the fire department arrived, the UNIA-ACL Division #121 was completely engulfed in flames. When the smoke finally settled, the structure was almost fully incinerated. The inside was gutted, and the roof was gone. The fire raged for over (2) hours destroying historical documents, copies of The Negro World Newspaper, pictures, Black Man Magazines, Garvey’s Voice Newspapers, Convention Journals, minutes of business meetings, video tapes, audio tapes, African artwork and paintings, furniture, appliances, and an entire collection of African artifacts.
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