UNIA Holds International Conventions Annually in Harlem

Beginning in August 1920, the UNIA held large annual international conventions in Harlem each summer, drawing delegates from across the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. These conventions were the largest gatherings of Black people in history to that point, featuring parades down Harlem's streets, cultural performances, political debates, and formal policy declarations. The conventions created a living demonstration of Pan-African solidarity and global Black political consciousness.