"I regard the Klan, the Anglo-Saxon clubs and White American societies, as far as the Negro is concerned, as better friends of the race than all other groups of hypocritical whites put together"

Marcus Garvey’s words reflect a provocative stance on race relations in early twentieth-century America, expressing a preference for overtly racist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and Anglo-Saxon clubs over those whites who publicly espoused equality while privately harboring racist beliefs or undermining Black advancement. Garvey implies that open adversaries, whose hostility and intentions are unmasked, present less danger to the Black race than those who engage in performative allyship or hollow gestures of friendship. In the context of his time, Garvey witnessed the contradictions of American society, where formal emancipation and legal equality did not translate into genuine social acceptance or opportunities for Black Americans. Many white liberals, reformers, and supposedly sympathetic groups preached brotherhood and inclusion, yet Garvey recognized persistent paternalism, condescension, and subversion of Black self-determination among them.

For Garvey, the “hypocritical whites” pretended to be allies while benefiting from existing structures of power and maintaining their dominance. Their covert opposition, whether through subtle policy decisions, undermining Black institutions, or refusing to support genuine economic and political empowerment, posed a greater threat because it was less easily recognized, anticipated, or defended against. In contrast, the motivations and actions of the Klan and similar groups were explicit and unambiguous. Their racism was not couched in diplomatic language or hidden behind policies claiming neutrality or incremental change. Garvey saw value in clarity and transparency, arguing that it better prepared Black communities to organize, defend themselves, and chart their own paths without illusions about the sincerity or intentions of their opponents.

Underlying Garvey’s viewpoint is skepticism toward integrationist approaches reliant on the goodwill of white society. He favored self-reliance and nationalism, the establishment of Black-owned institutions, businesses, and even the creation of a sovereign Black nation. Encountering racism in its most blatant form, Garvey believed, could inspire unity and resilience, driving Black people to consolidate power, resources, and cultural identity more effectively than navigating the ambiguous terrain of white liberalism.