Una Marson - the Activist
Una Marson was a poet, activist and feminist, she was born in 1905 in rural Jamaica. By her twenties Una had already made her mark in Jamaica as a founder, writer and editor of Jamaica’s first women’s publication The Cosmopolitan a forward-thinking feminist magazine that addressed everything from women's rights to racial justice. Even at such a young age (she was just twenty-one) Una advocated for women.
Una arrived in London in 1932 with hopes and dreams, however she was shocked and angered with the arrogance and casual racism she faced. Una initially lived with Dr Harold Moody and his family in Peckham South London as despite her wealth of experience she was unable to find work.
By this time Dr Moody had founded the civil rights organisation The League of Coloured Peoples, Una became the editor and a writer for the organisation’s publication ‘The Keys’. The League of Coloured Peoples aims were -
• To promote and protect the Social, Educational, Economic and Political Interests of its members;
• To interest members in the Welfare of Coloured Peoples in all parts of the World;
• To improve relations between the Races;
• To cooperate and affiliate with organizations sympathetic to coloured people
• To render such financial assistance to coloured people in distress as lies within our capacity
On her return to Jamaica Una established the ‘Jamaica Save the Children Association’ and was involved with the International Alliance of Women. She attended global conferences and stood up for women and children’s rights. In the mid-1930s Marson was the Jamaican representative at the ‘International Alliance of Women for Suffrage and Equal Citizenship’ Conference a feminist organization. The event was held in Istanbul, Turkey. Marson was the only Black woman in attendance. Her speech spoke to the racism Black people faced - she urged all women to stand with and fight for Black people’s rights.
Una continued writing and speaking her truth until her death in 1965.
"This is the age of woman. What man has done women can do’"
Una Marson 1929
(The Cosmopolitan first edition)