Newman, Richard, 1930-2003

Richard Alan Newman was born on March 30, 1930 to Gordon Leon and Belle Newman of Watertown, New York. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryville College in 1952 and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 1955, as well as post-graduate work at Syracuse University from 1959 to 1961 and Harvard University in 1966. Dr. Newman was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church in 1955 and served as the pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, New York, from 1955 to 1960. He was the Chairman of the Department of Social Sciences at Boston University from 1964 to 1973, Senior Editor of G.K. Hall and Co. in Boston from 1973 to 1979, and Executive Editor at Garland Publishing Inc. in New York from 1979 to 1981. He also consulted for the New York Public Library and worked with the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for Afro-American Research at Harvard University. Dr. Newman has authored several books on African American history and religion, including "Prayers of Faith" (1976), "Black Power and Black Religion: Essays and Reviews" (1987), and "Go Down Moses: A Celebration of the African-American Spiritual" (1998).

Laura Adorkor Kofey was an organizer for Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and founded the African Universal Church (AUC) in 1927.

Born in Ghana, Kofey immigrated to the United States in the mid 1920's to encourage African Americans to migrate to Africa, at the request of her father, King Knesipi. Fraudulent charges levelled against Kofey by UNIA members during the time of Garvey's imprisonment caused Kofey to be denounced by that organization. She established the AUC, a rival group, which placed Garvey's ideology of black nationalism within a religious framework, stressing community advancement. In 1928 Kofey was shot and killed while addressing a group of her followers in Miami, and two members of the UNIA were accused of her murder. Kofey's followers continued to maintain the AUC and established branches in New York, Alabama and Georgia. In more recent years the number of AUC congregations has diminished.

Laura Adorkor Kofey was born in 1875, outside of Accra in present day Ghana. She immigrated to the U.S. in the mid-1920's, and appears to have settled in Detroit for a time. Kofey claimed to have come at her father, King Knesipi's request, to encourage African Americans to move to Africa. Although her African parentage has been proven, the details of her life before she joined Marcus Garvey's United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), are unknown. In 1926 Kofey moved from Detroit to Florida and became active in the Miami division of the UNIA. At this time, Garvey was imprisoned and problems arose when Kofey acted without his authorization. She collected funds from UNIA members, ostensibly to purchase a sawmill to send to Africa and also to provide African Americans passage to Africa. Because he believed she was taking advantage of his followers, Garvey publicly disassociated the UNIA from Kofey in 1927. In addition, UNIA officials accused Kofey of being a fraud; among other accusations, they claimed she was born in Georgia.

An eloquent speaker, Kofey rapidly acquired a large following, including many Garveyites. In order to organize her followers, she established the African Universal Church (AUC) in 1927. The church placed Garvey's ideology of black nationalism within a religious framework, stressing community advancement.

On March 8, 1928, Kofey was shot and killed while addressing a group of her followers in Miami. The UNIA was suspected of the murder, but nothing was ever proven. Kofey's followers continued to maintain the AUC, and the memory of their leader. After her death, the AUC established branches in New York, Alabama, and Georgia. In more recent years the number of AUC congregations has diminished.

The details of this biographical note were primarily drawn from Newman's article.

Richard Newman received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Maryville College. He went on to study at Union Theological Seminary, Syracuse University, and Harvard University. Newman taught at Vassar College, Syracuse University, and Boston University, where he was chairman of the Department of Social Sciences. He was later Senior Editor of G.K. Hall and Co. in Boston, and Executive Editor at Garland Publishing Inc. in New York. He has been with the New York Public Library since 1981.

His essay, “Warrior 'Mother of Africa's Warriors of the Most High God': Laura Adorkor Kofey and the African Universal Church”, appeared in his book, Black Power and Black Religion: Essays and Reviews (1987). In addition, Newman has written and edited several other publications.