Arnold Josiah Ford
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Arnold Josiah Ford (23 April 1877 – 16 September 1935) was the first black rabbi in America, and a prominent member of Harlem
's Black Jews.
Ford was born in Barbados
to Edward Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Augustine Ford. He grew up to became a musician in the Royal Navy
before settling in the United States
.
Talented as a linguist, poet, musician and composer of many Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
(UNIA) songs, Ford co-authored The Universal Ethiopian Anthem with Benjamin E. Burrell. Ford officially functioned as director of UNIA Band, Orchestra, Band of the African Legion, and the Liberty Hall
Choir. He published the Universal Ethiopian Hymnal in 1920.
In 1930 he and a small group of Black Jews went to Ethiopia
where they participated in the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie, created a school, and acquired 800 acres (323.7 ha) of land for the purpose of uniting Black Jews of the Diaspora with their brothers already in Ethiopia. He died there in 1935.
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
's Black Jews.
Ford was born in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
to Edward Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Augustine Ford. He grew up to became a musician in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
before settling in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Talented as a linguist, poet, musician and composer of many Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League
The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League is a black nationalist fraternal organization founded by Marcus Garvey. The organization enjoyed its greatest strength in the 1990s, prior to Garvey's deportation from the United States of America, after which its...
(UNIA) songs, Ford co-authored The Universal Ethiopian Anthem with Benjamin E. Burrell. Ford officially functioned as director of UNIA Band, Orchestra, Band of the African Legion, and the Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall , in Dublin, Ireland is the headquarters of the Services, Industrial, Professional, and Technical Union...
Choir. He published the Universal Ethiopian Hymnal in 1920.
In 1930 he and a small group of Black Jews went to Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
where they participated in the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie, created a school, and acquired 800 acres (323.7 ha) of land for the purpose of uniting Black Jews of the Diaspora with their brothers already in Ethiopia. He died there in 1935.