On his final day in office, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a historic posthumous pardon for Jamaican National Hero Marcus Garvey, closing a chapter that has sparked debate for over a century. Garvey, a trailblazing activist and advocate for racial pride and economic independence, was convicted of mail fraud in 1922 in connection with the sale of stock for his Black Star Line steamship company. His sentence was later commuted in 1927 by President Calvin Coolidge, and Garvey was deported to Jamaica. He passed away in 1940.
Garvey’s journey as a leader began in 1914 when he co-founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica. He migrated to the United States in 1916, where he expanded the UNIA, establishing branches in Harlem and across northern cities with significant Black populations. Through his organization, Garvey championed African history and culture, promoting racial pride and economic empowerment. His vision of a “Back-to-Africa” movement aimed to inspire descendants of formerly enslaved Africans to reconnect with their ancestral roots.
Garvey’s Negro World newspaper celebrated Black heroes and African culture, emphasizing the importance of economic strength within a global framework. However, his rising popularity and revolutionary ideas made him a target. Many argue that his conviction was politically motivated, intended to suppress his influence as he mobilized millions to embrace racial pride and economic self-reliance.
The pardon was the result of decades of tireless advocacy by legal teams, historians, and supporters. Congressional leaders and volunteers worked to secure signatures, review trial records, and appeal to multiple U.S. presidents, highlighting the injustice of his conviction. The posthumous pardon issued on January 19 stands as a significant acknowledgment of Garvey’s lasting legacy and his contributions to the global fight for Black empowerment.
