21/01/2025
Joe Biden Pardons Marcus Garvey: A Step Towards Justice and Recognition
In a historic and commendable move, President Joe Biden used his final full day in office to grant a posthumous pardon to Marcus Mosiah Garvey. This act corrects a long-standing injustice against a visionary leader whose legacy continues to inspire the world.
Marcus Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and a fierce advocate for Black pride, unity, and self-determination, was wrongfully convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s. Though his sentence was commuted in 1927, this pardon is a formal acknowledgment of his invaluable contributions and the unjust nature of his conviction.
A hundred years ago, in the jail cell in an Atlanta prison where he served nearly three years of a five year sentence for mail fraud, Marcus Garvey penned these words: “After my enemies are satisfied, in life or death I shall come back to you to serve even as I have served before. In life I shall be the same; in death I shall be a terror to the foes of Ne_gro Liberty.”
He continued, “If I die in Atlanta my work shall live, in the physical or spiritual to see the day of Africa’s glory… Look to me in the whirlwind or the storm, look for me all around you, for, with God’s grace I shall come and bring with me countless millions of black slaves who have died in America and the West Indies and the millions in Africa to aid you in the fight for liberty, freedom and life.”
The charges brought against Garvey were weak, but they were enough in Jim Crow America. Though the case was, arguably, tainted — from the judge to a key witness — Garvey was found guilty, served time, and was ultimately deported. However much the state damaged his reputation was, however much the charge shook the movement, AND despite Baggawire’s betrayal, Garvey’s message was already planted.
Look to the whirlwind!
Garvey’s vision laid the groundwork for Pan-Africanism, sparking a global movement that continues to resonate with African and diaspora communities. His teachings remain a beacon of hope for liberation, empowerment, and the reclamation of African identity.
To Africans and Leaders Across the Continent:
What are we waiting for? The time has come to honor this giant in our history.
• We need a subject in schools dedicated to Marcus Garvey to teach our children about his life, philosophy, and impact.
• We need Marcus Garvey Day to celebrate his achievements and keep his vision alive in the hearts of generations to come.
Let us embrace this opportunity to reclaim and honor our heroes. Marcus Garvey once said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Let us ensure our roots run deep by recognizing the significance of his legacy.
Thank you, President Joe Biden, for this powerful statement of justice. It is a reminder that the world must continue to acknowledge and honor those who fought for freedom and dignity.
