Justice for Garvey: America must correct a historic wrong

The posthumous pardon of Marcus Mosiah Garvey by former US President Joe Biden is a historic moment, but it is far from enough. While the pardon is a welcome acknowledgement of the injustices Garvey faced, it does not erase the stain of his wrongful conviction, which continues to tarnish his legacy. The time has come for the United States to go beyond symbolic gestures and fully exonerate Garvey, restoring his name to its rightful place in history.

Garvey’s conviction for mail fraud in 1923 was not merely a miscarriage of justice; it was a politically motivated attack designed to dismantle a revolutionary movement. A Jamaican national and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Garvey was targeted deliberately to silence a man whose message of Black pride, economic empowerment, and self-determination resonated with millions.

As the late Martin Luther King Jr. aptly observed, Garvey was the first leader on a mass scale to give Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny.” His courage in an era of rampant racial oppression laid the foundation for future civil rights leaders, including King and Malcolm X.

Garvey’s vision of a unified and empowered Black diaspora was groundbreaking. At a time when systemic racism sought to marginalise Black people, Garvey inspired millions to recognise their inherent worth and strive for economic and social independence. His movement — the largest of its kind in the early 20th century — promoted entrepreneurship, education, and the idea of returning to Africa to build a future free from oppression.

It is no coincidence that Garvey’s ideals heavily influenced the American civil rights movement, the anti-colonial struggles in Africa, and the broader Pan-African movement. His legacy is interwoven with the global fight for Black liberation.

Yet, the United States sought to destroy him. Historians and legal experts have acknowledged that the case against him was riddled with inconsistencies and fabrications. After serving two years of a five-year sentence, Garvey’s punishment was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge—not as an act of justice, but to deport him and dismantle his movement. This calculated act of humiliation underscored the extent to which the government sought to suppress Black empowerment.

President Biden’s pardon is commendable and reflects the tireless advocacy of many, including Jamaican leaders, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and countless others who have fought for Garvey’s vindication. In an article in the Jamaica Gleaner, Prime Minister Andrew Holness rightly described the pardon as a “first step” in addressing a historical wrong.

However, a pardon is not an exoneration. It acknowledges Garvey’s conviction without fully admitting the travesty of justice it represents. It falls short of the formal acknowledgement needed to correct this grave historical injustice.

Garvey’s contributions to Black empowerment and civil rights are immeasurable. His courage and foresight in the face of systemic oppression continue to inspire. As Malcolm X once noted, Garvey’s philosophy laid the foundation for many civil rights movements. His work remains a blueprint for addressing ongoing racial inequality and systemic oppression.

Fully exonerating Garvey is not just about righting past wrongs. It would serve as a powerful acknowledgement of the systemic efforts to undermine Black leadership and reaffirm the principles of justice and equality that America claims to uphold.

Jamaica has already taken steps to vindicate Garvey’s legacy, passing legislation in 2018 to expunge his conviction for contempt of court. This act of national pride underscores the global importance of Garvey’s work and the principles he championed. The United States must follow suit. A pardon is insufficient. The stain of this conviction must be entirely removed.

Marcus Garvey’s name deserves to be celebrated, free from the falsehoods of a politically motivated prosecution. His ideas, leadership, and legacy have inspired generations. The demand for his exoneration is not only a call for justice for a man long passed; it is a call for justice for a people whose dignity and destiny he championed.

America, the world is watching. It is time to do what is right.