Thank You, President Biden: Justice for Marcus Garvey, Long Overdue

This act of justice corrects a grave historical wrong and restores honor to one of the most visionary leaders in civil rights history.

As someone who has spent decades navigating the corridors of power and weathering politically motivated attacks, I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Joe Biden for his posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey. This act of justice corrects a grave historical wrong and restores honor to one of the most visionary leaders in civil rights history.

I began asking President Trump to pardon early civil rights leader Marcus Garvey as early as 2017. I believe President Trump would have pardoned Garvey in his new term, but Biden has acted and I am pleased with his decision.

When I was asked in 2019 if I would seek a pardon for myself amidst the baseless witch hunt orchestrated by Robert Mueller, my response was clear: “The only person I have advocated a pardon for is Marcus Garvey.” That conviction has never wavered. Today, I applaud President Biden for finally answering the call to exonerate this trailblazing Pan-Africanist and civil rights pioneer.

Garvey’s legacy is one of resilience and empowerment. Through the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), he inspired millions with his message of racial pride, economic independence, and self-determination. His vision of unity across the African diaspora, embodied by ventures like the Black Star Line and the Negro Factories Corporation, threatened the status quo so profoundly that J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI orchestrated his downfall.

Convicted of mail fraud in 1923, Garvey’s case was riddled with political motivations and systemic bias. His conviction was not just an attack on him but a calculated attempt to silence the millions who believed in his vision. While his sentence was commuted in 1927, Garvey was deported to Jamaica, where he died in 1940 without seeing his name cleared.

Since 2017, I have appealed to our nation’s leaders to right this wrong. I have written publicly and spoken privately to advocate for Garvey’s exoneration, not only because it is deserved but because it is necessary to uphold the principles of justice and fairness. Garvey’s movement, often misrepresented or diminished, was a powerful force for good. It gave Black Americans and Africans alike a sense of dignity and destiny—a message that remains as relevant today as ever.

Critics of Garvey often point to his controversial alliances or tactics, but these pale in comparison to the systemic sabotage he faced. As Professor Justin Hansford aptly stated, “He was painted as a fraudster and a con artist by those who sought to silence him.” This pardon challenges that narrative and restores Garvey’s rightful place in history.

President Biden’s decision to pardon Marcus Garvey is a monumental step forward, and I commend him for making this bold and just choice. It is a testament to the enduring power of advocacy and the importance of correcting historical injustices. Let this pardon stand as a reminder that symbols matter—that justice delayed can still be justice served.

Marcus Garvey’s story is one of courage, vision, and unyielding determination. His contributions to the fight for equality and empowerment deserve to be celebrated, not condemned. President Biden, thank you for seizing this moment to honor a man who shaped history and inspired millions.

Let this act of clemency inspire us all to continue the work of building a nation that lives up to its highest ideals.