Marcus Garvey, the pioneering leader of the Pan-African movement and Jamaica’s first national hero, received a posthumous pardon from U.S. President Joe Biden on January 19, 2025. The pardon, achieved through decades of advocacy and the successful lobbying of the Congressional Black Caucus, is just the start of righting a historical wrong in an effort to restore Garvey’s legacy and reaffirm his enduring influence on global Black liberation.
To fully appreciate this moment, it is essential to revisit Garvey’s movement, the turbulent political climate of the 1920s, the challenges Garvey faced from his critics and the U.S. government, and the legacy he left for future generations of Black leaders.
The Visionary Behind Black Liberation
Born in Jamaica in 1887, the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey was the first to create a movement dedicated solely to the liberation and empowerment of Black people on a global scale. As the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Garvey sought to unite people of African descent worldwide, promoting economic independence, cultural pride, and the vision of a self-sustaining Black nation. His Pan-Africanist ideals resonated deeply, especially among African Americans living under the harsh realities of Jim Crow segregation.
The UNIA’s ambitious initiatives, including the Black Star Line shipping company, symbolised Garvey’s call for Black economic self-sufficiency and the eventual repatriation to Africa. His bold vision inspired millions and later influenced iconic figures like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Garvey’s movement was a foundation upon which future Black nationalist and civil rights movements would be built.
The Political Mood of the 1920s
The United States in the 1920s was rife with racial tension. The Ku Klux Klan experienced a resurgence, and Jim Crow laws perpetuated systemic discrimination against African Americans. In this hostile environment, Marcus Garvey emerged as a powerful advocate for Black pride, economic self-sufficiency, and unity.
Garvey’s message challenged the entrenched racial order, alarming both white authorities and conservative Black leaders. His call for a return to Africa and the creation of a self-sustaining Black nation offered a radical alternative to the prevailing strategies of assimilation and integration championed by figures like W.E.B. Du Bois who headed the NAACP was openly critical of Garvey’s separatist approach, which he deemed impractical. He opposed the Back-to-Africa movement, viewing it as counterproductive to the progress of African Americans in the United States.
Opposition from Black Leaders and the “Garvey Must Go” Campaign
Du Bois and labour leader A. Philip Randolph, spearheaded the “Garvey Must Go” campaign, which sought to discredit his leadership and dismantle his movement. They criticised his financial management of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and projects like the Black Star Line, accusing him of exploiting the hopes of African Americans.
On January 15, 1923, eight prominent African Americans sent a petition to U.S. Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty, urging the government to continue prosecuting Marcus Garvey for mail fraud. They also requested an investigation into violent incidents linked to Garvey’s followers.
This internal opposition aligned with a broader campaign by the U.S. government to silence Garvey. J. Edgar Hoover, then an ambitious agent in the Bureau of Investigation (later the FBI), viewed Garvey as a dangerous radical and made him one of the first Black leaders to be targeted by federal surveillance. Hoover’s efforts culminated in Garvey’s arrest in 1922 on charges of mail fraud related to the Black Star Line.
A Controversial Arrest, Trial, and Conviction
In 1922, Garvey was arrested for allegedly distributing misleading promotional materials to sell stock in the Black Star Line. Prosecutors alleged that he had deceived investors by distributing brochures showing a ship the company did not own. Despite mounting a spirited defence, Garvey was convicted in 1923 and sentenced to five years in prison.
The trial was seen by many as politically motivated, designed to dismantle the UNIA and neutralise Garvey’s influence. After serving two years of his sentence, his term was commuted by President Calvin Coolidge, and Garvey was deported to Jamaica in 1927. The damage to his movement, however, was irreparable. However, his incarceration had already fractured the UNIA, and his vision for a unified global Black movement was left unfulfilled.
The Long Road to Justice
Efforts to clear Garvey’s name began almost immediately after his deportation but gained significant traction in recent decades. Advocates argued that his conviction was less about criminal wrongdoing and more about silencing a leader who dared to challenge the racial and political status quo. In the decades following Garvey’s deportation to Jamaica in 1927, petitions for his exoneration gained momentum but repeatedly failed to gain traction.
It was the Congressional Black Caucus, however, that finally succeeded in bringing Garvey’s case to the forefront. Citing the political motivations behind his conviction, the Caucus presented a compelling case to President Biden, emphasising Garvey’s pivotal role in laying the groundwork for the civil rights movement.
Garvey’s Enduring Legacy
Marcus Garvey’s influence has reverberated through generations, leaders like Malcolm X credited Garvey’s teachings as a foundation for their own philosophies. The Black Panther Party, with its emphasis on self-determination and community empowerment, drew heavily from Garvey’s ideals. Even Martin Luther King Jr., though an integrationist, acknowledged Garvey’s importance, stating, “He was the first man, on a mass scale, to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny.”
Garvey’s Pan-Africanist vision also inspired movements for decolonisation across Africa, influencing leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya. His ideas remain central to discussions on racial equality and economic justice, serving as a beacon for marginalised communities worldwide.
A Victory for Truth
The posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey is a landmark moment in the fight to address historical wrongs. Coming 102 years after his conviction and 85 years after his death, it serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of Garvey’s vision and the enduring struggle for justice.
Garvey’s pioneering work as a Pan-Africanist and leader of the global Black liberation movement remains a testament to the transformative power of courage and conviction. His life and legacy continue to inspire those who dare to imagine a more equitable and united world.
