Diaspora hails long-overdue pardon for Marcus Garvey

Community leaders, elected officials, members of the Jamaican diplomatic corps, and organisations in the United States (US) and Canada, have reacted with joy and delight at US President Joe Biden’s granting of a posthumous pardon to Jamaica’s first national hero, Marcus Garvey.

The decision to grant clemency by Biden was announced in a statement issued by the White House yesterday morning, his final full day in office and following weeks of suspense and anticipation.

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks said Jamaicans were grateful for Garvey’s pardon.

“This pardon is a culmination of years of diplomatic interventions by the Government of Jamaica and activism by members of the Jamaican diaspora,” she said.

Marks said the posthumous pardon was a vital step toward Garvey’s full exoneration.

The ambassador extended special mention to members of the diaspora, particularly Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, for their unrelenting fight to secure the outcome and said Garvey’s enduring legacy of freedom and justice had been honoured.

Alsion Wilson, Jamaica’s consul general in New York, said Biden’s decision was a monumental step in rectifying a grave historical injustice. She said Garvey’s legacy as a global advocate for black pride, economic empowerment, and self-determination has inspired generations, and that the president’s action reaffirms the righteousness of his cause.

“On behalf of the Jamaican community, I extend heartfelt congratulations to all the individuals and organisations who have tirelessly championed this cause over the years. Their unwavering dedication has culminated in a well-deserved vindication of Garvey’s name and ideals,” Wilson said. “This is a victory not only for Jamaicans, but for all people around the world who have been influenced by Garvey’s vision of unity, progress, and uplifting. Today, we celebrate a long-overdue recognition of a leader whose contributions continue to shape our collective aspirations for justice and equality.”

A very special moment

Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s consul general in Miami, Florida, in welcoming the decision, said it was a very special moment not only for Jamaicans but black people everywhere.

“This is a moment that we have waited for for decades and it has now come to pass,” he said.

Clarke, who represents Brooklyn, New York in Congress and is of Jamaican parentage, has been in the forefront of the struggle to have Garvey pardoned. She described the clemency granted by Biden as a significant step towards victory, but noted that the fight for equity and justice goes on.

“As we approach our nation’s observance of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Day, I’m extraordinarily grateful for President Biden’s action today to posthumously grant clemency to a true national hero of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Marcus Garvey. Garvey was a Jamaican-born pan-Africanist leader who led one of the earliest black civil rights movements in the Americas, founded one of America’s first black-owned shipping companies in the Black Star Line, and established a legacy that has persisted to this day,” she said.

“His advocacy for civil rights and the economic advancement of the black community built the foundation of our modern civil rights movement and influenced many of our civil rights leaders, including Dr King, who described Garvey as ‘the first on a mass scale and level to ... make the Negro feel he was somebody … the first man of colour in the history of the United States to lead and develop a mass movement”.

Nzinga Garvey, granddaughter of Marcus Garvey, said his conviction was not only a miscarriage of justice but a reminder of how overreach of power can be weaponised to silence the voices of fairness, equity and accountability.

“This posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey is about more than his name. It is about reclaiming the soul of a nation that believes in fairness over fear, in dignity over division, in righting the wrongs of history so we can face the future with integrity. Let us prove that we are a nation not afraid to confront our past, because we believe so deeply in building a better future – for every one of us. My grandfather’s conviction was not only a miscarriage of justice but a reminder of how the overreach of power can be weaponised to silence the voices that seek fairness, equity and accountability. Marcus Garvey’s life was dedicated to uplifting humanity, urging us all to embrace a vision of justice that is larger than any single race or nation. His wrongful conviction is not just a story of the past, it is a reflection of the work that remains before us. It underscores the deep need for a justice system that protects, not prosecutes, those who dare to inspire and empower,” she said.

Ambassador Curtis Ward said Biden’s granting of a pardon serves to remove the stain of injustice that he suffered almost a century ago.

“President Biden must be commended for doing the right thing. This action by the president on his final full day in office will be a lasting legacy of his presidency. Thank you Joe Biden,” Ward said.

Una Clarke, former New York City council member, and a Garveyite, said it was a glorious and happy day not only for Jamaicans but for black people in general.

She said all that Garvey did was for the uplifting of black people, not only in the US but around the world.

“I thank President Biden for understanding the significance of Garvey. Garvey’s name will now be cleared,” said the former councilwoman, who is also the mother of Yvette Clarke.

‘A monumental milestone’

Dr Karren Dunkley, former Northeast Global Diaspora Council member and also a Garveyite, hailed the decision as a monumental milestone in the global pursuit of justice and the enduring legacy of one of the greatest visionaries of the 20th century.

“As a proud Garveyite, I join with millions worldwide to celebrate this long-overdue vindication of a man who dedicated his life to empowering and uplifting people of African descent.

“For Jamaicans, this pardon reaffirms the global significance of our national hero. It reminds us that Garvey’s teachings of dignity, self-respect, and collective action remain as vital today as they were a century ago. His life’s work was not only for Jamaica or the African diaspora but for the liberation of all oppressed people,” she said.

Irwine Clair, community activist and head of Team Jamaica Bickle, said clemency was a step into the right direction.

“People are elated by this news as the president heard and heeded the call to set the record on Marcus Garvey straight,” he said.

Clare added that Biden’s action shows what can be achieved when people stand together in the struggle for justice and freedom.

In the meantime, the Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) welcomed what it described as a historic announcement.

“Today, we stand with the global Jamaican and African diaspora communities in acknowledging this moment of justice,” said David Betty, president of the JCA. “This pardon not only clears Marcus Garvey’s name, but also shines a light on the systemic barriers he confronted as a pioneer for black empowerment. It is a testament to the resilience of his vision, which remains as relevant today as it was a century ago.”

The JCA said it recognised that the pardon was a significant milestone, but note it was also a call to action as “the structural inequities Garvey sought to dismantle persist in many forms, and it is our collective responsibility to continue his mission”.

Added the JCA, “This moment reaffirms our commitment to fostering racial equality, promoting education, and advocating for social justice.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com