Hon. Marcus Garvey: Celebrating His Legacy, Wisdom, and the Impact of a Long‑Awaited Pardon

By: Pearl Phillip

August 17, 2025, marks the 138th anniversary of the birth of Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr., the Jamaican political activist, Black nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and founding father of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Born on August 17, 1887, in Saint Ann’s Bay, Garvey’s vision for unity, empowerment, and self-determination among people of African descent continues to resonate globally, transcending borders and inspiring diverse movements. This year, his birthday is especially poignant, following President Joe Biden’s posthumous pardon issued in January 2025—a symbolic and long-overdue acknowledgment of historic injustice.

A Life of Purpose, Conviction, and Controversy

Garvey’s rise was rooted in his Jamaican upbringing and early experience in print and trade unionism. He founded the UNIA in 1914, advocating Black pride and economic independence, coining the maxim to “take the kinks out of your mind, instead of out of your hair.” In 1919, he launched the Black Star Line to link the African diaspora through shipping and migration, and the Negro World newspaper, channels that empowered millions.

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Yet Garvey’s ideals were polarizing. His black separatist views, Pan-African ambitions, and controversial alliances—including with white supremacists—drew sharp criticism from figures like W.E.B. Du Bois, who preferred integrationist strategies. Convicted of mail fraud in 1923—charges widely believed to have been politically motivated—Garvey was imprisoned and later deported to Jamaica after his sentence was commuted. Despite these setbacks, his spirit, undeterred, continued advocating until his death in London in 1940.

Words of Wisdom That Endure

Garvey’s rhetoric was bold and unapologetic. His speeches and writings emphasized dignity, pride, and self-reliance. A few of his enduring maxims include:

• “If the white man has the idea of a white God, let him worship his God as he desires… we shall worship Him through the spectacles of Ethiopia.”
• “Take the kinks out of your mind, instead of out of your hair.”
• A rallying call for “a United Africa for the Africans of the World,” a prescient Pan-African vision that would influence future civil rights and decolonization movements.

These messages of psychological liberation, unity, and cultural affirmation have inspired diverse movements—ranging from Rastafarianism and the Nation of Islam to later icons like Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, and the Black Power Movement.

Significance of the 2025 Pardon

On January 19, 2025, President Joe Biden granted Marcus Garvey a full posthumous pardon—a capstone to a century-long campaign championed by Garvey’s descendants, historians, civil rights advocates, and congressional leaders like Rep. Yvette Clarke. The pardon addressed Garvey’s 1923 mail fraud conviction, a decision that many viewed as politically motivated and intended to silence his rising influence. This significant act of restorative justice was hailed by supporters as a vindication and a small measure of justice for a leader who fought tirelessly for Black empowerment.

Legal and historical observers expressed elation, describing the pardon as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Garvey’s contributions and the injustice he endured. Through this act, the Biden administration offered not only a symbolic redemption but also a reaffirmation of Garvey’s rightful place in American and global history as a visionary whose ideas transcended borders.

Legacy in the Present Day

Garvey’s legacy is multifaceted and alive:

• In Jamaica, August 17 is a national holiday—Marcus Garvey Day—celebrating his birth and principled legacy.
• His influence is evident in Ghana’s national symbolism: Kwame Nkrumah, inspired by Garvey, adopted the Black Star symbol, echoing the UNIA’s Black Star Line.
• Movements across Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S.—from Pan-Africanist campaigns to cultural revitalization efforts—draw from Garvey’s insistence on unity and economic self-determination.

A Reminder

As the world reflects on Marcus Garvey’s 138th birthday, we are reminded of a man whose assertive message reshaped identities: “You are somebody.” Though once vilified and silenced, his convictions now echo even more powerfully. The 2025 posthumous pardon stands as an act of restorative justice, signifying recognition of Garvey’s true legacy. It invites us, as a society, to re-evaluate narratives of justice, leadership, and historical memory.

Today—and every August 17—we honor not just the memory of Marcus Garvey, but the enduring relevance of his wisdom: embrace your heritage, command your destiny, and build the world you deserve.

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