Posts tagged with "marcus garvey"

Rewriting History: Biden Pardons Pan-Africanist Pioneer Marcus Garvey

In a landmark decision, President Biden issued a posthumous pardon for Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s first National Hero and a towering figure in Pan-Africanism. This pardon, 101 years after Garvey’s 1923 conviction for mail fraud, marks a significant moment in American history, addressing a long-criticized case fraught with racial and political overtones.

Need to Know:

  • The Pardon: President Biden has officially pardoned Marcus Garvey, exonerating him from a 1923 mail fraud conviction.
  • The Conviction: Garvey’s conviction has long been viewed as a racially motivated attempt to discredit and silence a powerful civil rights leader.
  • The Advocacy: This pardon follows sustained advocacy from numerous US lawmakers and legislators, including Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  • The Legacy: Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), championed the economic and social progress of Black people globally and inspired figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Correction of Historical Injustice: The pardon represents a formal acknowledgment of the injustice of Garvey’s conviction and a step towards rectifying a historical wrong.
  • Recognition of Garvey’s Influence: It underscores Garvey’s immense influence on the civil rights movement and his global impact on Black liberation and empowerment.
  • The Power of Advocacy: This outcome demonstrates the power of persistent advocacy from lawmakers and civil rights groups in achieving social and historical change.
  • A Renewed Focus on Racial Justice: This event brings renewed attention to the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality in America.

Implications for American Culture, History, and Society:

  • A Shift in Historical Narrative: The pardon challenges traditional historical narratives that have marginalized or demonized Garvey, integrating him more fully into the narrative of American civil rights history.
  • Cultural Reassessment: This event may prompt a broader reassessment of Garvey’s contributions to American culture and his impact on Black identity and consciousness.
  • Societal Reflection: The pardon encourages a societal reflection on the historical and contemporary manifestations of racial bias and the importance of addressing systemic injustice.
  • Inspiring Future Generations: By recognizing Garvey’s legacy, this action inspires future generations to fight for justice and equality, honoring the sacrifices and contributions of those who have paved the way.

This posthumous pardon is more than just a legal act; it’s a powerful statement about America’s evolving understanding of its history and a renewed commitment to the pursuit of justice for all. It’s a moment of reflection, a celebration of a remarkable legacy, and a call to continue the fight for a more just and equitable society.

marcus garvey_quote-epa front page feature

POTUS, The Time Is NOW To Exonerate Marcus Garvey

BY JEANETTE LENOIR

Dr. Julius Garvey made another plea for the exoneration of his father, The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He says the push to clear his father’s name has been ignored during every administration since the exoneration movement started in the 1970s, including by the Obama administration when he thought they had a good chance to restore his father’s record and good name in Congress with help from the Congressional Black Caucus. Now, in his sunset years, the last living son of Marcus Garvey, a civil rights icon, staunch pan Africanist and Black freedom legend, is determined as ever to see this exoneration movement through.

“Can we do it? We can do it. We shall do it!” his father once exclaimed to galvanize Black people all over the world to work for their own freedom and self-determination. “Any leadership that teaches you to depend upon another race, is a leadership that will enslave you.” – Marcus Garvey 

This Black History Month, let us rededicate our efforts to request an official response from the White House and President Biden for a posthumous exoneration of the Rt. Honorable Marcus Garvey for his unjust persecution and imprisonment by the U.S. government in 1923.

As time goes by, will President Biden and his administration finally hear the call to exonerate Marcus Garvey?

Please join the movement and help exonerate Marcus Garvey: justice4garvey.org

“God and nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and eternity our measurement.” Marcus Garvey

black history month with dr. julius garvey

Dr. Julius Garvey: The Philosophy & Opinions Of Marcus Garvey

BY JEANETTE LENOIR

dr. julius garvey live talk & book signingAs part of Black History Month, Sankofa Café, celebrating its 25th year of serving up books, knowledge, speakers and just about anything you can get in a Café, served up another incredible event: Dr. Julius Garvey LIVE, Talk & Book Signing.

Dr. Garvey discussed his new book: The Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey, and he also answered questions from the audience who joined the highly anticipated event. Many stood for hours to hear the son of The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, (UNIA) to achieve Black Nationalism through the celebration of African history and culture. Garvey was also a leader of Pan-Africanism, a movement to unite all Black people.

The event was organized by Woodson, Banneker, Jackson Bey Division 330 – UNIA-ACL, RC2020 and the African Diaspora Ancestral Commemoration Insitute, (ADACI). The event also featured the following leaders and speakers:  Iya Motilewa, Nkechi Taifa, Aza Zhenga and Baba Mosi Matsimeta.

Sankofa Video Books & Café is located at 2714 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Join their mailing list to stay updated on future events aimed at empowering the Black community and all those who wish to participate in its Black empowerment and culture movement.

Dr. Julius Garvey Speaks at Sankofa: