Bankole’s Nation Episode 16: Dr. Julius Garvey on Biden’s Posthumous Pardon, Black History Month, and the War on DEI

In his final days in office, President Joe Biden granted a posthumous pardon to Marcus Mosiah Garvey, often regarded as the father of the 20th-century Black freedom movement and a key inspiration behind the Harlem Renaissance. Garvey was convicted of mail fraud in 1923 in what many legal experts believe was a politically motivated trial. He was later deported to his native Jamaica.

Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, which grew to five million members across 40 nations by 1921. He also established the Black Star Line, a shipping company symbolizing Black economic independence.

Dr. Julius Garvey, his 91-year-old son and a distinguished surgeon and professor, has led a campaign to clear his father’s name and secure a pardon for years.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Garvey reflects on President Biden’s decision and its significance as Marcus Garvey’s last surviving son. He also discusses the contributions of key advocates, including the late Congressman John Conyers of Detroit. He explains why the White House highlighted Garvey’s influence on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Additionally, Dr. Garvey shares insights on the growing importance of Black history amid opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and what DEI’s future holds for the Black community. He also responds to a recent Harvard Crimson report revealing that Harvard University has laid off the staff of its Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program, outsourcing its responsibilities to a nonprofit in Massachusetts.