Entertainers Queen Ifrica, Nadine Sutherland, and Spragga Benz, along with selector Foota Hype, are among those reacting to the U.S. posthumous pardon of Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Garvey.
On Sunday, outgoing President Joe Biden granted the pardon, nearly 101 years after Garvey’s conviction for mail fraud in 1923—a case widely criticized for racial bias.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness called the move a “first step toward the total exoneration and expungement of this historical injustice.”
Queen Ifrica, in an Instagram Live, questioned the relevance of Garvey’s pardon.
Spragga Benz shared an image of Marcus Garvey, captioning it, “Well… At least one thing that I can thank this outgoing administration for.”
Foota Hype who also shared a pic of Garvey wrote, “All praises to the ancestors working overtime.”
Meanwhile, Nadine Sutherland encouraged users to flood their timelines with images of Garvey, writing, in part, “Tribers, I’m sure our hearts are still thankful after yesterday’s pardon… On one hand, I understand the call for full exoneration, but isn’t this a step towards it?”
Marcus Garvey, who inspired millions through his advocacy for the economic and social progress of black people, was one of five people pardoned by Joe Biden yesterday (Jan 19).
