Outgoing US President Joe Biden’s decision to posthumously pardon the influential black nationalist Marcus Garvey has received enthusiastic approval from Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

In a Facebook post, PM Browne expressed his confusion upon hearing about Hunter Biden’s pardon, especially in light of Marcus Garvey’s circumstances. He emphasized that Garvey was unjustly incarcerated in the United States for his efforts to empower and unite the Black community.

“Several CARICOM leaders, myself included, reached out to President Biden advocating for this pardon. We are pleased that he has taken action and granted it. Hats off to President Biden and his team,” he stated.

The announcement of Garvey’s pardon broke on Sunday, highlighting his significant contributions to promoting black pride and entrepreneurship during the 1920s. He founded the Black Star Line (1919−1922), a shipping company established to facilitate the transportation of goods and African Americans within the global economy.

President Biden’s posthumous pardon reflects a growing recognition of Garvey, who inspired figures like Malcolm X and other civil rights activists. His conviction for mail fraud in the 1920s is viewed by many as politically charged, aimed at stifling his rising influence as a proponent of racial pride. Following his conviction, Garvey was deported to Jamaica, where he was born, and he passed away in 1940.

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledged Garvey’s profound impact, stating he was the first to instill a sense of dignity and destiny in millions of Black people on a significant scale.