Exonerate Marcus Garvey?

President Calvin Coolidge granted Marcus Mosiah Garvey a pardon in November 1927 and he died in 1940 in London, England. But, Steven Golding, president of the Kingston division of the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), founded by Garvey, does not think the US will be quick to exonerate our national hero.

"Questions could be raised about compensation since five persons were tried in the case against Garvey, four were acquitted and he was imprisoned, but I don't think a president can exonerate him," Golding said. He noted that when the motion to have Garvey exonerated was first brought to the US Congress, the argument was made that priority for exoneration should be given to living persons.

Additionally, at the time of his deportation, Garvey's papers for US citizenship were still being processed. Garvey's reputation was irreparably damaged and to date, his name has not been fully restored to a position of honour.

golden jubilee

Jeffrey Coopersmith, a noted attorney who heads Coopersmith Health Law Group, is just one of the growing number of Americans who are on a path to having Garvey absolved in the United States of America. And, as he recently told Outlook, it would be wonderful if this were to coincide with Jamaica's celebration of its golden jubilee next year.

"I am an avid collector of all sorts of historical material about Garvey, I have studied him, read his works and followed his development and the work of the UNIA," Coopersmith said of the man whose life he describes as fascinating.

He said what happened to Garvey is a shame and it's a wrong that should be made right. To that end, he is also working with an eminent film-maker to have Garvey's story told and hopes he will achieve his ultimate goal.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com