Civil rights advocates and lawmakers have long said that Mr. Garvey’s 1923 conviction for mail fraud was unjust, arguing that he was targeted for his work.

President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr., a civil rights leader, as part of his commitment to building a more inclusive America and correcting historical injustices.

Over the centuries, the fight for racial equality has produced many interesting characters and just as many contentious perspectives. One of the most contentious figures was Marcus Garvey, who, unlike many others who fought for equality,