As the New Year begins, let us be among the first to salute Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) on his centennial birthday. He was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska to Earl and Louise Little. There is sure to be a raft of celebrations for the esteemed leader, who was brutally slain on February 21, 1965 in Washington Heights at the Audubon Ballroom, now renamed the Shabazz Center. We were part of the tributes to Max Roach and James Baldwin last year during their widespread centennial events, and Malcolm’s moments will be equally remarkable, if not exceeding his distinguished colleagues.
Last year, there were a number of memorials for Malcolm, including a splendid gathering in Omaha on 3448 Pinkney Street, where a campus has been built. There are also connections in Michigan where Malcolm lived in his early years, particularly Mason and East Lansing. We can expect a massive turnout to honor his legacy in Detroit where he delivered some of his most memorable speeches and where he began his relationship with Elijah Muhammad. And we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if people assemble in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where Malcolm spent precious time with his half-sister Ella Collins.
Baldwin was hailed in France and Roach had a moving feast of shout outs across the nation. According to a wee bit of gossip, Malcolm will be remembered in Ghana and Nigeria, and possibly Cairo, Egypt — countries that opened their doors to him during his magnificent tour in 1964.
Films, books, concerts, and symposia are already in the planning stages for him, and museums and libraries will roll out their collections of memorabilia, showcasing his impact on social and political developments.
We feel it’s never too soon to start the ball rolling for Malcolm, and in fact, we shouldn’t have to wait for the calendar to remind us of his importance, the enduring lessons he distilled in his speeches and his autobiography.
In advance of all the fanfare and hoopla, Happy Birthday, Malcolm, and our pages will try to cover each and every occasion where you are honored and celebrated.