Malcolm X Foundation Celebrates Nebraska's Most Famous Son All Weekend
Markus Dollison takes a photo at the Malcolm X Foundation on May 19, 2022. Photo credit: Kietryn Zychal, NOISE
By Kietryn Zychal
There are many famous Nebraskans, but the Malcolm X Foundation considers its namesake to be the state’s most famous son, which is one reason why they always celebrate his birthday on May 19 with a series of free public events. This year, the celebration will continue from Thursday through Sunday.
A public celebration of his birthday in Omaha began in 1968, three years after his assassination. At that time, there was a parade in his honor in North Omaha with speakers, performances, and food. JoAnna LeFlore Ejike, executive director of the foundation told a crowd at his 97th birthday luncheon today, “It’s time to bring that back around. It’s time to celebrate Malcolm X Day the way we used to.”
Events at the foundation through Sunday include a birthday luncheon, daily guided tours, a photo exhibition, a Friday night youth poetry performance, a Saturday morning youth reading circle in collaboration with the Omaha Public Library, a Saturday afternoon dance performance and drill teams and a silent auction.
Those who want to learn more about Malcolm X’s life can buy a copy of his 1965 autobiography written with Alex Haley which is still in print and has sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into many languages. Spike Lee’s 1992 movie “Malcolm X” can be viewed on numerous streaming platforms. Or, you can stop by the foundation at 3448 Evans St. to join a tour of the building and grounds by one of their trained tour guides.
a greenhouse facing east that approximates the size of the Little’s home at 3448 Pinkney St.; Head tour guide Schmeeka Grayer points to the original hand painted sign commemorating the Malcolm X birth site; A state historical marker near the site of Malcolm X’s Omaha home; the crowd at Malcolm’s 97th Birthday celebration.
The Malcolm X Foundation sits on 17 acres near the site of the house where Malcolm lived briefly when he was an infant with his parents Earl and Louise Little and his siblings. The address was 3448 Pinkney St. The family was threatened by the Klan and subsequently moved to Wisconsin. The Omaha house was torn down in the 1960s, but founder Rowena Moore made it her life’s work to commemorate the site of his birth with a historical marker in his honor, blossoming into the organization that occupies the site today. The foundation pays tribute to Moore’s lifelong commitment to preserve Malcolm X’s legacy in Omaha.
In spite of his fame and continuing influence, there is no bust of Malcolm X in Nebraska’s Hall of Fame on the second floor of the Capitol in Lincoln where 26 less-famous Nebraskans are honored. There are currently no busts of African Americans in the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
Luncheon Speakers pay tribute to Malcolm X and Amir Locke
Gus Newport, a friend of Malcolm X’s, joined the birthday luncheon via video link. He told the crowd lesser known stories of Malcolm’s efforts to gain freedom for eight Muslim men who were arrested after a raid at a mosque in Rochester, NY in the early 1960s. When his plane landed in Rochester, Malcolm X asked a crowd gathered in the airport, “Who’s Gus Newport?” because they had never met. After Newport came forward to introduce himself, Malcolm surveyed a number of reporters and white men wearing suits and ties and told Newport, “Young blood, you’ve got the best tapped telephone in America because these are all FBI here.” Newport stressed several times that Malcolm X was first and foremost focused on creating unity in the Black community. That was the inspiration behind his creating The Organization of Afro American Unity. Though Newport was living in Harlem at the time Malcolm was assassinated, he did not go to the Audubon Ballroom that day. He blamed J. Edgar Hoover for the assassination.
Bobby Seale, the founder of the Black Panther Party (BPP), also spoke via video. Malcolm was assassinated a year before the BPP was founded in 1966, but Seale said he was greatly influenced by his beliefs about self-defense. He said the BPP’s strategy of patrolling the police was legal and grew out of that philosophy. Seale said, “I had a one-man riot when he was killed.” His “riot” consisted of organizing to get Black Studies established at Merritt College in Oakland and holding rallies to ensure that Black men would not go to fight in Vietnam. Like Newport, Seale believed Malcolm’s greatest legacy was promoting unity in the Black community.
The last speaker was Karen Wells, a native of Omaha and the mother of Amir Locke who was killed nine seconds after police executed a “no-knock” warrant at an apartment in Minneapolis where her son was sleeping early in the morning. Wells is now leading the effort to ban “no-knock” warrants across the United States. She was introduced by family member Sherman Wells. He stood with her for moral support while she gave the following remarks.
Karen Wells and Sherman Wells at the Malcolm X Foundation on May 19, 2022. Photo credit: Kietryn Zychal, NOISE
“I am the mother of Amir Locke. My baby boy was 22 years old and was executed by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) on February 2, 2022 during a “no knock” warrant at the place where he was visiting and sleeping on his cousin’s couch. He was not listed or wanted on the search warrant for property. The MPD could have knocked on the door but they chose a “no knock” warrant because people of color lived in the apartment. Mayor Frey said there would be no more “no knock” warrants after the execution of Breonna Taylor, but that was a lie because my son Amir died.
As I spoke at my son’s funeral and quoted Malcolm X saying, “The chickens are coming home to roost.” I warned everyone from the chief of police to the mayor, MPD and all involved that everything they have done in that city will be revealed. The findings from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights that was released last month does not look too good for the City of Minneapolis or MPD! As his mother, I believe banning “no knock” warrants across the U.S.A. will help save the lives of African Americans first and foremost and other people of color.
In 2022 we are still fighting for equality and justice because of the color of our skin. In 1992 when the movie Malcolm X came out staring Denzel Washington I could not believe it when I found out that Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebr. I never read this in any of the text books as I was growing up. I was furious as well as my peers while learning and attending college at UNL. We felt betrayed and lied to. Malcolm X wanted equality for himself; his family and his people! Both my sons and myself always said “WE ARE MALCOLM” and his quote “By any means necessary” let us know that we were warriors! We believe in bringing back our communities and villages to raise a child and saving the youth! We should not have to bury our sons and daughters in order to bring change. My son Amir created a blueprint and created an LLC called “Saving the Youth.” As his mother I am going to make sure it is completed. I will continue to be his voice because his life was stolen when he was just “Becoming!”
We are no longer going to vote for the lesser of the two evils and for those that look like us but don’t care or represent us. In order to grow a flower you must plant the seed and dig your fingers into the soil. To those of you that think you know what’s best for those that vote you in— make sure you visit and are active in the communities and only then can you wash the soil off your hands! I am Malcolm. Wrong son— right mother!”
Malcolm X Foundation Birthday Celebration May 19 - 22, 2022
Thursday, May 19
5 - 8 p.m. - Remember the Legacy Photo Exhibition Opening - Rare images from the Omaha Star archives. Silent auction for local artist’s works.
Friday, May 20
12 - 5 p.m. - Guided educational tours (30 min.), art and photography exhibit
6 - 8:30 p.m. - Freestyle Friday: Youth poetry performance
Saturday, May 21st
10:30 - 11 a.m. - Omaha Public Library youth reading circle
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Guided educational tours (30 min.), art and photography exhibit
2 - 5 p.m. - Dance group performances by both youth and adult drill teams -- Witness drill team groups from North Omaha dance in reflection of the historic Malcolm X Day parade celebrated since 1968. Free to attend. Weather permitting, all performances will be outdoors in the plaza area.
Sunday, May 22nd
12 - 5 p.m. - Guided educational tours (30 min.), art and photography exhibit, silent auction ends.
