World
Marks Anniversary of Assassination of Malcolm X
Havana,
Feb 21, (RHC).-
The world is marking another anniversary of the
assassination of Malcolm X - a revolutionary
fighter for the rights of African-Americans and
promoter of radical social change. On February
21, 1965 - 44 years ago - Malcolm X was gunned
down while giving a speech in New York City.
Converting to the Muslim
religion while serving time in prison, Malcolm X
became a prominent minister in the Nation of
Islam and a strong advocate for revolutionary
change. In 1964, he announced that he would
organize a Black nationalist organization that
would try to "heighten the political
consciousness" of African-Americans.
On February 21, 1965, in
Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm X began to
speak to a meeting of the Organization of Afro-American
Unity when a disturbance broke out in the crowd.
As Malcolm and his bodyguards moved to quiet the
disturbance, a man rushed forward and shot
Malcolm X in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun.
Two other men charged the stage and fired
handguns, hitting him 16 times. Angry onlookers
caught and beat one of the assassins as the
others fled the ballroom. Malcolm X was
pronounced dead shortly after he arrived at
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
The number of mourners who
came to the public viewing in Harlem's Unity
Funeral Home from February 23rd through February
26th was estimated to be in the tens of
thousands. The funeral of Malcolm X was held on
February 27, 1965 in Harlem. The church was
filled to capacity and loudspeakers were set up
outside so the overflow crowd could listen and a
local television station broadcast the funeral
live.
In the late 1960s,
as Black activists became more radical, Malcolm
X and his teachings were part of the foundation
on which they built their movements. The Black
Power movement, the Black Arts Movement,and the
widespread adoption of the slogan "Black is
Beautiful" can all trace their roots to Malcolm
X.
