Malcolm X’s 86th Birthday Mmhmm, I know. Yesterday was his birthday, the 19th. Today’s the 20th. Sadly by the time I realized that yesterday was Malcolm’s birthday, it was too late to do a post. Instead I decided to postpone it to today, because regardless…Malcolm is worth it. It’s amazing how controversial Malcolm X remains, even today, 46 years after he was gunned down by members of the Nation of Islam just three months before his 40th birthday. Case in point: there was no Google Doodle to commemorate his birthday yesterday, although Google makes sure to craft a doodle for Martin Luther King, Jr. day every single year. But it’s not my goal to get into the age old Malcolm v. Martin debate. (Although I have done that on this blog before). Both have their places in history. malcolm during his pilgrammage How controversial Malcolm is directly reflects how relevant he’s been to the lives of so many people for the past 60 years. Despite the fact that he’s been demonized by much of mainstream media, the effect he’s had on the individuals that helped shaped the face of this nation, and planet, is indelible. Alex Haley (who helped him write his autobiography), Muhammad Ali, Huey Newton (who would found the Black Panthers), and so many other historical figures owe Malcolm X some part of their legacy. malcolm x with muhammad ali Just as he inspired the generations before us, Malcolm continues to remain important to our peers. From Talib Kweli and Mos Def to MeLo-X and Phillip Annand. I suppose the entire point of this post is to pay tribute to one of the most important figures of the 20th century, and one of my personal heroes. I’ve already read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but I put it on my summer reading list anyway because I plan to re-read it. It’s one of the most important texts I’ve ever read. Happy 86th birthday Malcolm. Your legacy lives on. Sidenote: I still need to watch Spike Lee’s biopic Malcolm X, especially since I’m trying to work my way through Lee’s entire catalog.
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Malcolm X’s 86th Birthday

Mmhmm, I know. Yesterday was his birthday, the 19th. Today’s the 20th. Sadly by the time I realized that yesterday was Malcolm’s birthday, it was too late to do a post. Instead I decided to postpone it to today, because regardless…Malcolm is worth it.

It’s amazing how controversial Malcolm X remains, even today, 46 years after he was gunned down by members of the Nation of Islam just three months before his 40th birthday. Case in point: there was no Google Doodle to commemorate his birthday yesterday, although Google makes sure to craft a doodle for Martin Luther King, Jr. day every single year. But it’s not my goal to get into the age old Malcolm v. Martin debate. (Although I have done that on this blog before). Both have their places in history.

malcolm during his pilgrammage

How controversial Malcolm is directly reflects how relevant he’s been to the lives of so many people for the past 60 years. Despite the fact that he’s been demonized by much of mainstream media, the effect he’s had on the individuals that helped shaped the face of this nation, and planet, is indelible. Alex Haley (who helped him write his autobiography), Muhammad Ali, Huey Newton (who would found the Black Panthers), and so many other historical figures owe Malcolm X some part of their legacy.

malcolm x with muhammad ali

Just as he inspired the generations before us, Malcolm continues to remain important to our peers. From Talib Kweli and Mos Def to MeLo-X and Phillip Annand. I suppose the entire point of this post is to pay tribute to one of the most important figures of the 20th century, and one of my personal heroes. I’ve already read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, but I put it on my summer reading list anyway because I plan to re-read it. It’s one of the most important texts I’ve ever read.

Happy 86th birthday Malcolm. Your legacy lives on.

Sidenote: I still need to watch Spike Lee’s biopic Malcolm X, especially since I’m trying to work my way through Lee’s entire catalog.

Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
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Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info
Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum) While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum. Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed. I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.
Zoom Info

Dear Old Memphis, TN (National Civil Rights Museum)

While in Memphis, I had the opportunity to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, which is housed at the former Lorraine Motel (the site where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated). It was quite an experience, but one of the most memorable sights that day was happening right across the street from the museum.

Jacqueline Smith is a woman that has been protesting across from the National Civil Rights Museum for almost the past 23 years. She’s protesting what she claims to be the exploitation of MLK Jr. and the gentrification of the area surrounding the Civil Rights Museum. Once a permanent resident of the former Lorraine Motel, she was forcefully evicted when the motel began the process of becoming a museum. She was actually the last resident of the motel to be removed.

I noticed her protest booth on the way out of the museum, so I went up and took some pictures. I went home to do some research and was quite amazed to find that she’s been out there for up to 21 hours a day, non-stop for the last 23 years. Quite remarkable.