On 12th February 1965 El Hajj Malik El Shabazz better known to the world as Omowale Malcolm X took a historic walk along Marshall Street in the town of Smethwick , Birmingham. The unexpected visit to the area by the American civil rights activist would have positive reverberations for race relations in the area for the years that followed. He made the walk after being invited to view some of the residential houses being denied to African Caribbean and Asian property seekers in the Smethwick . At the time the council had a policy of segregated housing, however the visit of Malcolm X to Marshall Road would bring international media attention to the issue, and within a few months a new administration had been sworn in and the policy overturned.
Sadly Malcolm X would not live to see the impact of his visit to the area, or the improvement in community relations where there was previously severe racial tension. Nine days after his visit later he would meet his untimely end at the hands of an assassin’s bullet. However almost half a century later visitors and site-seers from all over the world still visit Marshall Street to follow in the footsteps of his historic walk. To commemorate this, on 21st February 2012, exactly 47 years to the day of his passing, Malcolm X will be finally be honoured with a blue heritage plaque on Marshall Road in Smethwick.
The idea for the plaque was organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, Britain ’s largest independent plaque and sculpture scheme. The event is supported by the Birmingham based education group Recognize, the Indian Workers Association GB (who invited Malcolm X to Smethwick ), the African Caribbean Self Help Organisation, and Sandwell Council. The plaque will be unveiled by Sandwell Mayor Councillor Joyce Underhill , Jak Beula chair of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, and Avtar Joahl former secretary general of the IWA (GB) who marched with Malcolm X on that famous day in February 1965. The event will also be supported by local councillors, community groups, school children, members of the public as well as national and international press and media:
Jak Beula, founder of plaque and sculpture scheme said “It is an honour to be involved commemorating Malcolm X with a blue plaque in Britain on the anniversary of his passing 47 years ago. As an international figure for civil rights his impact was felt far beyond the shores of the United States and Africa . Indeed, one of his legacies was a contribution to the desegregation of residential housing in Smethwick”
Beenie Brown, Chair of African Caribbean Self Help Organisation said: “Omowale Malcolm X is one of the greatest Pan African organisers of the 20th Century. His example of independent thought and action for global African self reliance is something sadly missing among modern black leaders of the new millennium.
Toyin Agbetu from Ligali adds;
Malcolm was invited to Smethwick following a recent general election, where the successful Tory candidate Peter Griffiths told voters: ‘if you want a [n word] for a neighbour, vote Labour’.
The Conservative MP then went on to request declare Malcolm X an undesirable alien and refuse him entry to the UK in the future. Malcolm remained unfazed, indeed when asked why he came, Malcolm simply replied; “I was in Birmingham, Alabama, the other day. This will give me a chance to see if Birmingham, England is any different”.
Malcolm X was born 19 May 1925, his assassination on 21 February 1965 meant he passed away aged 39.
External Links
Remembering Malcolms visit to SmethwickMalcolm in Marshall Street (1965)Nubian JakHansard C Debate - 18 February 1965 vol 706 c264W
Sadly Malcolm X would not live to see the impact of his visit to the area, or the improvement in community relations where there was previously severe racial tension. Nine days after his visit later he would meet his untimely end at the hands of an assassin’s bullet. However almost half a century later visitors and site-seers from all over the world still visit Marshall Street to follow in the footsteps of his historic walk. To commemorate this, on 21st February 2012, exactly 47 years to the day of his passing, Malcolm X will be finally be honoured with a blue heritage plaque on Marshall Road in Smethwick.
The idea for the plaque was organised by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, Britain ’s largest independent plaque and sculpture scheme. The event is supported by the Birmingham based education group Recognize, the Indian Workers Association GB (who invited Malcolm X to Smethwick ), the African Caribbean Self Help Organisation, and Sandwell Council. The plaque will be unveiled by Sandwell Mayor Councillor Joyce Underhill , Jak Beula chair of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, and Avtar Joahl former secretary general of the IWA (GB) who marched with Malcolm X on that famous day in February 1965. The event will also be supported by local councillors, community groups, school children, members of the public as well as national and international press and media:
Jak Beula, founder of plaque and sculpture scheme said “It is an honour to be involved commemorating Malcolm X with a blue plaque in Britain on the anniversary of his passing 47 years ago. As an international figure for civil rights his impact was felt far beyond the shores of the United States and Africa . Indeed, one of his legacies was a contribution to the desegregation of residential housing in Smethwick”
Malcolm X visits Smethwick, 1965 [Birmingham Mail -12 February 1965]
Great example of independent thought and action
Beenie Brown, Chair of African Caribbean Self Help Organisation said: “Omowale Malcolm X is one of the greatest Pan African organisers of the 20th Century. His example of independent thought and action for global African self reliance is something sadly missing among modern black leaders of the new millennium.Toyin Agbetu from Ligali adds;
Malcolm was invited to Smethwick following a recent general election, where the successful Tory candidate Peter Griffiths told voters: ‘if you want a [n word] for a neighbour, vote Labour’.
The Conservative MP then went on to request declare Malcolm X an undesirable alien and refuse him entry to the UK in the future. Malcolm remained unfazed, indeed when asked why he came, Malcolm simply replied; “I was in Birmingham, Alabama, the other day. This will give me a chance to see if Birmingham, England is any different”.
Malcolm X was born 19 May 1925, his assassination on 21 February 1965 meant he passed away aged 39.
Malcolm visits Birmingham
External Links
Remembering Malcolms visit to SmethwickMalcolm in Marshall Street (1965)Nubian JakHansard C Debate - 18 February 1965 vol 706 c264W
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