Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2018)
May 16, 2018 Page 5 Ilyasha Shabazz, the daughter of the late civil rights icon Malcom X, will be in Portland on Saturday, May 26 as a guest of the Portland NAACP and the keynote speaker at the local civil rights group’s fundraising brunch. Malcolm X ’s Daughter to Visit Activist to keynote Portland NAACP event by D anny p eteron t he p ortlanD o bServer Ilasah Shabazz, daughter of Af- rican American Muslim minister and human rights leader Malcolm X, is coming to Portland Saturday, May 26 to be the keynote speak- er at a fundraising brunch by the Portland NAACP. The local civil rights organi- zation is celebrating Malcolm X with a series of events, called the X Factor, which will also be a fundraiser for the organization. The celebration will also fall in line with Malcom X’s birthday. Shabaaz has garnered a repu- tation for being an ambassador of peace in her own right, promoting higher education for at-risk youth, giving motivational speeches, participating in civil rights activ- ism, fostering interfaith dialogue to build connections between cultures for young leaders of the world, and facilitating humanitar- ian delegations across the globe. She is also an award winning author of several books including: Growing Up X, a coming of age memoir; Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Mal- colm X, a children’s illustrated book; X, a Novel, a young adult historical fiction book; and her newest book, Betty Before X, a middle school historical fiction book about her mother that was co-authored by local writer Renée Watson. Shabazz followed in her fa- ther’s footsteps in more ways than one, retracing his steps to the Holy City of Mecca to explore religious and historical sites in Saudi Ara- bia, Egypt and Jordan. Malcolm X had done the same in 1964 when he distanced himself from the ra- cially divisive teachings of the Nation of Islam and affirmed his Islamic faith as a way to reconcile racial tensions. The brunch is part of a week- long celebration of NAACP Port- land’s 104 years of service that includes fundraising, readings, and the announcement of a proc- lamation for the city to officially recognize May 19, Malcolm X’s birthday, as Malcolm X day in Portland. “The city’s proclamation would serve as official recognition to the important work of Malcolm X and emphasize our city and its leaders [sic] commitment, to reshaping Oregon’s racist history,” an offi- cial statement from NAACP Port- land read. Readings of Malcolm X and an auction will be held on Wednes- day, May 23 at 7 p.m. at Po’Shines Café on 8139 N Denver Ave. For more information and tickets for the Shabazz event , visit xfactor. ticketleap.com/xfactor.
