BLACK HISTORY
hundreds mark 50 years since
malcolm X's assassination
ethel l Payne
ethel l Payne was an
african-american journalist
covering the civil rights
movement during the 1950s
and 1960s.
she was known as the ‘First
lady of the black Press.’
Payne became the first
female african-american
commentator employed by
a national network when
cbs hired her in 1972. In
addition to her reporting of
american domestic politics,
she also covered
international stories.
she worked for The
Chicago Defender,
reporting on the
montgomery bus boycott
and desegregation at the
university of alabama in
1956, as well as the 1963
march on washington. she
once asked President
dwight d. eisenhower when
he planned to ban
segregation in interstate
travel. the President’s angry
response that he refused to
support special interests
made headlines and
helped push civil rights
issues to the forefront of
national debate.
In 1966, she traveled to
Vietnam to cover african-
american troops, who were
involved in much of the
fighting. she subsequently
covered the nigerian civil
war and the International
women's year conference
in mexico city, and
accompanied secretary of
state henry kissinger on a
six-nation tour of africa.
By Frank Eltman
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- Activists,
actors and politicians gathered
Saturday in New York City to
honor civil rights leader Mal-
colm X with a ceremony at the
Harlem site where he was assas-
Shabazz said after a moment of
silence marking the time of his
death.
Malcolm X, whose full name
was El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz,
was 39 when he was shot in the
theater on Feb. 21, 1965, as he
was preparing to address several
hundred of his followers.
“One of the great things about
Malcolm is that he redefined the
civil rights movement to include
a human rights agenda,” she
said. “So while we are focusing
on integrating schools, integrat-
ing housing and all these other
things, Malcolm said that we
demand our human rights ‘by
One of the great things about Malcolm is that he
redefined the civil rights movement to include a human
rights agenda
sinated 50 years ago.
About 300 people converged
to hear remarks from one of
Malcolm X's six daughters,
Ilyasah Shabazz, as well as
elected officials. The ceremony
was held at the Malcolm X & Dr.
Betty Shabazz Memorial and
Educational Center, formerly
known as the Audubon Ball-
room.
A blue light shone onto the
floor in the exact spot where he
was gunned down. A mural with
images of Malcolm X adorned a
wall.
“He was just a young man who
gave all that he possibly could,”
By the time he died, the Mus-
lim leader had moderated his
militant message of black sepa-
ratism and pride but was still
very much a passionate advocate
of black unity, self-respect and
self-reliance. Three members of
the Nation of Islam were con-
victed of murder in his death. He
had repudiated the Nation of
Islam less than a year earlier.
In an interview with The Asso-
ciated Press on the eve of the
anniversary
observance,
Shabazz said she was pleased
that the site is now a place for
people to get a sense of empow-
erment.
any means necessary.’ And that
means ... that we have to address
these problems. That we have to
identify them, and absolutely
discuss them.”
Social and political activist
Ron Daniels delivered the
keynote address, calling Mal-
colm X a man of honesty and
integrity. He ended his speech
with chants of “Long Live Mal-
colm X!” as people stood and
clapped.
The ceremony concluded with
a reading by actor Delroy Lindo
of a eulogy for Malcolm X that
was written by the late actor and
activist Ossie Davis.
We honor the many
accomplishments of
African Americans
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February 25, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner – Black History Edition Page 13