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Malcolm X Day

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Malcolm X Day
Malcolm X
Observed byBerkeley, California, United States
TypeNationwide festivities
Local holiday (May 19)
DateMay 19
2023 dateMay 19  (2023-05-19)
2024 dateMay 17  (2024-05-17)
2025 dateMay 16  (2025-05-16)
2026 dateMay 15  (2026-05-15)
FrequencyAnnual

Malcolm X Day is an American holiday in honor of Malcolm X that is celebrated on either May 19 (his birthday) or the third Friday of May. The commemoration of the civil rights leader has been proposed as an official state holiday in the U.S. state of Illinois in 2015 and Missouri as recent as 2019. As of present, only the cities of Berkeley and Oakland in California, observe the holiday with city offices and schools closed.[1]

History

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The Malcolm X Day holiday has been an official holiday in the municipality of Berkeley, California since 1979.[2] Since then, there have been multiple proposals for the holiday to be official elsewhere. Most recently in 2014, a proposal put forth by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago to make the holiday in the U.S. state of Illinois.[3] The Illinois proposal differs from the Berkeley, California resolution in that the holiday would be observed May 19 instead of the third Friday in May.[4] Before that, unsuccessful attempts were made in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., with numerous calls for it to be celebrated alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Day[5] as a federal holiday.[6] In 1993, this holiday was proposed at the federal level to Congress as H.J.R. #323 by Congressman Charles Rangel.[7] In 2015, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed the resolution for the official holiday designation where the law "... officially designated 'May 19, 2015, and every May 19 thereafter' as Malcolm X Day.[8] Though the resolution passed making the holiday official, the Illinois official list of holidays still has yet to reflect the holiday.[9]

Observances by state

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State Current local observances
California Holiday marked with an official event in San Jose and San Francisco.[10] In Berkeley, California, there is currently a legal status on this holiday.[1] This holiday has been in place since 1979.[2][11]
District of Columbia Schools such as the Malcolm X Elementary School in Washington, D.C., mark this holiday through UPEACE, US's DCPEACE program.[12] The first known celebration of Malcolm X Day took place in Washington, D.C., in 1971.[13] Was once proposed as a holiday.
Florida Holiday marked with an official event in Jacksonville in the Historic Durkeville neighborhood. The events are marked with live performances and a parade.[14]
Georgia Holiday marked with festival since 1989 in Atlanta's West End Park.[15] Was once proposed as a holiday.
Illinois As of 2015, the holiday has a legal status in this state.[3]
Minnesota Malcolm X Day is celebrated with the Malcolm X Conference in Minneapolis.[16]
Missouri A house bill HB 172 was introduced to the state legislature for the observation of Malcolm X Day.[17][18]
Nebraska Malcolm X Day was celebrated in Malcolm X's birth city of Omaha starting in 1968.[19] The holiday was celebrated from 1968 until at least 1997, with official proclamations from the City of Omaha for several years.
New York Malcolm X Day is celebrated in the Harlem section of New York City with a music event.[20]
Ohio Malcolm X Day is celebrated with the "Malcolm X Heritage Festival" in Columbus, Ohio.[21]
Oregon Malcolm X Day is marked with a peaceful demonstration in Salem, Oregon.[22]
Pennsylvania Malcolm X Day became significant after the Ferguson unrest. Events are marked with community activities in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and other places.[23][24][25]
Tennessee Malcolm X Day is celebrated in Nashville.[26]
Texas Malcolm X Day is celebrated in San Antonio.[27]
Washington Malcolm X Day is marked with a music festival at Umojafest.[28]
Wisconsin Malcolm X Day is celebrated with a general public event with speakers in Milwaukee.[29]

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b Malcolm X Day celebrated at namesake school, archived from the original on 2014-11-10, retrieved 2012-01-27
  2. ^ a b Malcolm X Day – more than a day off?, 17 May 2010
  3. ^ a b Chambers, Bill (May 20, 2015). "Illinois Designates May 18 as Malcolm Day".
  4. ^ "Malcolm X Day on May 19 Proposed for State of Illinois". 23 April 2015.#
  5. ^ "We Need a Malcolm X Day", Time, January 20, 2012
  6. ^ Does Malcolm X Deserve a Federal Holiday?, 23 January 2012
  7. ^ Rangel, Charles B. (February 10, 1994). "Text - H.J.Res.323 - 103rd Congress (1993-1994): Declaring May 19 a national holiday and day of prayer and remembrance honoring Malcolm X (Al Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz)". www.congress.gov.
  8. ^ Chambers, Bill (May 19, 2015). "Illinois Designates May 19 as Malcolm X Day". The Chicago Monitor. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  9. ^ "Illinois State Holidays". Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  10. ^ "San Jose: Claim Malcolm X Day San Jose".
  11. ^ City of Berkeley: 2012 Holiday and Reduced Service Days Schedule
  12. ^ Malcolm X Day
  13. ^ Gay, Kathlyn (2007). African-American Holidays, Festivals and Celebrations. Detroit: Omnigraphics. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-7808-0779-2.
  14. ^ "The Malcolm X Festival and Parade".
  15. ^ "Home". www.malcolmxfestival.com.
  16. ^ "Preview: This weekend's MN Malcolm X Conference". MPR News. 12 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Missouri HB172 | TrackBill". trackbill.com.
  18. ^ "HOUSE BILL NO. 172 / 98th General Assembly" (PDF).
  19. ^ "A History of Omaha's Malcolm X Day". February 14, 2019.
  20. ^ "The Source |You Are Invited to Malcolm X's 90th Birthday Celebration in New York City". May 15, 2015.
  21. ^ "MALCOLM X HERITAGE FESTIVAL".
  22. ^ "SURJ on Malcolm X's Birthday at the Capitol in Salem, Oregon".
  23. ^ "Today is Malcolm X Day". Delco News Network.
  24. ^ "Eventful: Community Day at Malcolm X Park". Eventful.
  25. ^ "Ferguson National Response Network". Ferguson National Response Network.
  26. ^ "2nd Annual Malcolm X Day Celebration".
  27. ^ "1st Annual From Malcolm to Me: A weekend celebration of the life and legacy of Malcolm X". May 15, 2015.
  28. ^ "Malcolm X Day Conference and Music Fest at Umojafest P.E.A.C.E. Center".
  29. ^ "Milwaukee: Malcolm X Day Celebration- Milwaukee!". 27 September 2021.
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