LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 86th Birthday of Malcolm X, a
major leader in African American history

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
events which remind us of the rich and diverse heritage of our great
State and Nation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 86th Birthday of Malcolm X, a major leader in African American
history; and
WHEREAS, Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, on May
19, 1925; and
WHEREAS, On January 14, 1958, Malcolm X married Betty Sanders; they
had six children, Attallah, Qubilah, Iiyasah, Gamilah, Malaak, and Mali-
kah; and
WHEREAS, Once a member of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, was an Afri-
can American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist;
to his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African
Americans; and
WHEREAS, After his departure from the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X
founded Muslim Mosque Inc., and the Organization of Afro American Unity;
he then became a Sunni Muslim once again changing his name to El-Hajj
Malik El-Shabazz; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his death on February 21, 1965, Malcolm X went on a
pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia; his trip proved life altering and for
the first time, he shared his thoughts and beliefs with different
cultures, and found the response to be overwhelmingly positive; and
WHEREAS, When he returned to the United States, Malcolm X mentioned
that while he was abroad he had met men of all races that he could call
his brothers; he also returned to the United States with a new outlook
on integration, a new message for all mankind, and a new hope for the
future; and
WHEREAS, In January 1999, family and friends of Malcolm X gathered at
the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York, to witness the U.S. Postal
Service announce the debut of the new Malcolm X postage stamp; the
33-cent commemorative stamp is the 22nd stamp in the Postal Service's
Black Heritage series; the U.S. Postal service declared that Malcolm X
was one of the most influential Black leaders of the 1960s, and that he
shaped the debate about race relations and strategies for social change;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 86th Birthday of Malcolm X, a major leader in African
American history.