Dr. Ibram X. Kendi Visits AFJ’s Harlem Community Center To Discuss His New Book Malcolm Lives!

At Avenues for Justice (AFJ), we are committed to connecting our Participants with changemakers and educators to teach and inspire them. Each year, we invite dynamic guest speakers to share their journeys with our Participants, offering real-world insight into perseverance, purpose, and success. Last year, hip-hop icon Jim Jones spoke to our Participants on the heels of Hip Hop celebrating its 51st anniversary, along with City Council Member Yusef Salaam, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

This week, Dr. Kendi engaged our Participants and AFJ team in a thoughtful conversation about his new book, Malcolm Lives! The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers. It is the first major biography of Malcolm for young readers in more than thirty years, released this month on the centennial of Malcolm X’s birth.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi Is a National Book Award-winning author of sixteen books for adults and children, including ten New York Times bestsellers—five of which were #1 New York Times bestsellers. He is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University (BU), and the director of the BU Center for Antiracist Research. Dr. Kendi is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a CBS News racial justice contributor. He authored the international bestseller, How to Be an Antiracist, which was described in the New York Times as “the most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.” This summer, Dr. Kendi will join Howard University as Professor of History and Director of its newly established Howard Institute for Advanced Study.

 Moderated by AFJ’s Manager of Court Advocacy, Brian Stanley, the conversation focused on Dr. Kendi’s straightforward approach to telling the story of Malcolm X’s life through a refreshing and relatable lens. Brian noted how Dr. Kendi’s writing style falls in line with what Malcolm X would often refer to as 'make it plain’ as it delved into the heart, mind, and message of one of the modern era's most complex figures.

Dr. Kendi encouraged Participants to explore how historical figures can teach them about self-identity, self-respect and in the words of Malcolm X, to “think for yourself.” Dr. Kendi shared some pivotal moments about Malcolm X’s life, several of which occurred within close proximity of AFJ’s Harlem community center, including the March in Harlem in 1957.

Dr. Kendi explained how in April 1957, Malcolm X led a march to the 28th Precinct to protest the mistreatment of Johnson X Hinton by the NYPD. Hinton had been brutally beaten by officers while trying to protect another man who was being harassed by police and was then detained without proper medical attention. Without Malcolm X’s intervention and community organizing, Hinton would have died from the injuries he sustained. Participants were inspired to learn how the protest demonstrated Malcolm X’s ability to mobilize community over issues of racial injustice and how the event significantly increased Malcolm X's public profile.

Dr. Kendi’s visit highlighted the importance of storytelling as a tool to transfer historical lessons of leaders like Malcolm X onto the next generation. Many of our Participants were not aware of the significance of Malcolm X Boulevard at the core of Harlem with historic buildings, restaurants, museums, churches, and mosques.

Dr. Kendi and AFJ staff shared how impactful Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic of Malcolm X's life was on their generation's understanding of the social and political landscape of America during the civil rights movement. Followed by a Q&A period, AFJ Participants asked Dr. Kendi for his thoughts on what Malcolm X would do today to make changes to the disparities in the educational system and the criminal justice system.

“I was happy that I was able to meet and thank Dr. Kendi in person for writing How to Be an Antiracist. I read it in school and thought it was really important. I can’t wait to read Malcolm Lives!’ ~AFJ Participant Carlos

Avenues for Justice is grateful to Dr. Kendi for visiting with us this week and for signing copies of his new book for our Participants. We look forward to welcoming more guest speakers at our community centers.

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