A Queens student barred from having the name Malcolm X imprinted on a school sweatshirt met his namesake’s daughter Saturday in a powerful show of solidarity.
Malcolm Xavier Combs beamed with joy as Ilyasah Shabazz handed him an all-black shirt with “X Legacy” emblazoned on the front.
“I'm probably going to frame that — I like it so much,” declared the 17-year-old Christ the King honor student.
The heartwarming moment took place inside the National Action Network’s Harlem Headquarters, capping a turbulent few weeks for young Malcolm.
The brainy private school student says he was pulled out of class last month and told that he “wouldn’t want to be associated” with the fiery civil rights leader.
Stubborn high school refuses to allow ‘Malcolm X’ on student’s senior sweater despite outcry
A polarizing activist who called for the freedom and equality of blacks by “any means necessary,” Malcolm X inspired reverence among some and fear among others.
He was assassinated in February 1965 after rebuking the Nation of Islam and morphing into an international champion for human rights.
“I was just trying to represent Malcolm X because I love my name,” the student said.
Christ the King officials have defended the decision, saying all students are barred from using nicknames on their school shirts.
But Malcolm’s family, as well as the Rev. Al Sharpton, say they have no plans to back down.
“They had no issue with Malcolm E. or Malcolm D, but that one letter in the alphabet has set off a firestorm,” said the teen's mother, Mychelle Combs.
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Sharpton declared his support for the family, vowing to demonstrate in front of the school if it doesn’t change its policy and mandate cultural sensitivity training for faculty and staff.
“I wanted this young man and his family to know that we are with them,” Sharpton said. “(National Action Network) has gone out there and spoken with the heads of the school. It seems that they have a hearing deficiency. Maybe a lot of us need to go out there and turn the volume up.”
Shabazz, the third daughter of Malcolm X, said her father should be remembered for his tireless efforts to uplift black people and other oppressed groups.
“He was fearless because he loved us and he believed in our humanity,” Shabazz said of her father.
“He believed every child deserved an opportunity to realize his or her God-given potential. He said we’re miseducated and demanded an end to 400 years of trauma ... What is so controversial about that?”
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Malcolm Xavier Combs beamed with joy as Ilyasah Shabazz handed him an all-black shirt with “X Legacy” emblazoned on the front.
“I'm probably going to frame that — I like it so much,” declared the 17-year-old Christ the King honor student.
The heartwarming moment took place inside the National Action Network’s Harlem Headquarters, capping a turbulent few weeks for young Malcolm.
The brainy private school student says he was pulled out of class last month and told that he “wouldn’t want to be associated” with the fiery civil rights leader.
Stubborn high school refuses to allow ‘Malcolm X’ on student’s senior sweater despite outcry
A polarizing activist who called for the freedom and equality of blacks by “any means necessary,” Malcolm X inspired reverence among some and fear among others.
He was assassinated in February 1965 after rebuking the Nation of Islam and morphing into an international champion for human rights.
“I was just trying to represent Malcolm X because I love my name,” the student said.
Christ the King officials have defended the decision, saying all students are barred from using nicknames on their school shirts.
But Malcolm’s family, as well as the Rev. Al Sharpton, say they have no plans to back down.
“They had no issue with Malcolm E. or Malcolm D, but that one letter in the alphabet has set off a firestorm,” said the teen's mother, Mychelle Combs.
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Sharpton declared his support for the family, vowing to demonstrate in front of the school if it doesn’t change its policy and mandate cultural sensitivity training for faculty and staff.
“I wanted this young man and his family to know that we are with them,” Sharpton said. “(National Action Network) has gone out there and spoken with the heads of the school. It seems that they have a hearing deficiency. Maybe a lot of us need to go out there and turn the volume up.”
Shabazz, the third daughter of Malcolm X, said her father should be remembered for his tireless efforts to uplift black people and other oppressed groups.
“He was fearless because he loved us and he believed in our humanity,” Shabazz said of her father.
“He believed every child deserved an opportunity to realize his or her God-given potential. He said we’re miseducated and demanded an end to 400 years of trauma ... What is so controversial about that?”
read more
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