Community resilience and historical preservation help guide us into building a stronger future for Omaha, across Nebraska and the nation. We are proud to have the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, an organization focused on supporting legislation that provides justice, equity, self-reliance and community movement building. Retaining the true narrative is a value of preserving the human rights legacy of El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, or better known as Malcolm X. “We can see all throughout history where our oppressors and colonizers try to erase a particular group from existence,” Policy Fellow Schmeeka Simpson explains.
The Malcolm X Foundation was founded by Rowena Moore in 1971 as a memorial for the birth site of Malcolm X. In an effort to reclaim the property that Malcolm had been born in, she found that the city of Omaha tore down the house in July of 1965, four months after he was assassinated, to scrub away his history. Despite the house being gone, the original 2.5 acres of land was still available for Rowena to use to start the foundation. By the time of Rowena’s passing in 1998, she had accumulated 18 acres of land specifically to bring residents together and to remember the legacy of Malcolm X. Moving forward to 2010, a building was officially acquired to be the visitor’s center and community hub.
The Foundation is on the front lines continuing to combat the same challenges the Black community has faced since the first slaves were brought to the United States. “A lot of that has to do with previous legal infrastructure, like redlining and many other issues that kept our communities from actually being able to invest in itself.” Schmeeka says. The Malcolm X Memorial Foundation is key in bringing forth LB 47, the Restitution and Redress for Redlining Task Force. The bill will help address the issues of inequality that were placed to keep Omaha communities poor. The effects of redlining are seen firsthand as home and land ownership rates have dropped from 10% to 8% from the last year. The Foundation had conducted a community survey to gather firsthand and primary data from the community itself regarding policy and community needs in North Omaha. This information helps the organization be a major voice of the people in North Omaha from policy making, community lectures, educational opportunities and community building to overcome systemic hardships.
2024 was a year with many achievements, opening doors to speak upon and improve opportunities for our disenfranchised communities. In March of 2024, Malcolm X was officially inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame with his very own bust on display in the halls of the Nebraska State Capitol. It was established that May 19th was made known as Malcolm X Day of Remembrance. The organization also received a $20 million grant to reconstruct the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation Campus that will improve cultural pride and economic opportunities in the North Omaha community, set for completion in 2027. This May 19th is set to be Malcolm X’s 100th birthday, a major celebration to commemorate his work and legacy that will continue to live on through the community.