Negro Digest - Freedom Archives

Interim Report
BY CHUCK HOPKINS
"The over-riding purpose of
the University is to provide
a framework within which
education can become rele
vant to the needs of Black
people"
N OCTOBER, 1969,
in Durham, North
Carolina, the Black
community saw its
dream of a relevant
Black educational institution become
a reality with the opening of
Malcolm X Liberation University
in an old warehouse which had
been cleaned out and renovated.
On the 25th of October, over 3,000
Black people from Durham and
communities around the country
gathered in front of the building
site to listen to the dedication message
of Sister Betty Shabazz, widow
of Brother Malcolm X . Sister Betty
charged the participants in the
ceremonies and Black people
around the world with the task of
NEGRO DIGEST March 1970
organizing for Black unity and
building for the Black Nation .
With the opening of the University
have come several questions
concerning the need for such a venture
on the part of Black people .
Why Malcolm X Liberation University?
Why Durham, North Carolina?
Why in 1969? In order for
us to answer these questions, we
must understand somewhat the political
struggles of Black people in
Durham, as well as in other communities
around the country.
In the Spring of 1965 a concentrated
effort was started in Durham
to organize Black people to bring
about better living conditions . The
effort had two basic objectives :
1 . The involvement of Black
people in the decision-making apparatus
of the local O .E.O . (Office
of Economic Opportunity) poverty
agency .
2 . The creation of neighborhood
organizations to press for improvement
in such areas as the lack of
traffic stop signs, playground equipment,
street lights, etc., in the Black
community .
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