Malcolm X Liberation University facts for kids

Malcolm X Liberation University (or MXLU) was a special school in North Carolina, USA. It was created for African American students. The school was inspired by the Black Power movement. This movement aimed for black people to have more control over their lives. It also followed Pan-Africanism, which connects all people of African descent.

MXLU was founded by Howard Fuller and other activists. It opened on October 25, 1969, in Durham. Later, it moved to Greensboro. The school closed on June 28, 1973. It only operated for about three years. One main reason it closed was a lack of money. Political disagreements also made it hard to get funding.

Why MXLU Was Started

The idea for MXLU came from a protest at Duke University. This protest happened in 1969. It was called the Allen Building Takeover. The Black Power movement helped shape the mood for this event.

Student Demands at Duke

At Duke University, black students formed a group. It was called the Afro-American Society (AAS). They wanted more civil rights on campus. They also asked for a program in Afro-American Studies. This program would teach about black history and culture.

The students felt their demands were not being met. So, on February 13, 1969, they protested. They took over the Allen Building. This building held important university records. The university president, Dr. Douglas Knight, warned them to leave. He said police would be called. The students threatened to burn records if police came.

Many white students supported the protest. Police were called and used tear gas. A riot started. The black students eventually left to avoid being expelled. Many were put on probation.

Creating a New School

After the protest, many felt Duke did not listen enough. Howard Fuller, an activist, had an idea. He wanted to build a new school. This school would focus on African studies. It would be mainly for black students and led by black staff.

Fuller worked with the Foundation for Community Development. He set up a board of trustees. These were people from Durham.

How MXLU Got Money

MXLU needed money to start. James Forman, a leader of the Black Economic Development Conference (BEDC), wrote a document. It was called the "Black Manifesto." It asked white churches and synagogues for money. This money would help black communities.

The Episcopal Church in North Carolina gave MXLU $45,000. Other people also gave smaller amounts. But some church members were very upset by this donation. This made it hard for MXLU to get more money.

Fuller tried to raise money in big cities. He visited places like New York City and Chicago. But he only managed to get about $82,000 in total donations.

Students and Opening Day

The tuition for MXLU was $300 a year. Students who could pay more were asked to do so. Financial help was available for others. About 50 students enrolled at first. Many of them were activists. They had been expelled from their old schools for protesting.

The school officially opened on October 25, 1969. Classes started two days later. The school leaders called themselves the "Council of Elders."

A student named Godfrey Mwakikagile joined MXLU in 1972. He was from Tanzania. He later became a well-known scholar of African studies. He wrote books about African history and politics.

How MXLU Was Run

MXLU moved to a new location in its second year. It started on East Pettigrew Street in Durham. In October 1970, it moved to Asheboro Street in Greensboro. The move was partly because of new road construction in Durham. But the school also said it wanted to fit more students.

Greensboro was chosen because it had a history of political action. It was known for sit-ins during the 1960s.

Student Life and Community

At first, 51 students attended MXLU. After the move to Greensboro, 65 students came from 17 states. But by the third year, only about 24 students remained. Many students were expelled, which caused the number to drop.

MXLU tried to grow its own food. It also worked with the local community. The school ran an Early Educational Center for young children. It also had a Children of Africa program for older kids.

Fuller tried to buy another school's campus. This was the Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia. It was a black prep school that was struggling. But the sale did not happen. People protested the idea, and a trustee resigned.

What Students Learned

MXLU's main goals were based on Black Power and Pan-Africanism. The school wanted to prepare students to help African people. This included people in the U.S. and in Africa.

Early Curriculum

The first curriculum lasted for ten months. Students took courses in "nation-building." These included topics like:

• African civilization
• Slavery
• Colonialism
• Modern African world issues

Students also learned foreign languages. These included Swahili, French, and Spanish. They also had physical education.

After these courses, students and teachers would travel to Africa for two months. Then, students would focus on a skill. They could train to be "food scientists, tailors, architects, engineers, medics," and more. After four years, students would do internships.

Later Curriculum Changes

After moving to Greensboro, the program changed to three years.

• First year: Students took required courses. These included history, black political thought, language, and culture. They also had physical development. They had to learn one African language like Swahili, Hausa, or Yoruba.
• Second year: Students trained in a technical field. Options included communication, technology, engineering, and food science.
• Third year: Students would teach at the school. After this, they would graduate.

The school said it offered training in agriculture, bio-medicine, and different types of engineering. A staff member named Jim Grant described the school day. Students did not have weekends off unless it was an emergency. They spent two hours each morning on "physical development," including a three-mile run. They also spent many hours on their skill area and technology. The rest of the time was for studying and physical work.

Pan-Africanism at MXLU

MXLU's leaders believed their education fit with Pan-Africanism. Jim Grant explained what Pan-Africanism meant to them:

• All black people are seen as Africans living away from Africa.
• Black people everywhere share a common history and struggles.
• Having land is important for African people to control their future. This needs a strong, united Africa.
• An economic system should be set up. It should be fair and share wealth and responsibility.
• True freedom means ending systems like capitalism and colonialism.

New Ways of Teaching

Malcolm X Liberation University was a new kind of school. It aimed to fix problems with the existing education system. Many felt the old system did not meet the needs of the black community.

Admissions and Grades

Most universities used test scores like the SAT for admissions. MXLU was different. It said any black person who agreed with the school's goals could apply. This challenged traditional ideas about who could go to college.

MXLU also changed how students were graded. Instead of grades, students showed what they learned. For example, they might work on projects in Africa. Teachers would see if their projects were successful. Students graduated by showing they could help the community.

Addressing Reverse Discrimination

MXLU mostly accepted black students and hired black staff. This led to questions about "reverse discrimination." The school's leaders explained their choice. They said MXLU was open to anyone who wanted to work with black communities. They believed black students were most committed to solving problems faced by black people in America. So, the student body would be mostly black.

Why MXLU Closed

Howard Fuller had trouble getting enough money after 1969. This was due to controversies around him and the school.

Funding Problems

Many people in the Episcopal Church were upset about their donation to MXLU. They linked Fuller to the "Black Manifesto." There was also a rumor that MXLU was storing guns. A newspaper article claimed firefighters found guns in a dorm. The name "Malcolm X" also made some people suspicious. They thought Fuller was planning violence.

MXLU also failed to get support from big black organizations. Groups like the NAACP did not support MXLU. They thought it was too radical. Others, like Whitney Young of the National Urban League, disagreed with the school's separatist ideas. They believed integration was the way to equality. Fuller did clarify that he wasn't asking people to move back to Africa.

Internal Disagreements

There were also disagreements among the school's leaders. These political differences made it hard for them to agree on the school's direction. The school also tried to keep itself separate from the outside world. This was to protect it from negative media. But this isolation also made it harder to get donations.

On June 28, 1973, Howard Fuller (who had changed his name to Owusu Saudakai) officially closed MXLU. He said the school would only stay open if it truly met the needs of the people.