Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center facts for kids
The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, also known as the Shabazz Center, is a special place in New York City. It is a memorial dedicated to the lives of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. You can find it at 3940 Broadway and West 165th Street in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan.
This building is very important because it used to be the Audubon Ballroom. This is where Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965. The center officially opened its doors on May 19, 2005. This date was also the 80th anniversary of Malcolm X's birth.
Inside the center, you can find many important documents. These documents tell the story of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. There is also a huge mural, 63 feet (19 meters) long, that shows scenes from Malcolm X's life. You can also see a life-size bronze statue of this important human rights activist. A human rights activist works to protect the basic rights and freedoms of all people.
The center also has six interactive kiosks. These are like touch-screen computers. They give you lots of information about Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. These kiosks were created with help from Columbia University.
Contents
History of the Shabazz Center
From Ballroom to Memorial
After Malcolm X's assassination in 1965, the Audubon Ballroom building started to fall apart. By the mid-1970s, New York City owned the property.
In the early 1980s, Columbia University wanted to build something new there. They planned a modern biotechnology center. This is a place for scientific research, especially in biology. Their plans later grew to include a research park.
Saving a Historic Site
Many people in the community protested these plans. Preservationists also tried to save the old building. They wanted to keep its history alive. Columbia University then asked Betty Shabazz for her opinion. She was Malcolm X's wife.
Betty Shabazz asked them to save the ballroom where her husband had been shot. A special agreement was made. It allowed the university to build their biotechnology center. But it also saved and restored the outside of the Audubon Ballroom building. This part would become a museum.
Building the Center
It took ten years of discussions and planning. Many groups were involved, including the university, the city, and historic preservation groups. Finally, the Audubon Business and Technology Center was finished.
Betty Shabazz helped create the Malcolm X Educational Foundation. She hoped it would host international meetings. She also wanted it to teach people about human rights. Plans for the center paused after Betty Shabazz passed away in 1997. However, the project continued and grew bigger. The center was eventually completed.
Today, the daughters of Malcolm and Betty Shabazz continue their family's important work. They help lead the museum and its mission.
