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