The Michael Busch Library in Annapolis now has a new permanent fixture: a monument to civil and human rights advocate Malcolm X, which includes images of the celebrated activist smiling, sitting with his family, and engaging with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali.
Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-District 21), who represents part of southern Anne Arundel County, served as one of the key speakers for the debut Wednesday.
“The great work of Malcolm X’s life — the struggle for justice, equality, and freedom for his people — is far from over. More than 60 years later, his legacy reminds us that progress doesn’t always move in a straight line,” Peña-Melnyk said in a Facebook post after the event. “We must continue to confront the painful truths of our history, recognize the injustices that persist today, and do the difficult work of building a more just society for everyone.”
The first Afro-Latina to serve in her role, Peña-Melnyk remarked that her caramel tone was “not from the beach” and she remains proud of all elements of her identity.
“That work must be rooted in our shared humanity, especially at a time when division continues to cause real pain in our communities today,” the Maryland House speaker continued. “We must be willing to listen, willing to acknowledge painful truths, and commit ourselves to ensuring that every person belongs.”
Many of the speakers, including Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) and state Sen. Shaneka Henson (D- District 30), highlighted the role that reading and education had in transforming Malcolm’s life.
“Malcolm X instilled pride in communities where the system inflicted shame. He said things in powerful ways that hadn’t been said before,” said Pittman. “This memorial will encourage our residents to read, to think, and to engage.”
Having been dedicated to the cause of the Malcolm X statue from the beginning, Carl Snowden, a longtime activist and former Annapolis alderman, emphasized the importance of such a tribute to the activist.
“The memorial will serve as the apex for this community,” said Snowden. “He was one of those iconic individuals that come by once in a lifetime.”
The $300,000 monument unveiled Wednesday was funded by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Anne Arundel, the Caucus of African American Leaders, the Anne Arundel County government, and private donors.
Henson, who is running in one of Maryland’s most competitive battleground elections, was honored to attest to Malcolm X’s legacy and impact on the world.
“I hope that in telling the whole story of Malcolm X, we are challenged to tell the whole story of everybody whose fingerprint is on the outlines of this nation,” she said. “I hope that what they are reminded to do is to tell their own story so that people will have the understanding of who they are, of the place and time in which they live so that their words are captured and reflected in their own voice.”
