By Charles Gilmore, Jr.
HARLEM, USA, 1/20/2009 - There was something familiar about the location of this victory event. "165th Street & Broadway" - what was it about that intersection that tugged at my memory? I found my answer as soon as I arrived: the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center is located in the building formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom, the place where Malcolm X was assassinated al-most 44 years ago, on February 21, 1965.
| Walking into the gorgeous lobby of this historic building, I encountered an amazing assortment of people, seemingly from all walks of life, en-joying a sumptuous free buffet provided by the Shabazz Center. At the front of the lobby, a large-screen projector played footage of that mor-ning's inauguration ceremony, and the incredible reality it conveyed: a black man has become President of the United States! It was as if we stood at the corner of History & Hope.
Party guests and Shabazz Center staff all seemed to be brimming with pride and a sense of empowerment. Many people felt not just the hope that now things will change for the better, but that with President Bar-ack Obama taking his oath of office, that change has already begun. |
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| We were graciously welcomed by Shabazz Center Executive Director Ms. Dowoti Desir, who invited us to the second-floor ballroom for an informal fashion show of "Obamawear." These audacious, unique gar-ments feature slogans and images from the President's campaign, and reflect the wearer's pride and support. There were also scarves, knit hats, and caps adorned with Obama's name and image. Ms. Desir and others modeled the various items, striding, stalking, or slinking down the "runway" between rows of chairs, to the delight of party guests.
Among the non-professional "models" was Ms. Malaak Shabazz, Mal-colm X's youngest daughter. The party continued as a DJ played Be-yonce's "Single Ladies" and other infectious tunes to get people on their feet. It's ironic that tragedy and triumph could occupy the same space, that the ballroom where Malcolm's life was cut short was also the scene of so much joy and pride. A change has come, indeed! |
By Charles Gilmore, Jr.
HARLEM, USA, 1/20/2009 - There was something familiar about the location of this victory event. "165th Street & Broadway" - what was it about that intersection that tugged at my memory? I found my answer as soon as I arrived: the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center is located in the building formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom, the place where Malcolm X was assassinated al-most 44 years ago, on February 21, 1965.
| Walking into the gorgeous lobby of this historic building, I encountered an amazing assortment of people, seemingly from all walks of life, en-joying a sumptuous free buffet provided by the Shabazz Center. At the front of the lobby, a large-screen projector played footage of that mor-ning's inauguration ceremony, and the incredible reality it conveyed: a black man has become President of the United States! It was as if we stood at the corner of History & Hope.
Party guests and Shabazz Center staff all seemed to be brimming with pride and a sense of empowerment. Many people felt not just the hope that now things will change for the better, but that with President Bar-ack Obama taking his oath of office, that change has already begun. |
|
|
| We were graciously welcomed by Shabazz Center Executive Director Ms. Dowoti Desir, who invited us to the second-floor ballroom for an informal fashion show of "Obamawear." These audacious, unique gar-ments feature slogans and images from the President's campaign, and reflect the wearer's pride and support. There were also scarves, knit hats, and caps adorned with Obama's name and image. Ms. Desir and others modeled the various items, striding, stalking, or slinking down the "runway" between rows of chairs, to the delight of party guests.
Among the non-professional "models" was Ms. Malaak Shabazz, Mal-colm X's youngest daughter. The party continued as a DJ played Be-yonce's "Single Ladies" and other infectious tunes to get people on their feet. It's ironic that tragedy and triumph could occupy the same space, that the ballroom where Malcolm's life was cut short was also the scene of so much joy and pride. A change has come, indeed! |