Sharif Liwaru moved here from California as a 17-year-old who knew one thing about Omaha: It was Malcolm X’s hometown.
Liwaru became second vice president of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation while attending Omaha North High School.
And on Thursday night, he led a ceremony that fulfilled one of the foundation’s longtime goals: the grand opening of the new Malcolm X Center, 3463 Evans St.
“You don’t know how excited I am,” said Liwaru, now 35 and foundation president.
The center is located in the former Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall adjacent to Malcolm X’s birthsite, 3448 Pinkney St. The birthsite includes a historical marker.
About 175 people celebrated the building they hope will anchor the neighborhood and become a hub for the foundation, giving children a place to learn about Malcolm X, to master entrepreneurial talents and gardening skills and to learn how to think independently.
They also want the building to afford other organizations a place to gather and celebrate as well.
“This center is going to be a teaching tool to get our kids back on track,” said Ollie Perryman, 53, who’s helped out with the foundation the last seven years.
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha.
After serving prison time for burglary in the Boston area, he became a Muslim minister, a spokesman for the Nation of Islam and a civil rights leader. He was assassinated in New York City on Feb. 21, 1965.
The two-hour ceremony for the center featured video clips of Malcolm X, music from the African Culture Connection and guest speakers.
The speakers included foundation members, Mayor Jim Suttle and City Councilman Ben Gray, who used the occasion to lambast the recall campaign against Suttle.
“We got a lot of people who talk about what they’re going to do in northeast Omaha,” Gray said. “This man has been here. This man has done it.”
Then, raising his voice and pointing his finger at the crowd, Gray said, “If y’all don’t vote, y’all don’t matter. If y’all don’t vote, y’all don’t matter.”
The recall election will be Jan. 25.
Gray also said the Malcolm X Center will continue to be a priority for the “turnback’’ tax committee.
That panel has allotted $250,000 to the foundation through 2007 legislation that returns to the city a portion of state sales tax revenue generated by the Qwest Center Omaha and Hilton Omaha.
Liwaru said the foundation still plans to raise about $50,000 to improve the center, including creating a new front entrance.
“This is a big relief,” he said of the opening.
Contact the writer:
402-444-3106, jonathon.braden@owh.com
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