Hudson County Community College’s tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. next month will feature Malcolm X’s daughter, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X sacrificed their lives in the fight for equality. They shared a common goal: improving Black lives and all lives. We are honored to welcome Dr. Shabazz as our guest speaker,” HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber said in a statement.
The event will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, at the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, located at 161 Newkirk St. in Jersey City.
Following Shabazz’s speech, attendees will enjoy lunch and the Opening Reception of the Civil Rights Art Exhibition in the Benjamin J. Dineen and Dennis C. Hull Gallery in the Gabert Library. Guests may RSVP here.
Shabazz is an author, public speaker, and activist who promotes interfaith dialogue to build bridges between cultures for the world’s young leaders.
She was the inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fellow at Worchester State University for the 2023-2024 academic year, and assisted with diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the campus.
Shabazz is also an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she has taught a variety of courses including American Cultural Pluralism and the Law.
Although Dr. King and Malcolm X met and were photographed together only once during a Senate debate on the Civil Rights Act in 1964, their widows bonded.
Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” and Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” speeches helped define their visions for civil and human rights. Their parallel paths are detailed in The Sword and The Shield dual biography.
More information on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial event may be obtained by contacting the HCCC Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at 201-360-5399 or dei@hccc.edu.
