Malcolm X to be inducted into Nebraska Hall of Fame

On Monday, September 12, Malcolm X was voted by the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commision to be the newest member to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The vote was initially 4 to 3, but after it passed, the commission agreed to make the decision unanimous. 

Malcolm X was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. Less than two years after his birth, his family fled Omaha because of threats from the Klu Klux Klan. As a converted muslim, Malcolm X was a key figure in the growth of the Nation of Islam, and his faith remained an integral part of his identity even after his split from the group. He is known for his contributions to the civil rights movement and his lasting impact on the ideas of Black nationalism and racial pride. He was assassinated in 1965.

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961. Individuals could be inducted into the hall every two years until 1998, where new legislation established that one individual could be nominated every five years and that it must be at least 35 years since their death.

Malcolm X was nominated by JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Foundation, located in Omaha, Nebraska. His nomination was supported by members of the foundation and former state senator Ernie Chambers. Other nominees this year included Louise Pound, an athlete and scholar, and Howard Hanson, a musician and composer who won a Pulitzer Prize. 

The process included testimonies about the nominees, where individuals remarked on the impact of Malcolm X’s book, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”, and the lack of recognition that he has received in the state of Nebraska. He was previously nominated in 2004 and 2007 and is the first black person to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Out of the current 26 members, 19 are white men. 

Malcolm X will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, and a bust will be created and displayed in the Lincoln state capitol building.

According to Nebraska Law Statute 72-726, individuals “who were born in Nebraska, who gained prominence while living in Nebraska, or who lived in Nebraska and whose residence in Nebraska was an important influence on their lives and which contributed to their greatness” qualify for the hall of fame. The inductees are judged on their contributions in public affairs, art or sciences, with secondary consideration for entertainment and athletics.

Notable current members of the Nebraska Hall of Fame include WWI General John J Pershing, “Buffalo Bill,” Standing Bear, and William Jennings Bryan (who served as Secretary of State, but is perhaps better known for his role as prosecution in the Scopes Monkey Trial).

By: Aubrey Benton