SPRINGFIELD — On the outside wall of an old mosque on Oak Street in Springfield, the image of Malcolm X gazes down the road as people pass by.
Malcolm X was one of America’s most prominent civil rights leaders and an iconic figure in the Black community. He was seen as second in command of the Nation of Islam.
He and Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of black people against what Malcolm X called the “white devil.”
Community leaders and the artists who painted the mural unveiled it on Saturday.
A mural of Malcolm X on the outside wall of an old mosque on Oak Street in Springfield that he established. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican)Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican
“Being who I am and Malcolm X being a hero, I felt compelled to honor his legacy and show the historical significance that he brought to Springfield,” said Richard Johnson, 34, who is a science and biology teacher in the city and helped do the painting.
While King called for nonviolent protests, Malcolm X demanded change “by any means necessary.”
“They were two, countervailing forces — a solid one-two punch. Dr. King called for non-violent measures and Malcolm X encouraged confrontation,” said state Rep. Bud L. Williams, D-Springfield, who saw Malcolm X speak several times decades ago in Springfield when Williams was a child.
“When he walked into a room, he moved the crowd. You would lean on every word. You were captivated by the message, his sincerity and dedication to people,” said Williams.
Both civil rights leaders died violently. King was assassinated in 1968; Malcolm X was shot to death in 1965.
The mural honoring him is on the wall of a building he established as a mosque. He came several times to give lectures there.
“This was the 13th (Nation of Islam) mosque in the country. I remember as a young man he was co-pastor of mosque 13,” said Willliams.
Danielle Winters, 31, a visual arts teacher in Springfield, helped paint the mural. She told The Republican the unveiling comes at an important time in America.
The outside wall of an old mosque on Oak Street in Springfield established by Malcolm X. (Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican)
Staasi Heropoulos / Special to The Republican
“We are living in not much different times than what Malcolm X was fighting against. It’s important for me to honor somebody who has done the hard social justice work, community organizing and who is a beacon of light to the community. We can still carry on the work he was doing in those hard times,” she said.
Winters and Johnson said members of the community helped create the mural by painting parts of it along with donating money and supplies. The images were created on eight panels that each measure 5 feet by 5 feet. The work took several months, was done off-site and recently applied to the brick wall.
The image of the African American leader appears closest to the street with a huge X flanking the left side of the project.
Running down the middle of the white background is one of Malcolm X’s more famous quotes: “Education is the passport to our future. For the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
“Malcolm X made civil rights a human rights issue,” said Johnson. “It’s important to remember what he stood for and who he stood for, which is the people. I wanted to reflect that and show through my art this is how we face our fears.”
Johnson, Winters and a handful of others stood in the rain on a sliver of wet land between the mosque and an old home. They were there to honor a man who fought to the death for human rights.
“I can’t believe I participated in something my family and strangers can see at any moment of the day,” said Winters. “This it means so much to me. It’s going to be here for a long time.”
