Decades of struggle to win state recognition for Omaha native and human rights activist Malcolm X will culminate this month when he is formally inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be 1 p.m.
Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda. The ceremony will include family members of Malcolm X, Malcolm X Foundation Executive Director JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, Gov. Jim Pillen and History Nebraska Interim Director Jill Dolberg.
Malcolm X LeFlore-Ejike, who nominated Malcolm X for the honor, called the event historic for Nebraska and the entire nation. Malcolm X was chosen for the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 2022, after being nominated and rejected at least twice before. Some previously deemed him too controversial to be chosen.
"This is an opportunity for not only the state of Nebraska to honor him but the entire nation," she said. "There is no greater time than now to celebrate his contributions as a human rights activist. Malcolm set the blueprint for us to live with courage and prepare the next generation to lead with integrity.
" He will be the first Black person in the Nebraska Hall of Fame. The 26 current members include three Native Americans, one of whom is a woman, four other women and 19 White men. Malcolm X was born in Omaha's University Hospital on May 19, 1925, as Malcolm Little.
His father was involved with community organizing in Omaha and the family left town less than two years after Malcolm's birth because of threats from the Ku Klux Klan. Although he .