Westbury event celebrates Malcolm X's life

Malcolm X was celebrated Sunday at the Islamic Center of Long Island as an embodiment of courage in the face of oppression and ignorance and as an agent of social change whose own life was marked by personal transformation.

Held by the Westbury center to honor Black History Month, the event drew African-American and immigrant Muslims, as well as religious leaders from other faiths and local elected officials. The gathering came six days after the anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination in 1965.

The year before, Malcolm X had traveled to Mecca, a pilgrimage expected of Muslim faithful. The experience led him to distance himself from some earlier positions he'd held on race -- which had included a belief in the merits of black separatism -- and to stress humanity's fellowship.

Several speakers alluded to Malcolm X's capacity for change, with Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont) likening him to the United States, whose greatness is found in its ceaseless drive to better itself, despite sometimes falling short.

"Malcolm X was the quintessential American hero," Solages said.

Others pointed to Malcolm X's unflagging support for black self-determination and condemnation of white racism.

Unlike so many, he was unwilling to bend on principle, said the Rev. Reginald Tuggle, spokesman for Nassau Community College.

"Courage. That's how I envision Malcolm X. As a man of courage," Tuggle said.

Aisha al-Adawiya, director of the social justice group Women in Islam, tried to dispel some of the myths she said surround Malcolm X.

For instance, she said, many people see him as a man who knew little early in life other than street crime, when in fact he was born to parents who championed black independence.

Sunday's gathering followed revelations from The Associated Press last week that the Islamic Center of Long Island was among Islamic religious institutions in the region that were subject to NYPD scrutiny.

The center was included in a "Nassau County Demographics Report" compiled in 2007 to map and list places frequented by Muslims in the county, according to NYPD documents and The Associated Press.

The report included a photograph of the Westbury center and information on its makeup as a Sunni mosque attracting Pakistani worshippers.

Though the NYPD report was not raised directly at the event, Legis. Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said "obviously we are facing a time of lesser acceptance for those of Islamic faith."

In keeping with Malcolm X's spirit, it is a trend Abrahams said he and other elected leaders must do more to address.

"We need to speak up more," he said.

With Víctor Manuel Ramos