To honor Malcolm X the celebration was always held on the Sunday closest to his birthday. Malcolm Little was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm X rose from a background of poverty, crime, and drug use to become one of America’s most dynamic Black leaders of the 1960’s. The one time spokesman for the Nation of Islam and founder of the Organization of Afro-American Unity was respected from the man-on-the-street to heads of states for his honest analysis of the plight of Blacks in America. Malcolm’s triumph over drugs and crime and commitment to social, political and economic uplift of his people exemplified the high standard of social responsibility and cultural identity that the MXDC sought to accomplish by:
- educating young people about Malcolm X in hopes of instilling his values in youth and those seeking better lives,
- making a commitment to voter registration and uplifting candidates and elected officials who espoused Malcolm’s basic principles,
- uplifting the culture of a people that connected us to the African Diaspora,
- supporting black businesses with vendors seeking the freedom and the rewards of entrepreneurship.
The MXDC was conducted in Southeast Washington, D.C. from 1972 to 1995 annually in May. This event could not have been done without the support of the United Black Fund and the cooperation from the City of Washington, DC. With this gathering in 2018, the MXDC will commemorate 23 years of this activity on its 46th anniversary.