| Malcolm X Day | |
|---|---|
 Malcolm X in 1964 | |
| Observed by | Berkeley, California, United States |
| Type | Nationwide festivities Local holiday (May 19) |
| Date | May 19 |
| 2024 date | May 17 (2024-05-17) |
| 2025 date | May 16 (2025-05-16) |
| 2026 date | May 15 (2026-05-15) |
| 2027 date | May 21 (2027-05-21) |
| Frequency | Annual |
Malcolm X Day is anAmerican holiday in honor ofMalcolm X that is celebrated on eitherMay 19 (his birthday) or the third Friday of May. The commemoration of thecivil rights leader has been proposed as an official state holiday in the U.S. state ofIllinois in 2015 and Missouri as recently as 2019. As of present, only the cities ofBerkeley andOakland in California observe the holiday, with city offices and schools closed.[1][better source needed]
The Malcolm X Day holiday has been an official holiday in the municipality ofBerkeley, California, since 1979.[2] Since then, there have been multiple proposals for the holiday to be official elsewhere. Most recently in 2014, a proposal put forth by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago to make the holiday in the U.S. state ofIllinois.[3] The Illinois proposal differs from the Berkeley, California resolution in that the holiday would be observed May 19 instead of the third Friday in May.[4] Before that, unsuccessful attempts were made inAtlanta, Georgia, andWashington, D.C., with numerous calls for it to be celebrated alongsideMartin Luther King Jr. Day[5] as a federal holiday.[6] In 1993, this holiday was proposed at the federal level to Congress as H.J.R. #323 by CongressmanCharles Rangel.[7] In 2015, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed the resolution for the official holiday designation where the law "... officially designated 'May 19, 2015, and every May 19 thereafter' as Malcolm X Day.[8] Though the resolution passed making the holiday official, the Illinois official list of holidays still has yet to reflect the holiday.[9]
| State | Current local observances |
|---|---|
| California | Holiday marked with an official event inSan Jose andSan Francisco.[10] InBerkeley, California, there is currently a legal status on this holiday.[1] This holiday has been in place since 1979.[2][11] |
| District of Columbia | Schools such as theMalcolm X Elementary School inWashington, D.C., mark this holiday through UPEACE, US's DCPEACE program.[12] The first known celebration of Malcolm X Day took place in Washington, D.C., in 1971.[13] Was once proposed as a holiday. |
| Georgia | Holiday marked with festival since 1989 in Atlanta's West End Park.[14] Was once proposed as a holiday. |
| Illinois | As of 2015, the holiday has a legal status in this state.[3] |
| Minnesota | Malcolm X Day is celebrated with the Malcolm X Conference inMinneapolis.[15] |
| Missouri | A house bill HB 172 was introduced to the state legislature for the observation of Malcolm X Day.[16][17] |
| Nebraska | Malcolm X Day was celebrated in Malcolm X's birth city ofOmaha starting in 1968.[18] The holiday was celebrated from 1968 until at least 1997, with official proclamations from the City of Omaha for several years. |
| New York | Malcolm X Day is celebrated in theHarlem neighborhood of New York City with a music event.[19] |
| Ohio | Malcolm X Day is celebrated with the "Malcolm X Heritage Festival" inColumbus, Ohio.[20] |
| Oregon | Malcolm X Day is marked with a peaceful demonstration inSalem, Oregon.[21] |
| Pennsylvania | Malcolm X Day became significant after theFerguson unrest. Events are marked with community activities inPittsburgh,Philadelphia, and other places.[22][23][24] |
| Tennessee | Malcolm X Day is celebrated inNashville.[25] |
| Texas | Malcolm X Day is celebrated inSan Antonio.[26] |
| Washington | Malcolm X Day is marked with a music festival at Umojafest.[27] |
| Wisconsin | Malcolm X Day is celebrated with a general public event with speakers inMilwaukee.[28] |