Malcolm X Monument to Be Unveiled at Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library on October 14

A monument honoring civil rights leader and human rights advocate Malcolm X is being constructed at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library and will be unveiled during a special ceremony next month.

The unveiling is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, on the library’s campus, according to an announcement from the Anne Arundel County Public Library, Anne Arundel County, the Caucus of African American Leaders and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee. To register, click here.

The monument is being funded by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, the Caucus of African American Leaders, Anne Arundel County and community donors. It will feature a biography of Malcolm X, photographs and quotes highlighting his life and his belief in the power of education to transform and empower individuals and communities.

Books and education played a significant role in shaping Malcolm X’s life, making the library a particularly meaningful location for the memorial.

“When Carl Snowden approached me about memorializing Malcolm X, I immediately thought of the Michael E. Busch Library as an ideal site,” Anne Arundel County Executive Mr. Steuart Pittman said.

Mr. Pittman said the writings of Malcolm X spoke directly to Black Annapolitans who confronted racism in the city and its institutions. He said the monument’s location on West Street will welcome people from different backgrounds to read, study and think deeply about justice.

Mr. Carl Snowden, longtime civil rights activist and convener of the Caucus of African American Leaders, thanked the Anne Arundel County Public Library Board of Trustees, Mr. Pittman and the hundreds of donors who contributed to bringing the memorial to Anne Arundel County.

The monument will be one of the first permanent public art installations at an Anne Arundel County Public Library location. According to the library, the project went through its formal public art review process, which considers factors including artistic and historical significance, community relevance, accessibility, safety, suitability for the location and long-term maintenance.

The proposal was reviewed by the library’s art advisory and technical considerations committees before receiving final approval from the Anne Arundel County Public Library Board of Trustees.

Anne Arundel County Public Library CEO Mr. Skip Auld said libraries provide spaces where people can learn, ask questions and engage with ideas, including those that may challenge people or encourage debate.

“Malcolm X’s legacy is complex and libraries have a responsibility to help people explore history in its full context,” Mr. Auld said.

He said the Busch Annapolis Library provides an appropriate setting for visitors to learn about Malcolm X’s life, consider his contributions and controversies and engage in thoughtful dialogue.