Harlem Celebrates Malcolm X with New Subway Station Name

As part of Harlem Week festivities, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the renaming of the 110th Street-Central Park North subway station to 110th Street-Malcolm X Plaza, honoring the influential civil rights leader and Harlem resident. Malcolm X lived intermittently in Harlem from his late teens through his final decade, impacting the community and the nation.

Mosaic at the 110th Street-Malcolm X Boulevard subway station entrance with a quote about equality. — The station’s renaming is part of Harlem Week celebrations.

This year also marks the centennial of the Harlem Renaissance, a historical period when approximately 175,000 Black residents migrated to Harlem to escape racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws in the South, fueling a cultural and artistic revival.

Hochul emphasized Harlem’s vital role in American history: “Recognizing Malcolm X and the Harlem Renaissance’s contributions is a way to celebrate Harlem’s rich heritage and community. From civil rights struggles to groundbreaking cultural achievements, Harlem has been at the heart of progress,” she stated.

Woman signing a document at a public event. — Malcolm X’s time in Harlem shaped his activism and identity.

Malcolm X, a complex and influential figure, initially promoted Black separatism aligned with Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam. His early experiences and faith significantly influenced his approach to civil rights, often contrasting with Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent philosophy. However, following a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, Malcolm X publicly rejected separatism, describing a spiritual awakening, as reported at the time.

Kathy Hochul on a New York City subway car. — Malcolm X’s residence in Harlem during his formative and final years.

Malcolm X and King met only once — a brief encounter during discussions of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill, shortly before Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965. Malcolm, known for his evolving stance, once told King he would involve himself fully in civil rights struggles. Malcolm X remains a symbol of change and resilience, with parts of Harlem naming landmarks after him, including the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market and Plaza.