(MENAFN) The University of Rhode Island (URI) has finally removed a quote from the Autobiography of black civil rights leader Malcolm X, which was inscribed on the facade of its library in 1992. The decision comes 30 years after student activists protested the quote's inclusion on the building, and after university president Marc Parlange pledged to remove it in November 2021. The 1992 protest was led by URI's Black Student Leadership Group, who objected to the use of the quote without proper context.
The quote, "My alma mater was books, a good library... I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity," was meant to honor Malcolm X, who was a prominent member of the Nation of Islam. However, the activists argued that the quote did not accurately represent Malcolm X's views on education, and that it ignored his larger message about systemic racism and oppression.
The removal of the quote has been a long time coming, and Parlange has expressed his gratitude towards the protesters who stood up against injustice thirty years ago. The university plans to fill the space where the quote once stood with plain black granite panels.
The removal of the quote highlights the ongoing debates about representation and historical context in public spaces. It also serves as a reminder that activism and protest can bring about change, even if it takes several decades for that change to happen. The university's decision to remove the quote is a step towards acknowledging the complexities of Malcolm X's legacy, and towards creating a more inclusive and equitable campus environment.
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