Unity in the Community

Unity in the Community. Anacostia Park. , As the primary site for the annual Malcolm X Day celebration, Anacostia Park made history during the Black Power Movement. For over 25 years, on or near Malcolm X's birthday on May 19th, tens of thousands of people gathered here to hear activists, community leaders, and musicians., Keynote speakers including Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Mayor Marion Barry, comedian and Civil Rights activist Dick Gregory, Dr. Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's spouse), and author, activist, rapper, and film producer Sister Souljah., The event was both a celebration of culture and an arts catalyst. One of the many highlights was the debut of GO-GO, a D.C.-created subgenre of funk that encourages listeners to "Go and Go all night." GO-GO performances featured groups such as Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Rare Essence, Trouble Funk, and Experience Unlimited who performed for audiences of up to 50,000., [Captions:] , Malcolm X became one of America's most dynamic Black leaders of the 1960s. A Black nationalist and prominent member of the Nation of Islam, he worked for civil rights while prioritizing Black autonomy and empowerment., In 1975 Malcolm X Day was held at the nearby Frederick Douglass National Historical Site. It came to Anacostia Park two years later.