Professor Griff Lectures on Malcolm X
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2012) — A small portion of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum rolled into Lexington and onto the University of Kentucky campus yesterday to set up today’s exhibit of 200 artifacts on the life and legacy of Malcolm X.
The exhibit, titled “Necessary!,” is sponsored by the UK Black Student Union and Diversity Education & Community Building, a component of the partnership between the Office for Institutional Diversity and the Office of Student Involvement. Part of the university’s celebration of Black History Month, the exhibit will be on display from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 206 Student Center. A lecture presented by Professor Griff, an American rapper, spoken word artist, member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy and head of the Security of the First World, is slated at 6 p.m. today in Centre Theatre.
The Necessary! exhibit, with over 200 artifacts of the life of Malcolm X, takes a fresh and bold approach to teaching his legacy in America through original letters, handbills, photographs, newspapers, magazines, figurines and other memorabilia. The artifacts are displayed chronologically starting with items from the slavery era to build a context for the culture that produced a revolutionary mind such as Malcolm X and ends with his influence on the powerful voices of today’s hip-hop culture. Some of the highlights of the exhibit include: a page from Alex Haley’s typewritten interview with Malcolm X for Playboy magazine; the original photograph of the lynching in Marion, Ind., that inspired the song "Strange Fruit"; an original letter written by Elijah Muhammad; a handbill advertising Malcolm X’s speaking engagement in Washington, D.C.; Black Panther newspapers showing Malcolm X's influence; and original hip-hop artifacts from KRS One and Public Enemy.
“We are excited about visiting UK during Black History Month this year,” said Khalid el-Hakim, founder and curator of Black History 101 Mobile Museum. “In America black history is still not as inclusive in schools' curriculums as it should be. The opportunity to share the Necessary! exhibit helps to fill in some of the gaps that have been left out of history.”
Professor Griff rose in the public eye as the leader of the Security of the First World, a combination of bodyguards and dancers for Public Enemy. Their stage routines were a loose combination of martial arts, military drill and “step show” dances lifted from black college fraternities. Eventually, his role evolved as the “Minister of Information,” the intellectual public face of the band. Professor Griff’s lecture will focus on Malcolm X's influence on Public Enemy and the hip-hop culture.
“Malcolm X’s influence on hip-hop culture has been felt since its early dates with DJs who played his speeches during park jams,” said el-Hakim. “His voice has been sampled in hip-hop by many artists. Having Professor Griff lecture on Malcolm X's influence on Public Enemy will certainly top off the exhibit.”
When asked why he travels with the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, Griff said, “Because history is the time clock we tell our cultural time of day. We need to know history if we are to know what time it is.”