Malcolm X’s briefcase

Malcolm X (1925–1965) maintained a famously busy schedule, meeting with activists, religious and community leaders, students, scholars, and everyday people around the world and on the sidewalks and in the shops of Harlem. Much of the Malcolm X Collection documents the substance of those many meetings, conferences, and public presentations, and provides a glimpse of the charisma that drew so many people to him. Yet the collection includes only a handful of Malcolm X’s personal effects. This briefcase is one such rare artifact and a testament to Malcolm X’s tireless work.