Community gathers at Civil Rights Heritage Center to honor Malcolm X

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Community members gathered at the Civil Rights Heritage Center Tuesday to honor the life of civil rights leader Malcolm X, who was assassinated on February 21, 1965.

The event honored the late leader's work in advocating for justice and, more specifically, celebrated the women in his life who influenced him.

The legacy those women left reflect the impact black women have on our community as well, said Dr. Darryl Heller, Ph.D., Director of the Civil Rights Heritage Center.

"I just think that it's important that we do recognize the contribution of women," Heller said. "And particularly, we often hear the voices and know the contributions that men have made, without fully realizing that there were really strong women behind them that allowed them to do what they did. And that's important that we as a society as a community recognized."