Although students frequent Malcolm X House during social events, many may not be aware of the program house’s historical significance in the development of minority rights at Wesleyan. With the aim of addressing this awareness gap, one of the events organized for Black History Month was an informal gathering on Thursday, Feb. 22 in commemoration of X-House.
“My plan was to discuss the history of the house and learn more about the life of Malcolm X, and lastly to listen to the community’s thoughts about the dynamics and status of Malcolm X House” said Jazz Price ’08, the house manager of X-House and the moderator for the event.
Celebration of the University’s legacy of student of color activism began on Wednesday, Feb. 21 with a vigil for the 1969 “Fisk Takeover.” This historical demonstration involved 100 black students and several Middletown residents, who took over Fisk Hall in order to demand the administration recognize the black student body. The takeover resulted in an annual commemoration of civil rights activist Malcolm X, and the conversion of the former John Wesley House—a social space for faculty—into the Malcolm X House. Since 1969, the house has accommodated student residents as well as the faculty offices for the Center for African American Studies.
Students continue to value the symbolism and importance of X-House as a center of black community life on campus.
Tameir Holder ’08, whose older brother and sister both lived in X-House during their undergraduate years at the University, fondly recalled her earliest memories of the house.
“I remember visiting Wes when I was three or four years old,” Holder said. “Since I was a very young age, I equated Wes with X-House.”
Despite the personal attachment that many feel toward X-House, finding enough residents to fill up the house has posed a continual challenge since the inception of the house. According to Price, there are currently four vacancies.
“Freshmen used to be allowed [to live] in the house, which lent the place a positive vibe and solved a lot of the occupancy problems,” Price said. “But with all these vacancies, we have to ask ‘Is this still an important space?’”
To many current and former residents of X-House, the answer to that question is a resounding ‘yes.’ Toward the end of the spring 2006 semester, Holder was so concerned about the house losing its status as a result of the low occupancy level that she sent an e-mail to former and potential house residents.
“It was upsetting to hear complaints about the house being too far from campus,” Holder said. “It just seemed too superficial. And this year the occupancy is much better.”
Holder’s e-mail did, in fact, rally several students into changing their housing preferences. Justin Douglas ’08, who had lived in X-House as a sophomore, decided to stay on in the house for a second year.
“When I got the e-mail, I was like ‘Really? We can’t let X-House go,’” Douglas said.
While the Office of Residential Life has not actually voiced the possibility of closing or changing the house’s status, residents remain anxious about future developments.
Another concern that Price raised was the perception of X-House as primarily a party venue, and less as a valuable cultural space for the black community.
“I support all of the groups who use this space, but me personally, I wanted to have more educational programs,” she said.
Nicole Gray ’08 encouraged efforts like the Fisk Takeover vigil and the X-House discussion, which brought out the history and importance of the house and heightened students’ sense of personal investment.
“This year’s programs have really changed my perspective of X-House,” Gray said.
The discussion was followed by a tour of the building, with an emphasis on commemorating the achievements of Malcolm X, as well as giving freshmen and other prospective residents a look at life at X-House. With next semester’s opening of the new Usdan University Center, students hope that the dorm will be seen as less isolated from the rest of campus.
“The middle of campus is shifting,” Douglas said. “I see great things for X-House in the future.”
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