Exploring the Malcolm X House Historical Preservation and Archaeological Project

Explore the groundbreaking Malcolm X House Historical Preservation and Archaeological Project- a collaborative effort between the non-profit organization Project We Hope, Dream, and Believe and Wayne State University's Department of Anthropology. Learn about the exciting developments at the house, as ongoing renovations aim to fully restore the home to its original condition. Located at 4336 Williams St. in Inkster, Michigan, just a few miles from Detroit, Malcolm resided here in the early 1950s with his brother, Wilfred Little and his family, during an incredibly transitional period in his life. It is while here that Malcolm became an official member of the Nation of Islam, marking the start of his career as a minister in the Black Muslim movement.

In 2022 and 2023, archaeological excavations were carried out at the home by Wayne State Anthropology students and faculty, as well as volunteers and community members. The digs yielded hundreds of artifacts, including items that date from the period Malcolm either lived at or frequented the home, such as a 1952 penny- the same year Malcolm arrives.

After receiving an African American Civil Rights Grant through the National Park Service (Historic Preservation Fund) for $380,850, the home's renovations are in their final few stages, with the intended goal of transforming it into a museum that highlights Malcolm's life and Inkster's local history, preserving it all for generations to come.

About Dr. Tareq A. Ramadan

Tareq A. Ramadan, Ph.D. is an anthropologist, Islamic Studies specialist, poet, and professor at Wayne State University in Detroit and at Henry Ford College in Dearborn (USA). He also serves as Project Manager of the Malcolm X House Historical Preservation Project with Project We Hope, Dream, and Believe and founded the Malcolm X Archaeological Project. Tareq also created the Malcolm X Leadership Award, a small scholarship for Wayne State students who work in areas of social justice and civil rights. In 2016, Tareq taught a course he fully created, titled “Islam in America: A History”, which included an exploration of Malcolm X's life as a Muslim, and later initiated efforts to have room 101 of M. Roy Wilson State Hall to be successfully named “Malcolm X Auditorium” in recognition of his 1963 speech there. In 2024, Tareq received Wayne State’s prestigious Community Engagement Award, as well as the State of Michigan’s Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation for his efforts at the Malcolm X House.