Boston is set to begin a a two-week archaeological dig at Malcolm X's teenage home at Roxbury in hopes of finding artifacts that would give more insight into the famed civil rights activist's life.
It will be the city's only chance to dig the site, said city archaeologist Joseph Bagley, as the activist's family plans to restore the historic home.
The home, which has remained untouched since the 1940s, is now owned by Rodnell Collins, Malcolm X's nephew. Collins and other family members would guide Boston's Archaeology Lab and researchers from the University of Massachusetts-Boston in unearthing artifacts from Malcolm's childhood.
"It's going to look like we're going through garbage, but archaeology is often the study of garbage," Bagley said. "It could be their leftover food or their dinner, it might be something that family pets left behind. We're not sure."
After Bagley learned about the plans of restoring the house, he approached Collins about the dig. Bagley is hoping to uncover older artifacts that could date to as early as the 17th and 18th centuries when the piece of land was still part of an Irish farm.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh tagged the project as a "community dig," as it would be an opportunity for residents to gain more information about Boston's history.
In the late 1990s, Malcolm X's teenage home was named a historic city landmark, but it has fallen into a state of disrepair as can be seen on its chipped paint and rickety stairs.
Collins shared that he is planning to raise money to convert the home into a historical destination that would shed light on Malcolm X's growing-up years in Boston.
"This is just a building, and this building could be gone tomorrow. But this building also represents the idea. It's about Uncle Malcolm and his family," Collins said.
Collins was a witness to Malcolm X's transformation from an ordinary criminal to a leader recognized all over the world.
Prior to the dig, many people stopped by the house to take pictures and share anecdotes about the slain black leader.
Born in 1925 as Malcolm Little, Malcolm transferred from the Midwest when his mother had a nervous breakdown. He was imprisoned in 1946 for burglary and larceny. It was during his stint in Charlestown State Prison that he converted to Islam and joined the Nation of Islam. He then changed his name to Malcolm X to represent his "stolen" ancestry.
Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965 by the followers of the radical black Muslim group that he previously renounced. Tech Times published a piece commemorating his contributions to the '50s-'60s civil rights movement on the 50th anniversary of his death last year.
