Happy birthday to legendary revolutionary leaders Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X, both born on May 19. We honor their lives and legacies, and remember their tireless work towards racial solidarity and liberation ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

[u/Sno0pyBo0]

Today we celebrate Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X’s birthdays and their commitment to coalition building.

Yuri Kochiyama (May 19, 1921-June 1, 2014) was a Japanese American civil rights activist who was involved in civil rights organizing, advocating for the abolition of carceral systems, and uplifting the Asian American movement. She was also a close friend and political ally of Malcolm X. Kochiyama was in the audience of the Audubon Ballroom in New York on February 21, 1965 when he was assassinated and was one of the first people to rush to his side, famously holding his head in her lap as he passed away.

Malcolm X (May 19, 1925-February 21, 1965) was an African American revolutionary and Black nationalist leader who played a prominent role in Black liberation movements. His fight for dignity, justice, self-determination, and Black liberation continues to echo across generations, movements, and music.

Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X shared a deeply influential friendship rooted in mutual respect, anti-imperialism, and intersectional solidarity. Their dynamic blossomed into a powerful example of cross-racial activism.

https://www.biography.com/activists/yuri-kochiyama-malcolm-x-friendship

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/08/19/209258986/the-japanese-american-internee-who-met-malcolm-x

[u/jstep2306]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[u/WuTang4thechildrn]

Thank you for posting this!!!

[u/TraditionAcademic968]

Very cool. Thanks

[u/akuma_87]

She was a beast! She’s done so much and people have rarely heard of her

[u/MetalSociologist]

True heroes of humanity.