Los Angeles Unveils Malcolm X Way on Crenshaw Boulevard
Signs celebrate a civil rights icon across five miles, linking storied landmarks South LA.
Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and a master’s in Bioinformatics from Panjab University, India. Her passion for writing engaging articles has led her to pursue a career in content writing since 2020. Sakshi has written in various niches, including health and wellness, fintech, blockchain, and lifestyle.
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Los Angeles has officially renamed a five-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard to “Malcolm X Way” in honor of what would have been the civil rights leader’s 100th birthday. The new signage runs from Leimert Park to View Park, intersecting thoroughfares already named for other Black-American icons.
Commemorating A Centenary
City officials, community leaders, activists and residents gathered in Leimert Park over the weekend to unveil the bright green signs marking Malcolm X Way. L.A. City Councilmember Heather Hutt led the ceremony, lauding Malcolm X as a “truth-teller” whose uncompromising advocacy for human rights continues to fuel global social-justice movements. Flowers and portraits of the leader were laid at the base of each new pole, and local performers offered spoken-word tributes.
The Peoples Platform, @thesourcela, shared images of the ceremony on Instagram, showing proud onlookers beneath the freshly installed street signs under clear spring skies. The posts highlight crowds waving posters and children pointing to the new markers along the historic corridor.
A Corridor Of Icons
Malcolm X Way intersects Obama Boulevard—renamed in 2019 to honor the nation’s first Black president—and Nipsey Hussle Square, dedicated in 2021 at Crenshaw and Slauson in memory of the late rapper and community activist. Together, these contiguous tributes form a powerful civic canvas celebrating Black achievement and resilience.
In her remarks, Councilmember Hutt noted that this artery of South L.A. tells a story: “From Malcolm X’s calls for self-determination to President Obama’s message of hope and Nipsey Hussle’s commitment to economic empowerment, these streets map our shared journey.”
Obama Boulevard originally replaced a stretch of Rodeo Road to commemorate Barack Obama’s 2012 election victory. Nipsey Hussle Square, unveiled two years after the Grammy-nominated artist’s death, sits outside the Crenshaw/LAX Metro station where murals and community gardens now draw visitors.
Leimert Park, often called the cultural heart of Black Los Angeles, served as a fitting backdrop for the celebration. The neighborhood has long been a gathering place for artists, activists and entrepreneurs. On Saturday, local vendors offered food and crafts, while youth programs hosted free workshops on civic engagement and Black history.
Looking ahead, organizers say the new Malcolm X Way signs will encourage residents and visitors to explore the corridor’s historic sites and support nearby small businesses. Walking maps and guided tours are set to launch later this year, tying together art installations, cultural centers and legacy homes.
As Malcolm X Way takes its place alongside other landmark boulevards, it cements Los Angeles’s commitment to honoring the figures who shaped the city’s—and the nation’s—fight for equality.
The renaming stands as a milestone in the city’s ongoing efforts to reflect its diverse heritage in its public spaces. Stars of the civil rights era and modern icons now share the same asphalt, guiding every traveler along a path of remembrance and inspiration.
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