nueva york McShann. Solo hacía una década que el teatro permitía la entrada a espectadores negros. En la misma calle 125, en la esquina de la avenida Adam Clayton Powell Jr., dedicada al primer congresista afroamericano, le llamó la atención el hotel Theresa, uno de los pocos que aceptaban clientela que no fuera blanca. Años después albergaría las oficinas de su movimiento y se convertiría en escenario de su encuentro histórico con Fidel Castro, en 1960. Esos recuerdos quedaron congelados hasta principios de los años 50 después de varios trapicheos que le llevaron a la cárcel. Pero allí entró en contacto con la Nación del Islam y sus estudios en religión y filosofía le devolvieron a Harlem como el nuevo pastor de la congregación del llamado Templo número 7. Aunque la mezquita original fue destrui- da en un atentado, en una esquina de la calle 116 se encuen- tra su heredera: Masjid Malcolm Shabazz. Para entonces, Malcolm X se había convertido en un portavoz de las des- igualdades raciales del país y lideró varias protestas como las del precinto de policía de la calle dedicada al abolicio- nista Frederick Douglass y el hospital de Harlem. Su visión revolucionaria le ganó enemigos, incluso dentro del movi- miento, y le quitaron la vida el 21 de febrero de 1965, cuando preparaba un discurso en el Audubon Ballroom. La antigua sala de baile es ahora un memorial que mantiene vivo el espíritu de Malcolm X. ENG ‘I believe in a society where people can live as human beings on the basis of equality.’ This phrase, which encap- sulates the thinking of Malcolm X, illustrates a mosaic that goes unnoticed at the entrance to the 110 Street - Central Park North metro station, the first stop in Harlem, the neighbourhood he loved so much and which he made his base camp for his revolutionary ideas. Today, 19th May, its bustling streets celebrate the centenary of the birth of one of the most influential African-American activists of the 20th century. On his arrival in New York in 1943, the legendary civil rights leader felt the need to dedicate his life to the strug- gle for an equality that is still resisted today. In turn, the city thanked him for his mission by dedicating a street on Sixth Avenue to him, on the stretch that runs through Harlem. And it was here that Malcolm X first came into contact with New York, through African-American musicians and shop- keepers who told him about the Big Apple when this nick- name was just starting to take hold. ‘New York was heaven for me. And Harlem was seventh heaven!’, he once said. In his memoirs he mentions those first steps in the neighbourhood and one of his stops was at the legendary Apollo Theatre where the band of jazz singer and pianist Jay McShann was performing. It had only been a decade since the theatre first allowed black spectators in. On 125th Street itself, on the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Avenue, named after the first African-American congressman, he was struck by the Theresa Hotel, one of the few that accept- ed non-white clientele. Years later it would house the offic- es of his movement and become the setting for his historic meeting with Fidel Castro in 1960. Those memories were frozen until the early 1950s after various shady dealings that landed him in prison. But it was there that he came into contact with the Nation of Islam and his studies in religion and philosophy brought him back to Harlem as the new pastor of the congregation at the so-called Temple Number 7. Although the original mosque was destroyed in an attack, its heir can be found on a corner of 116th Street: Masjid Malcolm Shabazz. By then, Malcolm X had become a spokesperson for the country’s racial inequalities and led several protests, such as those at the police precinct on the street dedicated to abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the Harlem hospital. His revolution- ary vision earned him enemies, even within the movement, and he was murdered on 21 February 1965, while preparing a speech in the Audubon Ballroom. The former dance hall is now a memorial that keeps the spirit of Malcolm X alive. NUEVA YORK © MDoculus/Getty Images NUEVA YORK Vuelos // Flights: Cuatro vuelos a la semana programa Air Europa entre Madrid y Nueva York. La primavera es uno de los grandes momentos del año para visitar la ciudad de los rascacielos. // Air Europa has a four-times-a-week service between Madrid and New York. Spring is one of the best times of the year to visit the city of skyscrapers. www.aireuropa.com