“Erma Bombeck” and “Malcolm X” - This Day in History – Feb 21st

Writer, Erma Bombeck is born

Back in 1927, Dayton, OH welcomed the birth of future satirist, humorist writer, Erma Bombeck.  Ms. Bombeck suffered from kidney disease throughout her life.  While raising her kids in suburbia she decided to write books that reflected her life and other topics of suburban living with a humorous tone. She and her husband Bill raised three children. 

According to history.com, “In 1967, her first book, also called At Wit's End, comprised a collection of her columns. Among her many other popular books were The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank (1976), If Life Is a Bowl Of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? (1978), Aunt Erma's Cope Book (1979), and A Marriage Made in Heaven...Or Too Tired for an Affair(1993). 

Ms. Bombeck is also known for her witty quotes as according to brainyquote.com:

• Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.
• How come anything you buy will go on sale next week?
• Did you ever notice that the first piece of luggage on the carousel never belongs to anyone?
• Houseguests should be regarded as perishables: Leave them out too long and they go bad.
  
  

Ms. Bombeck had one of her books developed into a movie as well, “If Life Is a Bowl Of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?  This film starred comic actress, Carol Burnett. 

Ms. Bombeck, who was also a breast cancer survivor, finally succumbed to liver disease at the age of 69 after a failed liver transplant in 1996.

Malcolm X assassinated in Washington Heights

Back in 1965, African American nationalist and religious leader Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City’s Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights.  He was 39 at the time of his death. 

History.com stated that Malcolm X was, “born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925, Malcolm was the son of James Earl Little, a Baptist preacher who advocated the black nationalist ideals of Marcus Garvey.” 

In his youth Malcolm would serve jail time and would become a member of Nation of Islam.  Malcolm X would later travel the world to meet leaders and gain an insight of racism. 

According to history.com “He returned to America as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and in June 1964 founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which advocated black identity and held that racism, not the white race, was the greatest foe of the African American. Malcolm's new movement steadily gained followers, and his more moderate philosophy became increasingly influential in the civil rights movement, especially among the leaders of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

On February 21, 1965, one week after his home was firebombed, Malcolm X was shot to death by Nation of Islam members while speaking at a rally of his organization in New York City.” 

The Audubon Ballroom would become a historical landmark and would become the Malcolm X & Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. 

A movie was developed on the life of Malcolm X with the help of Director, Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington who played Malcolm X.

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dolly-parton-cements-her-crossover-success-as-quot9-to-5quot-hits-351?catId=13