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Roxbury History Speaker Series
What is the Notion?
A History of A Nubian Notion Inc., Boston's First Afrocentric Store
April 17 2013, 7PM
Haley House Bakery Cafe
12 Dade St Roxbury
Dinner available for purchase from 5PM
Free parking in the Haley House lot.
History of "A Nubian Notion"
A Nubian Notion Inc was founded in 1962 by Malik A Abdal-Khallaq. For
many years, A Nubian Notion Inc. was the only store in Boston selling
African and African American products. Cards, jewelry, art, fabric,
Afro-piks (an original design), dashikis (created by Mrs. Elva Lee C.
Abdal-Khallaq, the wife of Malik Abdal-Khallaq), books and much more
were available, providing the Roxbury community with knowledge,
self-awareness and cultural identity.
Malik A. Abdal-Khallaq in center and Sharif Abdal-Khallaq on far right
in front of barber shop on Humboldt-back in the day
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Jumaada Abdal-Khallaq H. Smith with Kay Bourne at A Nubian Notion
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Malik Abdal-Khallaq was a leader in the Roxbury community and often
sought out by visiting dignitaries including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,
Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bill Russell, Bill Cosby, El-Hajj Malik El Shabazz
(Malcolm X), President John F. Kennedy and Louis Farrakhan, to name a
few. He made trips to Egypt and Sudan and brought back artifacts which
he displayed in Beau Nubian Brummel Tonsorial Emporium, his barber shop
on Humboldt Ave. Because of the community desire for these products he
eventually opened A Nubian Notion Inc. It is still owned and operated
by the Abdal-Khallaq family today.
Jumaada Abdal-Khallaq H. Smith is the Coordinator of the Goldenaires of
Freedom House and a community leader involved in the Greater Boston
Interfaith Organization, Dudley Square Main Streets, the Dudley Vision
Advisory Task Force, Organization of African American Veterans, St
Katharine Drexel Church, the Roxbury Collaborative and the Boston
Juneteenth Committee.
Presentation: History and Panel Discussion
Jumaada Abdal-Khallaq H. Smith, daughter of Malik Abdal Khallaq and
other members of the family will share the history and their memories
of A Nubian Notion Inc, at one time the largest one stop Afrocentric
store in New England.
After
the presentation about the store's history, a panel will reflect on the
impact A Nubian Notion Inc had on them and on the Black community in
Boston. Included on the panel is Ekua Holmes (a prominent Boston artist
who worked in the store from age 14-21). Ekua says "A Nubian Notion was
family, whether you were a biological child or not. Malik especially
let us know that he expected and desired great things for all of us. He
could see and appreciate our individual talents and skills sometimes
before we did."
Candelaria Silva (author and arts educator who brought shopping tours
to the store) will moderate the panel. The audience is invited to bring
memories to share.
About the Speaker Series
The History Speaker Series is a program of the Roxbury Historical
Society, and co-sponsored by Haley House Bakery Café and Discover
Roxbury. Shawmut Design and Construction is supporting the series.
The
evening is free and open to the public. Dinner is available for sale
from 5PM on. For more information call Haley House 617 445 0900, visit
www.discoverroxbury.org or email roxburyhistory@gmail.com. Seating is
limited
Contact Information
Roxbury Historical Society
183 Roxbury St Roxbury Ma 02119
roxburyhistory@gmail.com
Marcia Butman, Roxbury Historical Society
617 504 1871 / mbutman@gmail.com
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Posted: April 16, 2013 Nancy J Conrad
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Comments
Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 12:06 PM
THANKS for the plug for our Nubian Notion event - it was a big success.
Best, Bing Broderick from the Haley House.
Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 2:51 PM
I am honored to know most of the "iconic" Abdal Khallaq Family!
I have been going into a Nubian Notion since the beginning.I used to
"slap five" with Malik Abdal Khallaq at his barber shop on the corner
of Humboldt Ave & Munroe Street, on my way to see Ernie Jones &
Mother Jones (who still lives on Munroe St.)"back-in-tha-day!"
One day A Nubian Notion will be considered a Landmark Building" and a
huge part of the "Afrocentric Flow" in the Dudley Street area and City
of Boston. God Bless the Abdal Khallaq Family and A Nubian Notion!
Charles "Poncho" Brown
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