Photo Credit: Amanda J. Cain/Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are honoring the legacy of Malcolm X with a special retail capsule highlighting his deep connection to Detroit. Set to launch on Feb. 7 during the team’s HBCU/NPHC Night, the collection will be available online at Pistons313Shop.com and in-store at Little Caesars Arena. Designed to celebrate Malcolm X’s impact on empowerment and unity, the capsule merges history with fashion, offering fans a meaningful way to pay tribute to his enduring influence.
The project aims to share a true story about Malcolm X’s experiences in Detroit and his dedication to uplifting and bringing together people of all backgrounds, no matter their race.
Bilal Saeed, Vice President of Brand & Marketing Strategy, highlighted Malcolm X was a humanitarian driven by a profound love for justice and equality for all.
“His personal journey from Malcolm Little to Detroit Red to Malcolm X, and ultimately Malik El-Shabazz, teaches us the significance of self-education and the willingness to evolve,” Saeed said.
“The narrative of his time in Michigan was pivotal to his journey, yet it remains lesser known. As we have done with previous collaborations such as Motown and J. Dilla, the Pistons aim to educate the basketball world and beyond about Malcolm’s connection to Motown.”
Photo Credit: Amanda J. Cain/Detroit Pistons
The collection, designed by Detroit artist Wesley Taylor and in conjunction with the Malcolm X Estate, X Legacy, features six pieces – two hoodies and two t-shirts produced by DETail Threads and two hats produced by Mitchell & Ness. Each piece in the capsule will pay homage to Malcolm X and his legacy in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday this year.
“The partnership between X Legacy and the Detroit Pistons honors Malcolm X’s enduring impact as a revolutionary thinker, leader, and advocate for justice,” the X Legacy Estate said.
“Together, we celebrate his 100th birthday by bringing his powerful legacy to life through storytelling, education, and community engagement reminding us all that progress begins with bold vision and action.”
As part of their partnership, the Pistons are helping to support the Wayne State University Malcolm X Leadership Award. This award is given out each year to students who have made notable contributions to their communities through civic engagement, social activism, community empowerment, and efforts in civil and human rights. It celebrates their hard work and dedication in making a positive difference.
Dr. Tareq A. Ramadan, an adjunct interdisciplinary professor of Anthropology and Near Eastern Studies at Wayne State, emphasized that Wayne State University has been ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation and is regarded as one of the most diverse campuses in the state of Michigan.
“Its students represent a talented, hard-working, and driven community that has helped Detroit become a major center for learning and innovation. It’s also a place Malcolm X, himself, gave a speech at, more than six decades ago in room 101 State Hall (now M. Roy Wilson State Hall room 1101),” Ramadan said.
The Malcolm X Leadership Award, offered by the Department of Anthropology at Wayne State University, aims to honor students demonstrating community leadership and to help cover research costs related to social justice and human rights, reflecting the values Malcolm X dedicated his life to.
“Recipients of this annual award have the opportunity to further their important work, and we are certain that their contributions will have a positive social impact that resonates among the people of Detroit, and beyond,” Ramadan said.
Photo Credit: Amanda J. Cain/Detroit Pistons
Malcolm X played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, with his ties to Detroit serving as a critical foundation in shaping his activism. After his release from prison in 1952, Malcolm X, known as “Detroit Red,” arrived in Detroit before moving in with his brother in Inkster, where he became deeply involved in the Nation of Islam (NOI), which had a strong presence in the city.
It was in Detroit that he rose to prominence as a dynamic speaker, advocating for Black empowerment, self-determination, and a radical departure from the systemic racism that oppressed African Americans. Detroit, with its rich African American population and history of labor activism, became an essential backdrop for his ideas on Black pride and economic independence. Malcolm X’s time in Detroit set the stage for his transformation into a global figure who sought to challenge racial injustice on both national and international levels.
For more information on the products prior to the on-sale date, visit, Pistons.com/MalcolmX.
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