Smethwick is honoring Malcolm X, who died 47 years ago. The American black activist visited the British town just nine days before his assassination and helped defuse racial tensions there.

In order to preserve the memory of  that visit, PRI’s Lisa Mullins interviewed professor Gus John and also Jak Beula, who heads the trust that commissioned the plaque commemorating Malcolm X’s visit.

Credits: “Malcolm X“, by Thomas Hawk (Flickr)

You can listen to the interview, in full, by clicking here.