The Detroit Pistons have unveiled a retail capsule celebrating the life and legacy of Malcolm X, highlighting his deep-rooted connection to Detroit. The collection will be available for purchase on Feb. 7, during the team’s HBCU/NPHC Night, at Pistons313Shop.com and the Detroit Pistons Team Store at Little Caesars Arena. Fans can visit Pistons.com/MalcolmX for details ahead of the launch.
Designed by Detroit artist Wesley Taylor in collaboration with the Malcolm X Estate, X Legacy, the capsule includes six pieces—two hoodies and two t-shirts produced by DETail Threads, along with two hats from Mitchell & Ness. Each item pays homage to Malcolm X’s legacy, commemorating what would have been his 100th birthday.
“Malcolm X was a humanitarian driven by a profound love for justice and equality for all,” Bilal Saeed, Vice President of Brand & Marketing Strategy said. “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. 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.”
As part of the initiative, the Pistons will contribute to the Wayne State University Malcolm X Leadership Award, which recognizes students for their civic engagement, social activism, and community empowerment efforts.
“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.”
“Wayne State University has been ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation and is regarded as one of the most diverse campusesin the state of Michigan,” Dr. Tareq A. Ramadan, an adjunct interdisciplinary professor of Anthropology and Near Eastern Studies at Wayne State said. “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). The Malcolm X Leadership Award, presented through the Department of Anthropology, is designed to reward Wayne State University students who have taken on a leadership role in their community as well as to offset some of the costs associated with research in areas such as social justice and human rights- causes that Malcolm X, himself, dedicated much of 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. “
Through this capsule, the Pistons honor Malcolm X’s enduring impact, merging history, culture, and fashion in a meaningful tribute.
