The Audubon Ballroom holds great significance in Black history as the site of Malcolm X's assassination on February 21, 1965. Malcolm X, a prominent Black nationalist leader and civil rights activist, was delivering a speech to a crowd of supporters when he was shot multiple times by members of the Nation of Islam, a group he had previously been associated with.

The assassination of Malcolm X at the Audubon Ballroom was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, and it had a profound impact on the Black community in the United States. Malcolm X's legacy as a powerful advocate for racial equality, self-determination, and Black pride continues to inspire generations of activists and organizers.

In the years following his death, the Audubon Ballroom was eventually converted into the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. The center serves as a museum and cultural hub that honors the legacies of both Malcolm X and his widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz, who was a prominent activist and educator in her own right. The Audubon Ballroom thus stands as a historic landmark that commemorates the life and work of Malcolm X and the ongoing struggle for Black liberation.