The Audubon Ballroom holds significant historical importance in Black history as the location where Malcolm X, the prominent civil rights leader and activist, was assassinated on February 21, 1965. Malcolm X was delivering a speech to his organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity, when he was shot multiple times by assassins.

The assassination of Malcolm X had a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement and Black activism in the United States. It marked a tragic loss for the Black community and left a void in the struggle for racial equality and justice. The Audubon Ballroom became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and social justice, and in 1969, it was renamed the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center in honor of Malcolm X and his widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz.

Today, the Audubon Ballroom is a historic site that commemorates the legacy of Malcolm X and serves as a museum and educational center dedicated to promoting civil rights, social justice, and Black history.