Nick Khaliq sauntered into the Golden Thyme coffee shop in St. Paul on a recent morning and was immediately greeted with hellos and handshakes.
He headed to the counter to order a cup and chatted up the owner.
When Khaliq finally sat down, a customer at the next table leaned over. "This man is beloved in our neighborhood [Summit-University]," offered Melvin Giles, a longtime community activist.
It could be argued whether "beloved" is the universal word to describe Khaliq in his public role as agitator, collaborator, peacemaker, protester and black community leader in Minnesota's second-largest city. What's not up for debate is his activism on the streets and in the halls of power, speaking out against injustices for more than four decades. He has scrapped with drug dealers and knuckleheads, police officers and politicians. He has angered people and earned respect from many others.
Now, after 16 years as president of the St. Paul chapter of the NAACP, Khaliq is stepping aside. "I'm riding off into the sunset," he said.
He won't ride too far, as there's no plan to leave the old Victorian house a few blocks from Selby Avenue and Dale Street where he has lived since 1975. He intends to spend more time with his wife, Victoria. He wants to see more of his 13 grandchildren, travel and become more involved in his religion of Islam.
No more activism?
"Well, I will probably continue to speak out as an individual about those issues that compel my conscience to respond," he said. A new president will be chosen this month, and the December meeting will be the last one over which Khaliq presides.