Ilyasah Shabazz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ilyasah Shabazz
|
|
|---|---|
Shabazz in 2014
|
|
| Born | July 22, 1962 New York City, U.S.
|
| Education | State University of New York at New Paltz (BA) Fordham University (MA) |
| Occupation |
|
| Parents |
|
Ilyasah Shabazz was born on July 22, 1962. She is an American author, a community organizer, and a speaker who inspires people. She is the third daughter of famous civil rights leaders Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. Ilyasah wrote a book about her life called Growing Up X.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Ilyasah Shabazz was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 22, 1962. Her parents named her after Elijah Muhammad. He was a leader of the Nation of Islam, a religious group her parents were part of. Ilyasah has a mixed background, including African-American, African-Grenadian, English, and Scottish roots.
In February 1965, when Ilyasah was just two years old, her father was killed. She was there with her mother and sisters. However, she says she does not remember this sad event.
Growing Up in Mount Vernon
Ilyasah grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Her neighborhood had people of different backgrounds living together. Her family did not often go to protests or big rallies. Ilyasah and her sisters joined a social club called Jack and Jill. This club was for children from well-off African American families.
Ilyasah thought about becoming an actress. But her mother did not really support that idea. Instead, her mother worked to keep her father's memory alive. She would even bake cookies and break off a piece. This made it seem like her father had eaten some before Ilyasah arrived.
Learning About Her Father
Ilyasah told an interviewer that her mother always talked about her father. But she did not talk about the things that made him a famous leader. To learn more about him, Ilyasah read his autobiography. She did this when she was a college student. She also took a class to understand more about her father's life.
Ilyasah went to Hackley School for high school. After that, she attended the State University of New York at New Paltz. When she arrived, other African-American students expected her to be a strong leader. They had already chosen her as an officer for the Black Student Union.
After college, Ilyasah earned a master's degree. She studied Education and Human Resource Development at Fordham University. She also earned a PhD from Worcester State University.
Career and Books
Ilyasah Shabazz worked for the city of Mount Vernon for over ten years. She held different jobs there. These included Director of Public Relations and Director of Cultural Affairs.
Writing Her Story
In 2002, Ilyasah wrote Growing Up X. This book is her memoir. It shares her childhood memories and her thoughts about her father. The book was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. This award recognizes outstanding literary work.
Ilyasah is a devoted Muslim. In 2006, she made a special trip to Mecca. This trip is called the hajj. Her father had made this trip in 1964, and her mother in 1965.
Books for Young Readers
Ilyasah has written several books for young people. In 2014, she wrote Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X. This children's book is about her father's childhood. It was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
The next year, she wrote a novel for young adults called X. This book is also about her father's early life. It was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It also won an NAACP Image Award. The book received honors from the Coretta Scott King Awards and the Walter Dean Myers Awards. It was named a Best Book of the Year by the Bank Street Children's Book Committee.
In January 2018, her middle-grade novel Betty Before X was published. She wrote this book with co-author Renée Watson. It tells the story of her mother's childhood. This book was also named a Best Book of the Year by the Bank Street Children's Book Committee. It received an "Outstanding Merit" recognition.
Other Work
Ilyasah Shabazz is a trustee for several organizations. These include the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. She also serves on the board of the Malcolm X Foundation. As of 2017, she teaches as a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Personal Life
Ilyasah Shabazz has lived in Southern Westchester for a long time. She grew up in Mount Vernon. She currently lives in New Rochelle, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Ilyasah Shabazz para niños
