Ilyasah Shabazz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ilyasah Shabazz
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Shabazz in 2014
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| Born | July 22, 1962 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | State University of New York at New Paltz (BA) Fordham University (MA) |
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Ilyasah Shabazz (born July 22, 1962) is an American author, community organizer, and social activist. She is also a motivational speaker, someone who inspires others. Ilyasah is the third daughter of famous civil rights leader Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She is well-known for writing a memoir (a book about her own life) called Growing Up X.
Contents
Ilyasah Shabazz's Early Life
Ilyasah Shabazz was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 22, 1962. She was named after Elijah Muhammad, who was the leader of the Nation of Islam. Her parents, Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, were part of this religious and Black nationalist group. Ilyasah's family background includes African-American, African-Grenadian, English, and Scottish roots.
When she was two years old, in February 1965, Ilyasah was with her mother and sisters when her father, Malcolm X, was assassinated. She has said that she does not remember this sad event.
Ilyasah grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, in a neighborhood where people of different races lived together. Her family did not usually take part in political protests or rallies. She and her sisters joined Jack and Jill, which was a social club for children from well-off African-American families. Ilyasah thought about becoming an actress, but her mother did not support that idea. Instead, her mother worked to keep her father's memory alive for his daughters. For example, she would bake cookies and break off a piece to make it seem like their father had eaten some before they arrived.
Ilyasah shared in an interview that her mother often talked about her father as a husband. However, she "didn't talk about these things that defined my father as the icon." To learn more about her famous father, Ilyasah read his autobiography when she was in college. She also took a class to understand more about him.
Her Education Journey
Ilyasah Shabazz attended Hackley School for her high school education. After graduating, she went to the State University of New York at New Paltz. When she arrived, other African-American students expected her to be a strong political leader, like her father. They had already chosen her as an officer for the Black Student Union.
After earning her first degree, Ilyasah continued her studies. She received a master's degree in Education and Human Resource Development from Fordham University.
Her Career and Books
Ilyasah Shabazz worked for the city of Mount Vernon for over ten years. During that time, she held different important jobs. She was the Director of Public Relations, the Director of Public Affairs and Special Events, and the Director of Cultural Affairs.
In 2002, Ilyasah wrote Growing Up X. This book is her memoir, sharing stories from her childhood and her personal thoughts about her father. It was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction. Ilyasah is a devoted Muslim. In 2006, she made the pilgrimage to Mecca, just as her father had done in 1964 and her mother in 1965.
Ilyasah has also written several books for young readers:
- In 2014, she wrote Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X. This children's book tells the story of her father's childhood. It was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Children's.
- The next year, she wrote a young-adult novel called X, which was also about her father's early life. This book was chosen as one of the ten finalists for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens. The book received honors from the Coretta Scott King Awards and the Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature. It was also named a 2016 Bank Street Children's Book Committee's Best Book of the Year.
- In January 2018, her middle-grade novel about her mother's childhood, Betty Before X, was published. She wrote this book with co-author Renée Watson. It was recognized as one of the 2019 Bank Street Children's Book Committee Best Books of the Year and received an "Outstanding Merit" award.
Ilyasah Shabazz is also a trustee for several important organizations. These include the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, the Malcolm X Foundation, and the Harlem Symphony Orchestra. As of 2017, she teaches as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Her Personal Life
Ilyasah Shabazz has lived in Southern Westchester for a long time. She grew up in Mount Vernon and currently lives in New Rochelle.
See also
In Spanish: Ilyasah Shabazz para niños
