Malcolm X's Best Legacy

The legacy of Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) and Dr. Betty Shabazz remains a cornerstone of American history, carried forward today by their six daughters. As of 2026, the sisters continue to protect and evolve their family’s narrative through diplomacy, literature, and media.

While the older four daughters witnessed their father’s 1965 assassination—a trauma that has deeply influenced their advocacy—each has established a unique public or private identity.

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1. Ambassador Attallah Shabazz (b. 1958)

The eldest daughter is a prominent artist and diplomat.

• History: She co-founded the performing arts group Nucleus and collaborated with Yolanda King on the play Of One Mind.

• Today: She serves as an ambassador-at-large for Belize and is a frequent keynote speaker on global human rights and cultural heritage.

2. Qubilah Shabazz (b. 1960)

Qubilah has maintained the most private life of the sisters.

• History: She studied at Princeton and the Sorbonne. In 1995, she was involved in a highly publicized legal case regarding an alleged plot against Louis Farrakhan, though she was ultimately cleared.

• Today: She remains focused on her personal spiritual journey and family, largely avoiding the public eye.

3. Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz (b. 1962)

Ilyasah is the primary public steward of the family legacy and a prolific author.

• History: She is the Chairperson of the Shabazz Center and has written several acclaimed books, including Growing Up X and Betty Before X.

• 2026 Projects: * New Book: Her latest work, Malcolm in the Desert: Wisdom from the Spiritual Transformation of Malcolm X, is scheduled for release on May 19, 2026. The book serves as a roadmap for personal pilgrimage and self-transformation based on her father's teachings.

  • TV Series: She is currently executive producing a television series with Sony Pictures Television’s TriStar division. The project adapts her novels X: A Novel and The Awakening of Malcolm X, covering her father's life from his childhood through his transformation in prison.

• Current Status: She continues her work as a Social Impact Fellow and educator.

4. Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz (b. 1964)

Gamilah focuses on community empowerment and the arts.

• History: She was instrumental in launching the official Malcolm X clothing line with her sisters.

• Today: She works as a social justice advocate, utilizing her background in sociology to support marginalized communities.

5. & 6. The Twins: Malaak and Malikah (b. 1965)

Born seven months after their father’s death, the twins represent the final branch of the immediate family.

• Malaak: She has worked with the United Nations and remains an active representative for the Shabazz family heritage at international events.

• Malikah: She passed away in November 2021 at the age of 56. Her death was reported in Brooklyn shortly after the exoneration of two men previously convicted in her father's assassination.

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Summary of the Shabazz Sisters (2026)

Name	Primary Focus	Notable Achievement
Attallah	Diplomacy	Ambassador-at-Large for Belize
Qubilah	Private Life	Academic study at the Sorbonne
Ilyasah	Media & Literature	Sony TV Series; Malcolm in the Desert (2026)
Gamilah	Advocacy	Malcolm X Legacy Clothing Brand
Malaak	Human Rights	UN-level activism and heritage preservation
Malikah	N/A	Deceased (2021)

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Malcolm X’s daughter announced that she plans to sue the CIA, the FBI and the NYPD for $100,000,000 for allegedly concealing evidence related to her fathers murder. pic.twitter.com/B47ZYixmfH

— Wild Videos (@FightStorage) February 26, 2026

From Grok:

The post references a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by three of Malcolm X's daughters in November 2024 against the CIA, FBI, and NYPD, alleging these agencies conspired in his 1965 assassination by withholding intelligence and failing to protect him, as detailed in federal court filings reported by NPR and AP News.

Accompanying image juxtaposes a historical photo of Malcolm X with a contemporary one of daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, visually linking past injustice to ongoing family pursuit of truth amid recent document declassifications revealing FBI surveillance on civil rights leaders.

The post's timing near the 61st anniversary of Malcolm X's death has amplified online engagement, with replies highlighting broader government accountability themes, though legal experts note challenges in proving conspiracy after decades of redactions.