The Six Daughters Of Malcolm X: Unveiling Their Current Roles, New Lawsuit, And Global Legacy In 2025

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The enduring legacy of Malcolm X, one of the most pivotal figures in American history and the global civil rights movement, is actively championed and preserved by his six remarkable daughters. As of December 2025, the Shabazz sisters are not only maintaining their father's memory but are also making headlines with major, ongoing initiatives, including a high-stakes legal battle and significant new media projects that are bringing his story to a new generation. The sisters—Attallah, Qubilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah Lumumba, Malak (Malikah), and Malaak—have each carved out unique paths as authors, educators, activists, and diplomats, ensuring the principles of racial justice and self-determination remain at the forefront of global conversation.

Their collective work today is a powerful continuation of the struggle for truth and equity begun by their parents, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. The most recent and compelling development is their $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against U.S. government agencies, a bold move that seeks to finally uncover the full truth behind the 1965 assassination of their father and redefine the narrative of the civil rights icon.

The Six Daughters of Malcolm X: Biographical Profiles and Current Endeavors

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) and his wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz, shared a family of six daughters, all of whom have dedicated their lives to activism, education, and the preservation of their parents' powerful legacy. Their individual careers span diplomacy, literature, education, and global consultancy, making them formidable figures in their own right.

  • Attallah Shabazz (Born: November 16, 1958): The eldest daughter, Attallah is an author, motivational speaker, diplomat, and consultant. She is a Senior Advisor at FGS Global, a preeminent global communications and public affairs consultancy. She has also served as a cultural affairs specialist and ambassador-at-large for Belize.
  • Qubilah Shabazz (Born: December 25, 1960): Named after Kublai Khan, Qubilah witnessed her father’s assassination at the age of four. She has maintained a largely private life, though her history includes a notable legal case in the mid-1990s. She continues to support her family's work in preserving the Malcolm X legacy.
  • Ilyasah Shabazz (Born: July 22, 1962): A highly visible author, educator, and activist. Ilyasah is the co-chairperson of The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center in New York City. Her work focuses heavily on youth leadership and social justice.
  • Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz (Born: July 1, 1964): Named in part after Patrice Lumumba, the assassinated Congolese independence leader. Gamilah is a clothing designer by profession and, while being a more private figure, has contributed her creative talents to the family's business ventures.
  • Malak Shabazz (Twin) (Born: September 30, 1965): Malak (also known as Malikah) was one of the youngest daughters, born after her father's passing. Tragically, she passed away in November 2021 at the age of 56. Her estate is represented in the family's current legal action.
  • Malaak Shabazz (Twin) (Born: September 30, 1965): Malaak is the youngest of the six sisters. She is known to have worked in the global sphere, including roles related to the United Nations, and is actively involved in the ongoing legal efforts to seek justice for her father's death.

The $100 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Seeking Justice in 2025

In a powerful and defining moment for the Shabazz family, three of Malcolm X’s daughters—Attallah, Malaak, and the estate of their late sister Malak Shabazz—filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against the CIA, the FBI, the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the Department of Justice. This major legal action, which was initiated in late 2023, is the most significant effort to date by the family to hold government agencies accountable for their alleged role in the 1965 assassination of the civil rights leader.

The lawsuit alleges that these federal and local agencies actively concealed evidence and were complicit in the murder. This pursuit of truth follows the exoneration of two men, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, who were wrongly convicted for the murder and settled their own lawsuit with the City of New York for $26 million in 2022.

The family's legal representation, led by prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, asserts that the government's long-suspected involvement, including the destruction of evidence and the failure to warn Malcolm X of credible threats, deprived the family of a husband and father. The filing of the suit, nearly 60 years after the assassination, underscores the family’s commitment to uncovering the full, unvarnished history of the event, arguing that systemic complicity allowed the murder to occur. The case is a crucial development in the ongoing investigation into the civil rights icon's death and a centerpiece of the Shabazz sisters' current public focus.

Ilyasah Shabazz’s New TV Series and Literary Authority

Ilyasah Shabazz has emerged as a leading voice in education and literature, particularly concerning her father's life and the principles of social justice. Her most significant and current project is the adaptation of her co-written novels, *X: A Novel* and *The Awakening of Malcolm X*, into a television series. The series, titled "The Awakening of Malcolm X," is currently in development with TriStar Television, a division of Sony Pictures Television.

This television project is a powerful example of the family's efforts to control and disseminate an accurate, nuanced narrative of Malcolm X's life, moving beyond the often-simplified portrayals in mainstream media. The novels, co-written with Kekla Magoon and Tiffany D. Jackson, respectively, focus on Malcolm X's formative years and his transformation from a troubled youth to a revolutionary leader.

Beyond the screen, Ilyasah's work as an author, including her critically acclaimed memoir *Growing Up X*, continues to inspire. She also remains a key figure in the management of The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center, ensuring the physical and historical preservation of the site where her father was assassinated. Her commitment to education is further demonstrated by her role as Senior Operations and Communications Director at Philanthropy Together, an organization focused on collective giving and social change.

Attallah’s Global Consultancy and The Family’s Creative Legacy

Attallah Shabazz, the eldest daughter, has leveraged her background in diplomacy and public affairs to forge a significant career in global consultancy, reflecting the international scope of her father’s later work. Her firm, Legacy Inc., "Everybody Has One," secured a renewed and expanded contract with the Newark Public Schools in New Jersey. This consultancy work, valued at a total of $400,000, is specifically focused on curriculum development and global studies at the Newark School of Global Studies.

This role allows Attallah to directly influence the education of young people, promoting the values of global citizenship, cultural awareness, and civic engagement—themes that were central to Malcolm X's philosophy.

Meanwhile, the creative legacy of the family is championed by her sister, Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz. A professional clothing designer, Gamilah has been instrumental in the development of a collaborative venture with her sisters to create the "Malcolm X Legacy Line." This initiative uses fashion and design to keep the visual and cultural impact of their father alive, providing a tangible connection to his image and message for modern audiences. The combined efforts of the six sisters, from the courtroom to the classroom and the creative studio, demonstrate a unified and multifaceted approach to preserving a legacy that continues to shape the discourse on human rights, racial justice, and civil liberties across the globe.

malcolm x daughter
malcolm x daughter

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