Malikah Shabazz- Bio of Malcolm X’s Daughter, Arrest, Where is She? 5 Facts

Malikah Shabazz is the youngest daughter of American Muslim minister and human rights activist, Malcolm X. She was still not born when her father was assassinated at the young age of 39, leaving Malikah and her five other siblings to be raised by their mother.

Of late, she has not escaped the news thanks to the tragedies that have continued to bedevil the family as well as some of her run-ins with the law. Even though her family has managed to remain in the news for almost always, not so much is known about her personal life.

Who is Malikah Shabazz?

#BettyShabazz with twins Malaak + Malikah Shabazz, born in 1965 after the assassination of their father #MalcolmX. #SuperSista #SuperWoman pic.twitter.com/sOxhynctik

— BlackHistoryStudies (@BlkHistStudies) May 28, 2019

Malikah Shabazz was born in the United States on 30 September 1965, which happens to also be the same year that her father was assassinated. Unfortnately, she did not get to feel her father’s arms because the activist was killed months before she was Malikah was born together with her twin, Malaak Shabazz.

Malikah was brought up alongside her other siblings by their mother, Betty Shabazz who made sure her kids attended private schools. Before then, she was sent to daycare together with her sisters as her mother continued with the activist movements of Malcolm X.

Career-wise, there is no so much details about her, but she has been involved in a number of businesses including a clothing line she started with her other sisters in 2017 to keep the legacy of their father alive.

Facts You Didn’t Know About Malcolm X’s Daughter

1. Malikah was named after her father

Although her mother was only two months pregnant when Malcolm X was killed, his last two daughters were named in his honour, Malikah and Malaakah. All their siblings were also named after various leaders including Patrice Lumumba whose name was given to Gamilah Lumumba.

2. There were other tragedies that followed her family

On June 23, 1997 Maikah lost her mother, Betty Shabazz, after she suffered burns from a fire that was said to be started by her grandson, Malcolm Shabazz. Betty suffered burns over 80 percent of her body. She was in the Intensive Care Unit for three weeks before she died

Apart from the loss of her father 7 months before she was born and the loss of her mother in 1997, Malikah and her family suffered the loss of her nephew, Malcolm Shabazz who was the grandson of Malcolm X. Like the older Malcolm, the grandson was also murdered. He was killed in Mexico in 2013 when he was only 28. According to reports, he was killed following a dispute on $1200. Before his death, Malcolm also led a troubled life.

3. Her mother was very protective of them

The loss of Betty was a huge tragedy for Malikah and her siblings because she was very protective of them while they were growing up. Even though she worked as a trained nurse, educator, and activist among other things, she still had time for them ensuring that they lacked nothing and didn’t know how things were bad for the family.

4. Malikah accused her sisters of spending their fortune

She once had a fall out with her sisters, Ilyasah and Malaak, after she made an accusation against them and their lawyers of spending the money from the family’s estate while allowing the property to deteriorate and also taxes to pile up. According to reports, the mismanagement could be as high as $1.4 million.

5. Malikah Shabazz is one of six sisters

As stated, she was raised alongside five other sisters including her twin, Malaak who has chosen the path of activism. Her other siblings are Qubilah Shabazz, Attallah Shabazz, Gamilah Lumumba Shabazz, and Ilyasah Shabazz.

6. Malikah Shabazz Has Been Arrested More Than Once

While Malaak Shabazz has got her name linked to human rights activities which earned her a seat as the co-chair of a United Nations subcommittee on racism, Malikah, who has also been involved in activism, has got her name on the other side of the law on more occasions than one.

She was arrested in 2011 for identity theft after she allegedly the identity of an elderly family friend and made $55,000 in illegal purchases. She was found guilty of the crime and was sentenced to five years of probation. Also, as part of the deal that was reached, she was made to pay back the money she made from the crime.

In 2017, Malikah Shabazz was arrested alongside her niece Bettih Shabazz for driving a U-Haul truck. To make their case even worse, the truck was found to have 7 pitbull dogs stacked in crates and transported in what was described as inhuman condition as some of the dogs were injured. Both women who were 51 and 19 respectively were charged with animal cruelty and theft.

7. Where is she today?

Growing up without a father in the life of Malika and her siblings, it is believed that it affected the women, and because of this, it has got them into some troubles with the law most especially Malikah and Qubilah Shabazz who was once arrested for conspiring to kill Louis Farrakhan whom she felt was responsible for the assassination of her father.

Since her issues with the law, Malika has continued to stay away from the media and public life. Nonetheless, she is known to still be living in the US where she has always been and she is involved in other activities with other members of her family including the Malcolm X Legacy clothing line she started with her siblings.

Complete profile of Malikah Shabazz