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Malcolm X’s Daughter Announces New Children’s Book About Her Father's Life

Malcolm X’s Daughter Announces New Children’s Book About Her Father's Life

The legacy continues.

Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, is releasing a new children’s book about the icon’s life. 

The Awakening of Malcolm X is a new book written by Shabazz and award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson. The book focuses on the young life of the famed civil rights leader, his time in jail as a young adult, and the transformative work he did to change his life. Aimed toward children ages 12-18, the book is published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers and illustrated by digital artist Jeff Manning and Macmillan Children’s book designer Cassie Gonzales.

Shabazz took to social media to share her excitement and a preview of the cover art. “What a time to share this book cover about my father’s young life. He was only in his 20s when the world learned of him and gunned down at 39. That’s 12 short years of work to have made such a global and lasting impact during the height of Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, the Voters Rights Act, and police brutality! Honored to have worked with Tiffany D. Jackson (and Grace Kendall),” Shabazz said. 

Jackson is a Howard University Alum who has received a number of accolades for her work including the Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent award and an NAACP Image Award nomination. Jackson has several books under her belt and echoed Shabazz’s sentiments about their upcoming novel, calling it an honor to write about “her legendary father.”

Shabazz dedicated the book to her students at John Jay College where she is a professor and the Black Student Union on campus. She applauded them for their work around injustice, the pandemic and their desire to be “young, bold leaders amidst today’s movement for social change.” 

The Awakening of Malcolm X will be released January, 5, 2021. You can click the link here to pre order.

Thank you for this Ilyasah and Tiffany!

Photo Courtesy of @ilyasahshabazz/Instagram