Ilyasah Shabazz

Ilyasah Shabazz Speaker Biography

Award-Winning Author, Educator, Human Rights Advocate, and Daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz

Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz is an award-winning author, educator, human rights advocate, and inspirational speaker who carries forward the extraordinary legacies of her parents, Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, while building a distinguished legacy of her own. Through her writing, teaching, humanitarian work, and public speaking, Shabazz promotes education, interfaith dialogue, cultural understanding, leadership, and the empowerment of young people, women, and girls. Her life’s work is devoted to helping others discover their inner strength, understand their history, develop a sense of purpose, and recognize their ability to create meaningful change. As Board Chair of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, Shabazz also plays a central role in preserving and advancing her parents’ humanitarian legacy for future generations.

Keynote Speaker Ilyasah Shabazz at a Glance

• NAACP Image Award-winning author, educator, human rights advocate, and inspirational speaker
• Daughter of legendary human rights leader Malcolm X and educator and activist Dr. Betty Shabazz
• Author of six acclaimed books and a National Book Award finalist
• Board Chair of the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center
• International speaker on leadership, human rights, education, social justice, youth empowerment, personal transformation, and the enduring legacy of Malcolm X

The Daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz

Shabazz offers audiences a uniquely personal perspective on two of the most influential figures in the struggle for human and civil rights. She was raised by her mother, Dr. Betty Shabazz, with a profound understanding of education, history, humanity, leadership, self-reliance, responsibility, service, and love. Although audiences around the world frequently ask her to discuss her father and his enduring influence, Shabazz has consistently emphasized the wisdom, courage, and compassion of her mother and the values she instilled in her daughters. Through personal stories and historical perspective, Shabazz helps audiences see Malcolm X not simply as an iconic figure from history, but as a husband, father, humanitarian, and evolving leader whose commitment to human dignity and justice continues to resonate around the world.

Author of Malcolm in the Desert

In 2026, Shabazz published Malcolm in the Desert: Wisdom from the Spiritual Transformation of Malcolm X, an exploration of her father’s transformation during the final period of his life. The book follows Malcolm X’s historic 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca and examines how that experience transformed his perspectives on faith, justice, freedom, and humanity. Shabazz retraces her father’s journey while inviting readers to consider their own paths toward personal transformation, purpose, and meaningful action. Rather than focusing exclusively on Malcolm X as a public activist, Malcolm in the Desert examines the inner transformation behind his evolving worldview and explores lessons that remain relevant for people navigating uncertainty, division, grief, and change today.

Award-Winning Author and National Book Award Finalist

Shabazz is an NAACP Image Award-winning author of six acclaimed books and a National Book Award finalist whose writing introduces the lives and legacies of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz to new generations. Her books include Growing Up X, her memoir about growing up as the daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz; Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X; X: A Novel; Betty Before X; The Awakening of Malcolm X; and Malcolm in the Desert. Through memoir, historical fiction, children’s literature, and personal reflection, Shabazz explores identity, family, history, courage, justice, self-discovery, and the experiences that shaped her parents into transformative leaders.

Educator and Advocate for Young People

Education has been a defining theme throughout Shabazz’s life and career. She holds a Master of Science in Education and Human Resource Development from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science from SUNY New Paltz. She has served as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and has extensive experience developing cultural and community outreach initiatives serving diverse populations. Shabazz is particularly passionate about higher education, young people at risk, women and girls, and developing the next generation of leaders. She encourages young people to understand their history, recognize their own value, develop confidence and purpose, and become active participants in their communities.

Building Bridges Across Cultures

Shabazz’s work extends beyond the classroom and keynote stage to international humanitarian and interfaith initiatives. She has promoted interfaith dialogue and efforts to build bridges among cultures and has participated in international humanitarian delegations. She was a member of a U.S. delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton to South Africa in connection with the commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s election and education and economic development initiatives. She also participated in a U.S. Interfaith Leadership Delegation to Mali with Malaria No More. Her work reflects a central message she has carried throughout her career: meaningful social progress requires education, understanding, personal responsibility, compassion, and the willingness to recognize our shared humanity.

Leadership Through Purpose and Personal Transformation

While Shabazz’s personal history gives her presentations extraordinary significance, her message extends far beyond history. She challenges audiences to consider who they are, what they value, and how they can use their talents and experiences to contribute to something larger than themselves. Drawing upon the lessons of her parents as well as her own experiences as an educator, author, and advocate, Shabazz explores leadership as an expression of self-awareness, responsibility, courage, compassion, and service. Her message is especially relevant for organizations seeking to develop leaders who can navigate change while remaining grounded in purpose and core values.

Inspiring Audiences Around the World

Shabazz has spoken to audiences around the world about the legacies of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz as well as education, leadership, identity, justice, human rights, personal transformation, and youth empowerment. Her official biography describes her work as spanning more than two decades of cultural and community outreach and more than six years as a college professor. In 2026, she addressed a capacity audience at Duke University for Black History Month, discussing her parents’ legacy, education, healing, dignity, and the continuing relevance of Malcolm X’s message. Duke described education and its ability to transform lives as a recurring theme of her presentation. Her presentations are particularly appropriate for universities, educational conferences, leadership programs, women’s events, cultural organizations, associations, nonprofit organizations, corporate programs, Black History Month events, and organizations seeking meaningful conversations about leadership, history, humanity, and positive change.

Ilyasah Shabazz Keynote Speaker

Ilyasah Shabazz brings audiences something few speakers can offer: an intimate connection to an extraordinary chapter of American history combined with decades of her own work as an educator, author, humanitarian, and advocate. Her presentations do more than revisit the past. She connects the values and lessons of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz with contemporary questions about leadership, education, identity, responsibility, social change, and the role each individual can play in creating stronger communities. Her storytelling, personal experiences, and commitment to education allow audiences to encounter a more personal understanding of her parents while considering how the principles that shaped their lives can be applied to the challenges facing individuals, organizations, and communities today.

Turning Legacy Into Leadership

Ilyasah Shabazz inspires audiences to understand the lessons of history while discovering the courage, compassion, purpose, and personal responsibility needed to become leaders and agents of meaningful change in their own lives and communities.

Ilyasah Shabazz can be booked for keynote presentations, corporate meetings, university programs, leadership conferences, association events, Black History Month programs, women’s events, and educational programs through Speakers.com. Contact Speakers.com to learn more about Ilyasah Shabazz’s speaking fees, availability, and customized presentation options.